Retouching Project Manager

Position Summary

The Creative Production Manager oversees retouching and post-production projects from kickoff through final delivery, ensuring all work is completed on time, on budget, and at the highest visual standard. This role serves as the primary day-to-day lead for assigned accounts and projects, balancing client expectations, creative quality, timelines, and internal resources.

Key Responsibilities

• Own all aspects of assigned projects from kickoff through final delivery

• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining accuracy, organization, and quality

• Establish and maintain project schedules, timelines, milestones, and delivery expectations

• Oversee day-to-day workflow to ensure deadlines are met and deliverables remain on track

• Work closely with offshore vendors to maintain quality, consistency, and project schedules, including identifying issues, communicating feedback, and ensuring revisions are completed when necessary

• Maintain strict adherence to approved project budgets and escalate concerns when needed

• Review imagery from a creative and technical perspective to ensure all work meets client expectations and internal quality standards

• Act as the client's advocate throughout the retouching process, ensuring imagery aligns with creative direction, campaign cohesion, and project briefs

• Provide clear, actionable feedback to retouchers and prepress teams to improve image quality and consistency

• Lead quality control efforts throughout the project lifecycle, serving as the final set of eyes before images are delivered to clients

• Ensure there are no technical, visual, or file-related issues prior to delivery

• Communicate with clients and account teams to align on client expectations, project scope, budgets, and delivery timelines

• Coordinate workflow across retouching, prepress, production, and account teams to ensure efficient execution

• Track project status and maintain accurate records of files, markups, approvals, schedules, and communications

• Attend and lead production meetings, review sessions, and internal project discussions

• Contribute to a collaborative, team-oriented environment within the department and across cross-functional teams

• Create project estimates in partnership with Account teams and leadership

• Track time spent on images and projects to evaluate resource usage, efficiency, and profitability

• Produce reports and participate in post-mortem discussions to identify opportunities for workflow improvement

• Maintain organized project documentation including files, markups, emails, hard drives, and reference materials

• Demonstrate professionalism and sound judgment in all client and internal interactions

• Represent the company positively in meetings, presentations, and public or private events

• Make decisions in the best interest of the company, clients, and project teams

• Support a positive, solutions-oriented work environment

Requirements

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Photoshop and Still Retouching workflows

• Proficient in Capture One, AI, Dropbox and Project Management Softwares

• Ability to work in a high-paced environment

• Ability to problem solve and implement efficiencies

• Time management and assessment for proper budgeting and timely delivery

• 5-7 years experience in high volume post-production, retouching, and creative management

• Minimum 3 years experience managing a retouching team

• Excellent visual judgment and strong color perception

• Self-Starter who can work both independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment

• Able to manage multiple priorities while maintaining attention to detail and creative quality

Benefits

The anticipated salary range for this role is $70,000 - $90,000 annually. Ranges are based on various factors including the labor market, job type, internal equity, and budget. Exact offers are calibrated by work location, individual candidate experience, and skills relative to the defined job requirements. This is a hybrid role requiring flexibility to work in-office and remotely. Evening or weekend work may occasionally be required during major projects. We offer a competitive benefits package including major medical, dental and vision insurance, FSA, HSA, and employee discounts. Industrial Color is a division of CoCreativ, a family of integrated creative production companies. Industrial Color partners with top brands, agencies, and creative professionals providing a full range of essential production services. For over 30 years, we've led the industry through a culture of innovation, bringing state-of-the-art digital production and post-production solutions to our clients. Our headquarters is based in Tribeca, NY, with offices in Los Angeles and studios in Brooklyn and Los Angeles. Our clients include: L'Oreal, Publicis, Procter & Gamble, Tommy Hilfiger, Absolut Vodka, Nike, Estee Lauder, Amazon...