Senior Print Producer

POSITION PURPOSE:

As a Senior Print Producer, you will work with designers, graphic production, external vendors and strategists to create high quality, engaging printed materials for use across multiple teams. Leveraging your print experience and vendor management, you and the Communications and Marketing Operations team help our marketing efforts be more effective, efficient and more impactful to our patients and members.

This role also acts as a mentor to other producers, oversees print vendor partnerships and works with leaders to actively develop talent and process within the division.

ABOUT THE ROLE:

• In collaboration with leaders, actively seeks out, evaluates, selects and maintains relationships with print, design and promotion vendors.

• Manages printing process in partnership with designers from concept to production, including paper and ink selections, print quantities, binding, color management to final product and distribution.

• Attends press checks to review color, content, quality and consistency of printed materials.

• Solicits bids and select vendors based on quality, cost-effectiveness and ability to meet deadlines for specific projects.

• Proactively suggests alternative printing methods, design decisions, color sections, substrate choices to enhance brand experience.

• Provides printing and file setup best practices to creative and production teams

• Completes documentation required by HealthPartners and vendors for purchase orders, accounting, delivery, reprinting, material destruction, invoice processing, etc.

• Maintains historical records of printed sales materials for external audit requirements.

• Provides periodic budget reports to management.

• Coordinates multiple projects.

• Performs other duties as assigned by Manager.

• Create and oversee color management program for printed materials across all service lines within Communications and Marketing.

• Partners with new print vendors for prototyping, exploring new technologies for print and direct mail and showcases capabilities to the Communications and Marketing team.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

Experience, Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

• Five to ten years print production and / or graphic arts experience.

• Comprehensive experience in print production capabilities, including proof formats, pre-press electronics, press and bindery options.

• Experience using Adobe Creative Suite and understanding of file setup best practices.

• Thorough understanding of rapidly evolving print production capabilities

• Deep understanding of color management, digital output technologies, paper purchasing and direct mail process.

• Effective interpersonal verbal and written communications skills, including negotiation skills.

• Excellent customer service skills and ability to develop good working relationships with both internal customers and vendors.

• Ability to work both independently and collaboratively.

• Valid driver's license as position requires travel to vendor locations.

• Experience leading print producers, production artists or premedia technicians a plus.

• Prior experience leading print program development, including prototyping, color management, and creation of a vendor network.

Formal Education:

• Four-year degree in business or related field or related experience; or

• Two-year vocational/technical degree in print production or equivalent associate degree

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Solid understanding of HealthPartners products, policies and procedures.

• Basic understanding of health care industry and marketplace.

• Experience and knowledge of desktop publishing capabilities and vendor market

DECISION-MAKING: (What rules or precedents limit the activities and authority of this position? What types of problems or decisions are referred to the supervisor?)

• Acts as purchasing agent for HealthPartners with authority to award projects to vendors.

• Grants final approval for printing bases on customer expectations, print proofs and/or on-site press checks.