Print & Direct Mail Account Manager / Production Specialist
Position Summary
We are seeking an experienced Account Manager for a commercial printing and direct mail company. This position is responsible for managing client relationships and projects from initial order through production, mailing, and delivery.
The ideal candidate combines strong customer-service and project-management skills with hands-on knowledge of variable data printing (VDP), digital printing, and direct mail production. Experience with FusionPro is highly desirable, along with familiarity with Printer's Plan and digital production equipment.
This is a hands-on position for someone who understands that successful print and mail projects require both excellent client communication and strong production knowledge.
Key Responsibilities
• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned clients.
• Develop strong, professional relationships with customers and understand their business and mailing needs.
• Receive, review, and quote print and direct mail projects.
• Coordinate projects from estimate and order entry through proofing, production, finishing, mailing, and completion.
• Review customer artwork and files for print and mailing requirements.
• Coordinate variable data printing projects, including data files, personalization, versioning, barcodes, and mailing requirements.
• Work with clients to obtain and verify mailing lists and data.
• Create, modify, proof, and troubleshoot VDP jobs using FusionPro.
• Communicate effectively with prepress, production, digital printing, bindery, and mailing departments.
• Review proofs and obtain customer approval before production.
• Monitor job schedules and communicate status, changes, and potential problems to customers.
• Identify production issues before they become costly mistakes.
• Assist with troubleshooting print, data, and mailing problems.
• Maintain accurate job information, pricing, specifications, and customer communications.
• Use Printer's Plan for estimating, job entry, scheduling, invoicing, or other production-management functions as required.
• Operate and/or assist with operation of digital printing equipment when needed.
• Understand basic color, paper, finishing, addressing, and mailing requirements.
• Work with vendors and outside service providers when necessary.
• Help identify opportunities for additional services and business with existing customers.
Required Qualifications
• 3+ years of experience in commercial printing, digital printing, direct mail, or a related production environment.
• Strong customer-service and communication skills.
• Excellent organizational and project-management abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple jobs and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to read and understand print specifications and production requirements.
• Experience working with variable data and personalized print.
• Working knowledge of FusionPro or comparable VDP software.
• Comfortable working with Excel/CSV files, mailing lists, and basic data concepts.
• Ability to troubleshoot problems and communicate solutions clearly to both customers and production personnel.
• Ability to work independently while coordinating closely with a production team.
Preferred Qualifications
• Experience with Printer's Plan.
• Experience operating digital production printing equipment.
• Experience with direct mail production and USPS mailing requirements.
• Knowledge of mailing software, postal presorting, NCOA/Move Update, CASS, barcoding, and addressing.
• Experience with finishing equipment such as cutters, folders, booklet makers, or inserters.
• Knowledge of Adobe Acrobat, InDesign, Illustrator, or Photoshop.
• Experience estimating print and direct mail projects.
• Experience working with customer databases, spreadsheets, and data files.
• Familiarity with inkjet, toner, or high-speed digital production environments.
Technical Skills
The ideal candidate will have some combination of the following:
VDP / Data
• FusionPro
• Variable Data Printing
• Personalized URLs and marketing campaigns
• Data merging
• Excel/CSV
• Mailing lists
• Barcodes and postal barcodes
• Data validation and troubleshooting
Print Production
• Digital production presses
• Digital finishing equipment
• Prepress and PDF workflows
• Paper and substrate selection
• Color and proofing
• Bindery/finishing
• Direct mail production
Business / Workflow
• Printer's Plan
• Estimating and job costing
• Scheduling
• Work orders
• Customer approvals
• Production tracking
• Invoicing
What We're Looking For
The right person is not just an account manager who takes orders. We are looking for someone who understands how a job actually gets produced.
You should be comfortable talking with a customer about their campaign in the morning, reviewing a variable-data file in FusionPro, working with the press operator on a production issue, checking a proof, and making sure the finished job gets into the mail correctly.
You should be customer-focused, technically curious, detail-oriented, and comfortable in a fast-paced production environment.
Compensation
Salary: Dependent on experience.
Benefits may include:
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• 401(k)
• Performance bonuses or commissions, if applicable
• Opportunities for advancement
