Description:
Primary Color is seeking an experiencedAccount Manager to manage complex print, retail graphics, and visual communication projects from initial planning through production, fulfillment, delivery, and installation.
This is a senior-level position for someone who understands the realities of print manufacturing and knows how to move demanding projects through multiple production departments while maintaining quality, schedules, budgets, and strong client communication.
The ideal candidate will have significant experience incommercial printing, retail graphics, POP/POS, large-format graphics, experiential graphics, or a similar manufacturing environment.
We are looking for someone who understands print production and can confidently work with clients, sales, account management, estimating, prepress, production managers, outside vendors, shipping, and installation teams.
Requirements:
- Manage complex print and graphics projects from award/PO through final delivery and installation.
- Develop and maintain detailed production schedules and critical project milestones.
- Coordinate projects across offset, digital, large-format, finishing, fabrication, bindery, packout, fulfillment, shipping, and installation.
- Review project specifications and identify potential production, scheduling, material, cost, or quality issues before they become problems.
- Work closely with Sales, Account Management, Estimating, Prepress, Purchasing, Production, and Shipping.
- Maintain clear and proactive communication with clients regarding schedules, approvals, changes, production status, and delivery.
- Manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Coordinate outside vendors and subcontractors when required.
- Monitor project costs and identify scope changes or additional charges that need client approval.
- Coordinate prototypes, proofs, color approvals, samples, and first-article approvals.
- Ensure client specifications and quality expectations are communicated clearly throughout production.
- Coordinate complex packout, distribution, freight, and multi-location shipping programs.
- Manage installation requirements and communicate with installation teams and job sites.
- Conduct project reviews and help resolve production issues quickly and professionally.
- Identify schedule risks early and escalate issues before they affect client commitments.
- Help establish realistic production schedules rather than committing manufacturing departments to unapproved rush timelines.
- Maintain accurate project information and documentation within company systems.
- Assist and mentor less-experienced Account Managers and Project Managers when appropriate.
Qualifications
- 8+ years of account management experience within commercial print, retail graphics, POP/POS, large format, experiential graphics, or a closely related industry preferred.
- Strong working knowledge of print manufacturing and finishing processes.
- Experience managing large, complex, multi-component projects.
- Understanding of substrates, print specifications, color management, proofs, finishing, fabrication, packaging, freight, and installation.
- Ability to read estimates, specifications, purchase orders, production schedules, and job documentation.
- Strong understanding of project costs, change orders, outside purchases, and scope management.
- Excellent organizational and problem-solving skills.
- Strong written and verbal client communication skills.
- Ability to remain organized and effective when priorities and schedules change.
- Comfortable working directly with manufacturing department managers and senior management.
- Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
- Experience working with major brands, agencies, retailers, or national programs is highly desirable.
