Prepress Production Manager in Eden Prairie, Minnesota at Anagram International LLC

The Prepress Production Manager leads the day-to-day operations of Anagram's prepress department, ensuring artwork files are accurately prepared, preflighted, and released as print-ready in accordance with print specifications, brand standards, and production schedules. This role supervises a team of prepress technicians and manages workflow through Esko Automation Engine and related prepress systems, and partners closely with Artwork Design, Print Production, Quality, and suppliers to ensure on-time, accurate, print-ready output. The Prepress Production Manager reports to the Sr Production Manager.

Essential Functions

Supervises the day-to-day activities of the prepress team, assigning work, balancing workload, and ensuring production schedules and customer deadlines are met.
Manages the end-to-end prepress workflow — file intake, preflight, trapping, imposition, proofing, and release to print-ready status — using Esko Automation Engine and related prepress systems.
Reviews and approves incoming artwork files for print readiness, verifying color separations, bleeds, resolution, die lines, and mechanical specifications against printer and brand requirements.
Oversees color management and proofing, including ColorCert verification and press-match proofing, and resolves color discrepancies prior to print release.
Coordinates with Artwork Design, Print Production, Quality, and external suppliers to resolve file issues, clarify specifications, and confirm production readiness.
Tracks and reports on prepress workload, turnaround time, error rates, and rework to identify bottlenecks and drive process improvement.
Trains, coaches, and develops prepress team members on software, workflow standards, and quality expectations; conducts performance reviews and supports skill development.
Maintains and troubleshoots prepress hardware and software, including Esko Automation Engine, RIPs, and proofing devices; escalates technical issues to IT or vendor support as needed.
Establishes and maintains prepress standard operating procedures, checklists, and preflight criteria to ensure consistency and reduce errors.
Manages prepress equipment maintenance schedules, supply inventory, and vendor service relationships to minimize downtime.
Leads root-cause resolution and corrective action for file errors, missed deadlines, or print quality escalations.
Supports special projects, marketing requests, mockups, and trials as prioritized by leadership.
Ensures compliance with safety, quality, and company policies within the prepress department.
This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without prior notice.
Qualifications

3-5 Years – Experience in prepress, print production, or a packaging/printing manufacturing environment
3-5 Years – Experience with prepress file preparation software such as Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Acrobat Pro, and a prepress workflow system such as Esko Automation Engine
3-5 Years – Experience supervising or leading a team
3-5 Years – Experience with ColorCert or a similar color management/proofing system
Working knowledge of printing processes (flexographic and/or offset), imposition, trapping, and color theory
Experience with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Excel, and PowerPoint
Experience with Oracle Agile PLM or a similar product lifecycle management system
Associate's or Bachelor's degree in graphic arts, printing technology, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience
Experience may include a combination of work experience and education.