Avantor is looking for Production Design Manager leads the execution, optimization, and evolution of production design services across print and digital channels, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, brand-consistent creative assets that support organizational objectives. This role combines production design leadership with creative operations management, overseeing a team of production designers while driving workflow efficiency, quality control, asset governance, and process innovation.
Responsible for managing complex production initiatives from concept through final delivery, the Production Design Manager partners closely with Creative, Marketing, Digital, IT, and Project Management teams to develop scalable solutions that improve speed, accuracy, and consistency across all deliverables. The role serves as a key steward of brand integrity, production standards, template development, digital asset management, and automated publishing systems.
As a leader within the creative organization, this position champions continuous improvement through emerging technologies, automation, and AI-enabled solutions. The Production Design Manager provides strategic direction, technical expertise, and team development while ensuring resources are effectively managed and projects are delivered on time, within scope, and to the satisfaction of internal stakeholders.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Leadership & Team Development:
Lead and mentor the production design team, fostering professional growth, technical expertise, and high-quality execution.
Conduct regular 1:1 meetings and provide coaching, feedback, and development opportunities to support career progression.
Provide technical guidance and design direction to ensure creative solutions meet project objectives, production specifications, and brand standards.
Support the Art Director by providing recommendations on project approaches, timelines, resource needs, and budget considerations.
Supervise and provide oversight for production-focused direct reports, ensuring adherence to established processes, quality standards, and service-level expectations.
Production Management & Quality Control:
Oversee the delivery of production-ready artwork across print and digital channels, ensuring accuracy, quality, and adherence to timelines.
Establish and maintain quality control processes, including pre-flight reviews, proofing, and final file verification.
Monitor production quality metrics - implement corrective actions, process improvements to reduce errors, and prevent recurrence.
Execute, revise, and update design deliverables as needed to support project demands.
Support photo retouching, image optimization, and large-scale asset cleanup initiatives to maintain quality and consistency across marketing materials.
Resource & Workflow Management:
Manage team workload and resource allocation in partnership with the Art Director and PMO to ensure projects are delivered on time and within budget when applicable.
Own and manage the Low Effort Queue within Workfront, ensuring efficient prioritization, assignment, and completion of production requests.
Drive continuous improvement of workflows, production processes, asset management, and operational efficiencies.
Develop, communicate, and implement processes, procedures, and best practices that support the creative team's service offerings and production standards.
Research and introduce new technologies, automation solutions, and AI-driven capabilities that improve productivity, scalability, and production efficiency.
Serve as an AI champion for the creative organization, identifying opportunities to leverage emerging technologies to enhance workflows, quality, and team effectiveness.
Brand & Asset Governance:
Ensure all production output maintains brand integrity and complies with established brand standards, vendor requirements, and print and digital best practices.
Oversee the maintenance and organization of the Marketing Digital Asset Management (DAM) system, ensuring finalized assets are properly stored, tagged, and accessible.
Support DAM governance through asset uploads, metadata profiling, taxonomy management, and content lifecycle best practices.
Manage master template libraries and production assets to support consistency, efficiency, and scalability.
Digital Production & Template Development:
Lead the development and governance of digital design templates within Adobe XD, Adobe Express, PowerPoint, and related platforms.
Develop and maintain commercial-ready Adobe Express templates and scalable PowerPoint templates that enable brand consistency and self-service content creation.
Partner closely with the Digital production team to create efficient workflows from concept through developer handoff.
Deliver scalable, reusable templates that streamline implementation and reduce manual production effort.
Serve as the primary production design liaison with digital teams to ensure alignment on standards, processes, and deliverables.
Publishing Automation & Systems Integration:
Lead the implementation, optimization, and ongoing management of Priint:Suite within Adobe InDesign to support automated publishing workflows.
Integrate Priint:Suite with PIM, DAM, CMS, ERP, and other data sources to improve data accuracy and streamline content production.
Design and maintain automated templates that support database-driven publishing and self-service content creation.
Collaborate cross-functionally with Creative, Marketing, IT, and external stakeholders to align systems, workflows, and production requirements.
Provide training, support, and best-practice guidance for designers utilizing Priint:Suite and related automation tools.
JOB REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Graphic Design, or associate’s degree in graphic design or related field required
8+ years working experience in marketing, design, and layout experience (Corporate experience preferred)
In-house agency experience and/or external agency experience desired
Must have English C2 proficiency, verbal and written.
Expert knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, etc.) is essential. The ability to leverage advanced features of these tools is necessary for producing high-quality designs efficiently.
UI/UX design and prototyping in Adobe XD
Adobe Firefly skills is a bonus
Familiar with PIM, DAM, CMS, and ERP systems
Familiarity with Adobe Workfront, Frame.IO, or comparable systems is preferable
Experience in utilizing AI tools within the creative process to enhance design efficiency and innovation.
Fantastic interpersonal skills
3+ Years Leadership skills; experience leading teams and mentoring creative talent
A keen eye for visual details
Background in Healthcare or Biopharmaceutical Industry
Disclaimer:
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by employees assigned to this classification. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of employees assigned to this position. Avantor is proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
Why Avantor?
Dare to go further in your career. Join our global team of 14,000+ associates whose passion for discovery and determination to overcome challenges relentlessly advances life-changing science.
The work we do changes people's lives for the better. It brings new patient treatments and therapies to market, giving a cancer survivor the chance to walk his daughter down the aisle. It enables medical devices that help a little boy hear his mom's voice for the first time. Outcomes such as these create unlimited opportunities for you to contribute your talents, learn new skills and grow your career at Avantor.
We are committed to helping you on this journey through our diverse, equitable and inclusive culture which includes learning experiences to support your career growth and success. At Avantor, dare to go further and see how the impact of your contributions set science in motion to create a better world. Apply today!
EEO Statement:
We are an Equal Employment/Affirmative Action employer and VEVRAA Federal Contractor. We do not discriminate in hiring on the basis of sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, color, religious creed, national origin, physical or mental disability, protected Veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state/province, or local law.
If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by email at [email protected] and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Requests for accommodation will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Please note that only inquiries concerning a request for reasonable accommodation will be responded to from this email address.
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