Production Manager

Job Description

At Manifest, our work is fueled by data, ignited by creativity and driven by results. We are a proudly independent, full-service agency represented by diverse talents, backgrounds and expertise, and we have one goal: to deliver breakthrough ideas and brand experiences that drive emotional connections and measurable impact. Let’s chat.

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We're looking for a Design Production Manager to lead how our creative gets built, adapted and delivered across every channel. You'll lead a team of production designers, content authors and 3D artists, and still do hands-on work yourself. Together you'll turn approved concepts into polished assets for display, video, landing pages, print collateral, packaging and POP, delivered on time, on brand, and at scale.

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You'll be the link between creative and execution. You'll work with creative directors early so ideas are built for production from day one. You'll work with project managers to set realistic scopes and timelines and to raise risks before they become problems. You'll also own the systems behind the work: production workflows, templates, file standards, brand guidelines and asset libraries that keep quality consistent across clients. This role is hybrid, 3x week on site in either our Chicago or St. Joseph, MI office.

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The work covers a lot of ground, from authoring pages in CMS platforms like AEM, Contentful and Shopify, to bringing products to life with 3D renders. You'll own final QA on everything that leaves the studio, checking specs, accessibility, copy accuracy and technical requirements. You'll also keep finding smarter ways to scale our output through automation, dynamic templates and AI-assisted tools.

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Responsibilities

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• Lead, coach and set the workload for a team of 2–5 production designers and 3D artists, and do hands-on production yourself when needed
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• Own production for assets across display, video, landing pages, print collateral, packaging and POP
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• Build and maintain production workflows, templates, file standards and QA checklists to improve speed and consistency
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• Partner with creative directors and designers to make sure concepts are built for production from the start
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• Work with project managers on scope, timelines and resourcing, and flag risks early
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• Keep brand guidelines and asset libraries current across clients
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• Run final QA on all outgoing work: specs, accessibility basics, copy accuracy and technical requirements
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• Find and adopt tools that scale output, including automation, dynamic templates and AI-assisted resizing
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Requirements

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• 6+ years in design production, studio or prepress roles, including 2+ years leading or mentoring others
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• Experience in CMS authoring like AEM, Contentful or Shopify
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• Expert in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), with working knowledge of After Effects and Figma
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• Strong grasp of print production (color management, dielines, paper and finishes) and digital specs (ad platforms, email, responsive web)
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• Experience with high-volume, multichannel campaign production in an agency or in-house studio
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• Familiarity with project and asset management tools such as Asana
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• Sharp attention to detail and calm under deadline pressure
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• Clear communicator who can push back constructively and explain production tradeoffs to non-designers
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• Experience in 3D render tools such as Cinema 4D, Blender or Keyshot preferred
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• Basic HTML/CSS for email or CMS work preferred
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• Experience with creative automation tools (e.g., Figma plugins, Celtra, Adobe Express templates) preferred
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• Packaging or retail environment experience preferred
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What We Offer

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• Private Company (Independent Agency) – Being a private organization allows us to move quickly so that we can deliver our best for our teams and our clients.
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• Flexibility – We have a hybrid work environment and a flexible PTO plan that allows teams to take time off when they need it.
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• Competitive Benefits and Salary – Multiple options for health plans based on your and/or your family’s needs, plus a 401(k) match and paid parental leave. The annual salary range for this role in the Chicago market is $90k-$110k in base pay, and the base pay offered will be determined on a case-by-case basis based on experience, skills, training, certifications, education, etc., and will be informed by market data.
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Manifest is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Manifest recruits qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, gender, age, ethnicity, national origin, protected veteran status, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, citizenship status, or any other protected groups covered by federal, state or local laws.