Production Manager Jobs in Lake Ridge, VA (NOW HIRING)

About EAB

At EAB, our mission is to make education smarter and our communities stronger. We work with more than 2,800 institutions to drive transformative change through data-driven insights and best-in-class capabilities. From kindergarten to college to career, EAB partners with leaders and practitioners to accelerate progress and drive results across enrollment, student success, institutional strategy, data analytics, and advancement. We work with each partner differently, tailoring our portfolio of research, technology, and marketing and enrollment solutions to meet the unique needs of every leadership team, as well as the students and employees they serve.

At EAB, we serve not only our partner institutions but each other—that's why we are always working to make sure our employees love their jobs and are invested in their communities. See how we've been recognized for this dedication to our employees by checking out our recent awards.

For more information, visit our Careers page.  

The Role in Brief

Production Manager, Mailing Operations

We are looking for an energetic, solution-oriented, hands-on Production Manager to join our Mailing Operations team. The Production Manager’s expertise should span all aspects of end-to-end direct mail production, including print production, material sourcing, proofing, fulfillment, and mail deployment. This role is critical in identifying and mitigating risk, leading cross-functional collaboration, managing vendor relationships, ensuring quality assurance, and delivering campaigns on time. The Production Manager partners closely with Creative, Data Management, Client Services, Project Management, and external production vendors to successfully execute direct mail campaigns. This role requires expertise in printing, lettershop operations, and USPS postal regulations.

This role may be based in Richmond, VA or Washington, DC.

Primary Responsibilities

• Serve as the subject matter expert responsible for the day-to-day management of direct mail production campaigns
• Manage a high volume of complex production projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
• Own quality assurance throughout the production lifecycle to ensure accuracy, brand consistency, postal compliance, and print quality
• Approve production priorities throughout the creative routing process, including final approval of artwork, formats, mock-ups, and proofs
• Recommend production methods, materials, mailing strategies, and print specifications that balance quality, timing, and cost
• Serve as the primary production advisor to Creative, Data, Account Management, Project Management, and external print partners throughout campaign development
• Deliver exceptional customer service to internal and external stakeholders, including executive leadership
• Monitor campaign progress to ensure key production milestones, mail drops, and in-home delivery dates are achieved
• Analyze job specifications to ensure production requirements, quality expectations, postal regulations, templates, and materials are ready for execution
• Participate in daily production meetings and weekly cross-functional project status meetings
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that increase efficiency, reduce errors, and standardize production processes
• Manage vendor performance, production schedules, and issue resolution to ensure quality, cost, and delivery expectations are met

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent work experience in Marketing, Communications, Graphic Design, Business Administration, or a related field
• Two years of experience in project management, print production, marketing operations, direct mail, manufacturing, production coordination, or a related field
• Excellent time management, problem-solving, and troubleshooting skills with the ability to successfully manage multiple campaigns under tight deadlines
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Experience with Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Office Suite (particularly Excel and Outlook), and project management software such as Workfront or Asana

Ideal Qualifications

• Experience in direct mail production, print manufacturing, or mailing services, including offset and digital printing, lettershop operations, postal regulations, and mail logistics
• Experience collaborating with Production, Creative, Data, Project Management, and Account Management teams
• Experience using variable data and automation tools to produce personalized creative at scale (e.g., XMPie, Adobe InDesign Data Merge, or similar platforms)
• Knowledge of print production processes, variable data printing, and USPS postal regulations
• Experience translating structured data and business rules into design systems and production templates
• Experience with variable data printing workflows, Print MIS or workflow systems, Adobe InDesign, and USPS Mail.dat/Mail.XML
• Commitment to embracing a continual learning environment and contributing to a dynamic and welcoming culture of fairness, authenticity, and belonging in support of EAB’s mission, values, and aspiration

If you've reached this section of the job description and are unsure of whether to apply, please do! At EAB, we welcome new perspectives and learn from each other's unique experiences. We would encourage you to submit an application if this is a role you would be passionate about doing every day.

Compensation

The anticipated starting salary range for this role is $52,000 - $60,000 per year. Actual salary varies due to factors that may include but not be limited to relevant experience, skills, and location. At EAB, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the starting salary range for their role.

Benefits

Consistent with our belief that our employees are our most valuable resource, EAB offers a competitive and inclusive benefits package. Our benefits currently include:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans; dependents and domestic partners eligible
• 20+ days of PTO annually, in addition to paid firm and floating holidays
• Daytime leave policy for community service and flextime for fitness activities (up to 10 hours per month each)
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with annual discretionary company matching contribution
• Health savings account, healthcare and dependent care flexible spending account, and pre-tax commuter plans
• Employee assistance program with counseling services and resources available to all employees and immediate family
• Wellness programs including gym discounts, incentives to promote healthy living, and family access to the leading app for sleep, meditation, and relaxation
• Fertility treatment coverage and adoption or surrogacy assistance
• Paid parental leave with phase back to work program for birthing and non-birthing parents
• Access to milk shipping service to support nursing employees during business travel
• Discounted pet health insurance coverage for dog and cat family members
• Company-provided life, AD&D, and disability insurance
• Financial wellness resources and membership in a robust employee discount program
• Access to employee resource groups, merit-based advancement, and dynamic professional growth opportunities

Benefits kick in day one; learn more at eab.com/careers/benefits.

This opening is not eligible for visa sponsorship at this time; EAB will thus consider candidates who possess U.S. work authorization that does not require employment-based visa sponsorship now or in the future.

At EAB, we believe that to fulfill our mission to “make education smarter and our communities stronger” we need team members who bring a diversity of perspectives to the table and are committed to fostering a workplace where each team member is valued, respected and heard.

To that end, EAB is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we make employment decisions on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need. We don’t discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, non-disqualifying physical or mental disability, national origin, veteran status or any other basis covered by appropriate law.