Director of Creative Production

At BrownTrout, we create calendars that are as inspiring as they are functional—products people live with every day. We’re looking for a detail-driven Director of Creative Production who can bring together strong leadership, high creative standards and production excellence to deliver compelling products that meet business goals while maintaining exceptional quality and consistency.

The Role

As Director of Creative Production, you’ll lead the Creative Services department, while coordinating with other company divisions, in end-to-end development and execution of more than 800 proprietary and licensed calendar products annually. This includes leading and mentoring all Creative Services staff; managing scheduling, planning, product development and production activities; and working within an annual budget while producing and delivering on time to meet clients’ demands.

KEY RESPONSIBLITIES

Production Oversight

• Provide strategic leadership for all creative and production processes to deliver high-quality products on time, on budget, and aligned with business objectives
• Own and optimize annual production planning, budgets, resource allocation and seasonal workflows, including vendor coordination and risk mitigation
• Oversee sales collateral and catalog production, ensuring alignment with Sales team needs
• Maintain and improve production processes, documentation, and communication across internal teams and external partners
• Manage relationships with vendors, consultants, and outsource partners, including communication of specifications, timelines, and deliverables

Product Development

• Oversee end-to-end development of proprietary and licensed products, from concept through delivery of press-ready files
• Lead seasonal licensed and proprietary product planning, including prospecting, vetting, and stakeholder alignment
• Ensure high standards of design, editorial quality, branding consistency, and market viability across all products
• Contribute to creative direction and approval of key design elements
• Partner with Operations team to define product specifications and ensure accurate execution in templates and final production files

Quality Control

• Ensure product quality by reviewing samples, proofs, and final outputs to meet company standards
• Assist in managing vendor communication to maintain accurate specifications and resolve production issues
• Maintain approval workflows to ensure final signoff from internal and external stakeholders, including licensors and partners
• Oversee data accuracy and reporting across systems

Team Leadership & Culture

• Recruit, manage, and develop a team of employees, freelancers, and contractors
• Foster a collaborative, high-performing culture focused on support, creativity and continuous improvement
• Lead training, team-building, and professional development initiatives
• Implement cross-training to ensure team flexibility, knowledge sharing, and coverage

QUALIFICATIONS

Previous Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Arts, Publishing, or related field (or equivalent experience)
• 8-10+ years of experience in creative production, print publishing, or related industry.
• 3–5+ years of experience leading creative teams, or management role, in publishing, print production, or agency work with a strong track record of managing multiple workstreams in a fast-paced publishing environment.
• Demonstrated previous experience in print design and print production, applying vision and judgment for consistency, and creative innovation in new product ventures.
• Experience working within a global retail, licensing or branded content development.
• A proven and substantial history of meeting demanding production schedules and budgets.
• Experience partnering with multiple stakeholders, including creative, sales and operations teams, as well as executive level decision-makers.
• Prior sourcing of manufacturing vendors domestically and internationally is a plus.

Technical Knowledge

• Expert knowledge of print processes, color management, production workflows, packaging and print manufacturing specifications, paper stock, foil stamp, print finishes etc.
• Working knowledge of Adobe Suite on Mac OS, Canto DAM system, various project management systems, Zoom, Splashtop, Microsoft Office including Excel, Teams, One Drive and Outlook, and database platforms. Knowledge of Filemaker a plus.
• Advanced skills in a Mac production environment and server system, including all related software and systems and ability to troubleshoot basic Mac technical problems. Knowledge of Windows OS a benefit.

Soft Skills

• Excellent communicator and collaborator across creative, technical, and business functions.
• Ability to see the big picture and plot multiple projects simultaneously with high-speed project management.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to guide creative teams through timelines and decision points.
• Able to work closely with executive decision-makers, guiding projects and new product development, to achieve their vision for the product line.
• Thrives in a fast-moving environment and knows how to keep work progressing without sacrificing quality.
• Strong creative judgment with the ability to balance brand quality, business goals, and performance outcomes.
• Strong ownership mindset with a bias for action, clarity, and follow through.
• Passionate about coaching, mentoring, and building a high-performing team.

This position is full time hybrid / remote. Candidates must be located in Southern California within a reasonable driving distance of our headquarter office located in El Segundo, CA. This proximity is necessary to manage in-office resources and attend in-person meetings 3-4 times per month.

The starting rate is $110,000 to $130,000. The salary offered to a successful candidate will be based on several factors including the candidate's level of experience, education attained, job-related knowledge and skills, among other factors.

BrownTrout Publishers, Inc. is a global market leader in dated- and non-dated consumer products. We have been leading the industry for 40 years, creating beautifully designed, trend-forward products that inspire, organize, and delight customers year-round. Our portfolio spans licensed brands, original artwork, photography, and specialty formats distributed across major retailers worldwide and online platforms. We produce over 800 products and print over 8 million calendars and planners annually. We are passionate about bringing exceptional calendar products to life, every BrownTrouter carries that spirit in all that we do to uphold our mission of “Connecting people to their passions.”

BrownTrout offers a supportive and friendly work environment, and the opportunity to work with an amazing, dedicated team. We offer a generous benefit package and competitive salary. To apply, please provide a cover letter, resume and portfolio. No phone calls please.