Retouching Project Manager

Position Summary

The Creative Production Manager oversees retouching and post-production projects from kickoff through final delivery, ensuring all work is completed on time, on budget, and at the highest visual standard. This role serves as the primary day-to-day lead for assigned accounts and projects, balancing client expectations, creative quality, timelines, and internal resources.

The Creative Production Manager partners closely with clients, account teams, retouchers, prepress, and leadership to manage high-volume, deadline-driven workstreams. Success in this role requires strong organizational skills, excellent communication, a sharp creative eye, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

Project Ownership & Production Management

• Own all aspects of assigned projects from kickoff through final delivery
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining accuracy, organization, and quality
• Establish and maintain project schedules, timelines, milestones, and delivery expectations
• Oversee day-to-day workflow to ensure deadlines are met and deliverables remain on track
• Work closely with offshore vendors to maintain quality, consistency, and project schedules, including identifying issues, communicating feedback, and ensuring revisions are completed when necessary.
• Monitor project scope, flag potential risks, and proactively propose solutions
• Maintain strict adherence to approved project budgets and escalate concerns when needed

Creative Review & Quality Control

• Review imagery from a creative and technical perspective to ensure all work meets client expectations and internal quality standards
• Act as the client's advocate throughout the retouching process, ensuring imagery aligns with creative direction, campaign cohesion, and project briefs
• Provide clear, actionable feedback to retouchers and prepress teams to improve image quality and consistency
• Lead quality control efforts throughout the project lifecycle, serving as the final set of eyes before images are delivered to clients
• Ensure there are no technical, visual, or file-related issues prior to delivery

Client Communication & Account Partnership

• Serve as the day-to-day liaison for assigned clients and projects
• Lead project-related communication including schedules, file deliveries, creative feedback, timelines, and solutions to production challenges
• Partner closely with Account teams to align on client expectations, project scope, budgets, and delivery timelines
• Build strong client relationships through professionalism, responsiveness, and attention to detail
• Participate in client meetings, creative reviews, and production calls as needed

Workflow Coordination & Team Collaboration

• Coordinate workflow across retouching, prepress, production, and account teams to ensure efficient execution
• Partner with the Production Lead and Director of Retouching & Post to establish project workflows, staffing plans, and resource allocation
• Track project status and maintain accurate records of files, markups, approvals, schedules, and communications
• Attend and lead production meetings, review sessions, and internal project discussions
• Contribute to a collaborative, team-oriented environment within the department and across cross-functional teams

Estimating, Reporting & Resource Management

• Create project estimates in partnership with Account teams and leadership
• Track time spent on images and projects to evaluate resource usage, efficiency, and profitability
• Produce reports and participate in post-mortem discussions to identify opportunities for workflow improvement
• Maintain organized project documentation including files, markups, emails, hard drives, and reference materials

Professionalism & Representation

• Demonstrate professionalism and sound judgment in all client and internal interactions
• Represent the company positively in meetings, presentations, and public or private events
• Make decisions in the best interest of the company, clients, and project teams
• Support a positive, solutions-oriented work environment

Success in This Role Looks Like

• Projects are delivered on time, on budget, and at a consistently high quality level
• Clients feel informed, supported, and confident throughout the production process
• Internal teams have clear direction, organized workflows, and strong communication
• Imagery is cohesive, visually strong, and aligned with creative expectations
• Project challenges are identified early and resolved proactively
• Accurate project tracking, reporting, and documentation are maintained across all accounts