Project Manager (Vendor Coordinator)

Who are we?

Marks is a consumer experience agency creating engaging moments across the entire brand spectrum - from brand design and packaging to content and consumer connections. Rooted in a deep understanding of human behaviour, we are uniquely constructed to enable brands to win in an age of constant change.

A super-charged experience powerhouse - 700 people strong, with subject matter experts working collaboratively across 12 studios and 8 countries - we have helped some of the world's biggest brands connect to their audiences and tackle the biggest challenges and opportunities of today's consumer landscape.

About the team

This Marks Packaging Design team is a talented agency-within-an-agency. Constructed to service an exclusive retail client engagement - this group lives and breathes packaging craft across a versatile collection of brands and categories - from food & beverages to household essentials. A multidisciplinary group of problem-solvers, you'll work alongside client service, creatives, copywriters, CGI artists, photographers, and production artists alike, to bring new packaging designs, extensions, adaptations, and updates to life.

This role is designated hybrid - working 3 days a week from our Chicago studio (located in the bustling Fulton Market neighborhood), as well as from home.

About the Role

The Vendor Coordinator provides day to day support to the Client Service Team, collaborating mainly with CS, PM, and Operations teams, and as required with Design and Studio. The Vendor Coordinator is responsible for the vendor communication management, owing and coordinating the gathering and organization of assets required by the team to execute their tasks. In addition to managing the vendor asset collection, the Vendor Coordinator, works on assigned PM tasks throughout the creative and adaptive process, supporting the PM team amd striving to achieve the highest quality of work whilst managing timelines.

A successful Jr. Project Manager or Vendor Coordinator understands the end-to-end package design process and what is required to execute the design work, works with external vendors and internally works closely with other Project Managers and owns tasks within each phase of the process to ensure completion of projects on time, within budget and within scope; including managing deadlines, properly scheduling projects/tasks within studio and different departments, reviewing work to ensure quality standards are maintained and client requests are delivered, and monitoring progress and status of any assigned projects.

The Vendor Coordinator will need to showcase an ability to work within teams, as well as demonstrate the independence and resourcefulness demanded by an agile and highly dynamic agency environment. As a strong communicator, you can facilitate communication with all stakeholders efficiently and effectively.

General Responsibilities:

• Establishes and maintains relationships with vendors and 3rdparties to obtain assets and information related to the project
• Onboards and provides direction to vendors on project workflow, sets expectations for timing and deliverables
• Intakes, assesses, and tracks project assets from vendors to ensure fit for use
• Collaborates with the client and vendor when necessary to problem solve issues
• Routes internally-approved artwork files to all project stakeholders to provide feedback
• Maintains the timeline by communicating deadlines and time constraints to all stakeholders, and follows up with stakeholders to complete artwork reviews when routed to them
• Collects artwork review feedback from all stakeholders and relays information and direction to the internal design teams
• Acts as the point of contact between vendor, client and our internal design departments as pass information to appropriate parties
• Is able to consistently manage multiple projects and tasks in fast-paced environment
• Performs other related duties as assigned (ie: Writes up work orders for studio, prep for photoshoots, client specific duties, prep projects to CS for billing)

Project specific responsibilities:

• Reviews and validates and organizes mandatory project information required prior to project kick-off
• Verifies information is accurate on design briefs, and specifications received from the CS team and/or client
• Procures all assets (dielines, copy, packaging/printer specs, reference materials) needed for studio and provides flexible solutions to potential roadblocks
• Works within Marks project management tool, including creating project tasks for the studio and writing up proper instructions for the Design and Creative team
• Facilitates/leads accurate and clear briefing to the creative Adaptive team in a timely fashion in partnership with CS and participates in Creative and Strategy briefing sessions as requested
• Acts as a liaison between the creative team, external partners, and the CS team to obtain missing information and materials needed to perform the work
• Writes up revisions/feedback once consolidated by CS team and/or client
• Attends technical review of projects via pre-pro meetings or onboarding meetings providing valuable insight into project process and next steps
• Provides the final rounds of QA on all assets - checking all design files to ensure work has been executed to the client brief prior to releasing for final delivery.
• Attends and participates in post-mortem meetings to review and provide insight on completed projects, assessing, and evaluating project success

Prerequisites

• Degree in Graphic Communication Management, Design or in Marketing/Business Administration
• 1+ years proven experience within project management role in a design agency environment, or similar role on client side
• Interest in brand stewardship, and project management.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Organized, self-starter who excels at prioritizing and planning
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, and experience in various project management tools
• Some knowledge of Adobe software is a plus
• Personality that is collaborative and focusses on solutions
• Critical Thinker
• Unparalleled attention-to-detail
• Ability to work independently, and as part of a team
• Ability to take initiative on projects and have passion to learn/grow
• Strong analytical skills and Proactive problem-solver
• Some knowledge of print production and Flexo, Litho and Gravure printing processes
• Understanding of design terminology and creative process is also a plus

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The U.S. pay range for this position is $51,500 USD - $61,500 USD annually. Ultimately, in determining pay, we will consider the successful candidate's location, experience, and other job-related factors.

Group benefits currently include a selection of health care plans with prescription drug coverage, dental plan, vision plan, basic and supplemental life insurance, a flexible spending account for medical and dependent care expenses or a health savings account based on plan selection, short/long term disability and 401(k) Savings Plan.

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Bachelors (required)

Understanding of design terminology and creative process is also a plus (preferred)
Some knowledge of print production and Flexo, Litho and Gravure printing processes (required)
Some knowledge of Adobe software is a plus (preferred)
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, and experience in various project management tools (required)
1 years: Years proven experience within project management role in a design agency environment, or similar role on client side (required)