Associate Director – Print Supply Operations

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in United States.

📋 Description

• Take charge of the process from finalized deal to delivered product.

• Transform each order into a vendor-ready format with accurate components, quantities, school allocations, and delivery schedules.

• Strategically plan production and shipping in reverse from the first day of school and the start of year professional development.

• Address issues related to missing, damaged, or incorrect orders and monitor the resolution process until completion.

• Implement quality checks to identify printing and kitting errors prior to district delivery.

• Keep Sales, Partner Experience, and districts updated on order progress.

• Maintain a comprehensive breakdown of titles, printed materials, and kit components within products.

• Collaborate with Sales and Product teams to forecast demand and establish print quantities and reorder levels.

• Manage risks associated with trade books including reprints, back orders, and out-of-print titles.

• Define operational strategies across printers, fulfillment centers, warehouses, book distributors, and kit suppliers.

• Lead requests for proposals (RFPs) and negotiations, while reviewing vendor performance each season.

• Coordinate with designers, Product, and printers to ensure specifications align with curriculum design and are feasible.

• Conduct visits to vendor locations to assess quality and capacity.

• Monitor total item and kit costs from printing through to shipping.

• Collaborate with Finance and Marketing to analyze product margins and propose pricing and packaging adjustments.

• Communicate production timelines to curriculum teams.

• Measure and report on metrics such as on-time delivery and cost per kit.

• Document essential processes and recruit/manage additional support as necessary.

• Report directly to the CEO.

⛳️ Requirements

• Over 6 years of experience in supply chain, print production, or fulfillment operations, with complete ownership of orders from purchase to delivery.

• At least 3 years of managing vendor relationships with printers, fulfillment centers, or warehouses, including leading RFPs and negotiating pricing and timelines.

• Direct experience with printed products, trade books, and multi-item kits.

• Proficient understanding of print production and inventory management, including specifications, proofs, forecasting, and reorder levels.

• Strong analytical capabilities, encompassing cost modeling and margin evaluation.

• Proven ability to resolve operational challenges and establish processes to avert future occurrences.

• Willingness and capability to travel as required.

• Preferred: experience in K–12 publishing or classroom resources, including back-to-school delivery cycles and state adoptions.

• Preferred: familiarity with third-party fulfillment warehouses and trade book distributors.

• Preferred: previous experience as the inaugural owner of a function in a growing organization.

• Must be based in the U.S.

🏝️ Benefits

• Health care coverage provided by the employee.

• 401K retirement matching.

• Flexible paid time off (PTO).

• 12+ observed days off throughout the year.

• Biannual company retreats to foster team bonding.

• Optional local meetups for networking and collaboration.

• Flexibility to work from home.

• Technology package supplied for work tasks.

• Stipend for home office expenses.

• Opportunities for educational and professional development.

• Monthly Brunch and Learns for team engagement and learning.