Print Production Lead

About Us:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) was founded in 2000 with one clear objective: accelerating meaningful therapeutic advances and, ultimately, a cure for Parkinson’s disease (PD). The Foundation applies extraordinary scientific, business and media assets to this singular focus—thus creating a unique and dynamic organization. Since inception, MJFF has quickly grown into the largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s disease research, having funded over $2 billion in research projects in both academic and industry labs worldwide.

Core to our philosophy is how we think of our capital and its risk profile relative to other stakeholders in the drug development pipeline. We work aggressively to de-risk various therapeutic strategies and tools in the hopes of building a robust pipeline of new treatments for patients. In order to achieve our mission of finding a cure for PD it is critical that we engage with, and bring together, members of the PD community including researchers, physicians, health professionals and most important, people with Parkinson's and their families.

We believe that to find a cure for PD as quickly as possible, our capital needs to push research forward today—we therefore deliberately hold no endowment or excessive reserves. We instead seek to deploy funds raised as quickly and wisely as possible. MJFF raises over $100 million annually. Today, the Foundation has approximately 300 full-time employees. We offer a collegial and collaborative environment where optimistic problem-solvers and entrepreneurial, resourceful individuals can thrive and make a tangible difference for millions of people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Position Summary:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (“the Foundation”) is seeking top talent for its Print Production Lead position.  Reporting to the Director of Project Management in the MarComms Operations department, this position oversees the entire print production process, ensuring high-quality outputs from concept to final product for a range of projects across all the Foundation’s programs and teams including publications, direct mail, event signage, store merchandise, promotional items and more. This role plays a key part in advancing the Foundation’s fundraising and engagement efforts as many of these materials are donor-facing or designed for educational purposes. This position serves as the central point of contact for a multitude of internal teams and vendors, ensuring consistent processes, brand integrity and cost-effectiveness across all production work.  The successful candidate will have a keen eye for detail, excellent project management skills, and a deep understanding of print production techniques, vendor management and inventory systems.

This is a hybrid-flex position that will require in-person attendance at The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s headquarters in New York City.

Primary Duties & Responsibilities: 
Overall Management & Vendor Oversight

• Oversee end-to-end production, from scoping and vendor selection to proofing, quality assurance and delivery, driving accuracy, timeliness and cost efficiency at every stage

• Design and maintain quality assurance processes and checkpoints that ensure deliverables meet technical specifications, brand standards and stakeholder expectations

• Coordinate with internal teams, including creative, editorial, business operations and development to ensure all projects meet deadlines and stay within budget

• Oversee production phases of project timelines, coordinating with project managers and other team members to ensure tasks are completed on time, within scope and aligned with the overall project schedule

• Provide regular updates and reports on project status to stakeholders and project managers

• Develop and maintain relationships with vendors, negotiate pricing and ensure timely delivery of materials. Solicit, evaluate and manage project estimates to optimize costs while meeting project requirements

• Serve as the primary liaison with contracted vendors (e.g., merchandise/fulfillment, printers) to centralize communication, reduce fragmented requests and improve accountability

• Maintain documentation of production specifications, production timelines and costs

• Implement best practices and process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce costs

• Stay up to date with industry trends and advancements in production and print technology

Merchandise & Promotional Production

• Proof and oversee the production of store merchandise, giveaways and event-specific custom items, ensuring brand consistency and high-quality execution

• Manage inventory of materials, coordinate reorders as necessary and generate new ways to easily order materials to meet internal needs

• Introduce and manage an easy-to-use ordering system for internal stakeholders to request materials, ensuring quick fulfillment and delivery

• Establish guidelines for what should be “order-on-demand” vs. “bulk production” to balance efficiency, storage and cost-effectiveness

Print Production

• Work with vendors to propose innovative formats, techniques and methods that elevate and maximize the effectiveness of the Foundation’s print materials while being cost-effective

• Oversee the creation and approval of proofs, ensuring accuracy and quality control

• Ensure all production projects adhere to brand standards, applying brand-aligned colors, typefaces, and design elements to maintain consistency and reinforce the Foundation’s visual identity

• Conduct quality checks at various stages of production to ensure consistency and adherence to specifications

• Troubleshoot and resolve any issues that arise during the print production process

 Qualifications and Skills:

• Proven experience in print production management or a similar role within a communications, marketing, or design department, with strong knowledge of print production processes and pre-press techniques

• Proven experience managing print vendors, including negotiating pricing, timeline and ensuring high-quality outcomes while staying within budget

• Proven ability to manage print production in a cost-effective manner while enhancing fundraising, communications and community engagement efforts

• Excellent project management skills, capable of handling multiple projects, coordinating with cross-functional teams and meeting deadlines in a fast-paced environment

• Effective problem-solving and troubleshooting skills, with the ability to address issues that arise during the print production process and implement process improvements

• Proficiency in design software such as Adobe Creative Suite is preferred, and a solid understanding of brand standards and their application across public relations

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality control, ensuring all printed materials adhere to brand standards and specifications

Preferred Qualifications:

• Light design skills, including the ability to make minor edits, adapt layouts and edit final production files as needed

• Experience in inventory management and developing efficient systems for tracking and ordering materials, while staying updated on industry trends and advancements in print technology

Salary and Benefits:
The salary range for this position is $115,000 to $130,000.  In addition to salary, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research offers a comprehensive benefits package, including:

•  15+ options for medical insurance (with the Foundation paying 90 percent of the premiums)

• Competitive dental and vision plans

• 401(k) plan with 6 percent employer contribution

• Flexible spending accounts

• Employer paid life and disability insurance

• 18 Vacation Days; 12 Well-Being (Sick) Days; 2 Personal Days; summer Fridays (office closure at 2 p.m.) and a summer holiday week over July 4

• Two ways of working: hybrid-flex, or remote work.  We trust all employees to work closely with their manager and colleagues to determine when, where and how programs and projects get done. 

Employees are also eligible for a discretionary bonus on an annual basis. The Foundation provides staff and leadership cultivation through regular training courses and events. 

How to Apply: 
Interested candidates should submit a resume and thoughtful cover letter describing through examples, their specific qualifications and interest in the position. If you think that your skills are transferable and can add value to this role, please apply. Applicants who best match the position’s needs will be contacted.

MJFF is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who will contribute to our efforts to build and support a diverse, equitable and inclusive workforce. Diversity may refer to characteristics including, but not limited to, race, religion, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, socioeconomic circumstance, geographic background, ability and disability, political ideology and age.