Digital Print Associate

FLSA Status: Exempt
Reports to: Director, Publisher Development
Employment Status: Full Time

Overview

The Digital Print Associate assists Independent Publishers Group’s (IPG) complete digital print capabilities across all printing partners and publishing platforms. The role of Digital Print Associate reflects the general template for all IPG’s digital services and is designed to support the needs of all distribution programs including Small Press United, Spanish, Trafalgar Square Publishing, Academic & Professional Publishing, Midpoint and Amphora.

A successful Digital Print Associate works closely with publishers to provide print-ready files to printers and ensures quality printing and timely distribution of those books around the world. The digital printing department collaborates with internal staff across all departments and is a high-volume, fast-paced environment that leads the edge in IPG distribution. This is an entry level role which requires the person to be able to adapt to a quickly changing industry while maintaining relationships and attention to detail.

Responsibilities and Duties

Oversee title submissions and enrollment in IPG’s Digital Printing partners, like Amazon and Ingram.
Maintain catalog accuracy and quality at IPG’s Digital Printing partners.
Communicate closely with publishing partners on file production. Including information on book templates and spine width, file and data errors, minimum PPI, bleed and best common practices
Review and process print-ready PDF files and corresponding metadata submitted by publishers for accuracy, compatibility with printers and preferred program enrollment. These include print specifications such as trim size, cover finishes, number of 1 to 4-color pages, inserts, color quality (inkjet or toner), binding and paper stock
Work with publisher partners on viability of printing and best program enrollment for optimal performance per title.
Provide instructions to publisher partners for using online printing tools such as the per-unit pricing calculator and digital printing dashboard
Support the digital printing supply chain for all company divisions.
Support the printing process from when files are submitted to when it is printed and received. This includes processing the print-ready files, tracking soft proof approvals, adjusting title statuses in databases and ordering inventory.

Qualifications:

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience
Familiarity with Adobe Acrobat PDF
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Extremely detail-oriented
Ability to adapt to changing workflows, track long-term projects and work independently
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Creative Suite programs
Candidate must be able to work remotely temporarily due to COVID-19. This includes a dedicated workspace and access to reliable internet.
Physical Abilities: Must be able to sit for long periods of time in an office environment
No travel requirements.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

About the Company

IPG is the original independent distributor of books, ebooks, and audiobooks from publishers around the world, and a top 10 supplier of book content to Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, independent bookstores, libraries, and specialty markets, in addition to thousands of retailers globally.

Established in 1971, Independent Publishers Group (IPG) was the first organization specifically created for the purpose of marketing titles from independent presses to the book trade. IPG was acquired by Chicago Review Press in 1987. In the fall of 2006, Chicago Review Press, Inc., the parent company of IPG, bought Trafalgar Square Publishing, Inc., the leading North American distributor of UK publishers. Trafalgar Square Publishing was founded in 1973 and as a division of IPG, now distributes products from clients such as Penguin Random House UK, Australia, New Zealand, and China; Allen & Unwin; The History Press UK; Amberley Publishing; HarperCollins UK; Pan Macmillan; and John Blake.

With consistent growth each year, IPG’s success has come from supporting and encouraging the growth of its client publishers in the United States and worldwide. IPG has a wide reach in the market with its distribution of publishers with academic, Spanish-language, children’s, and general nonfiction and fiction titles.