81E - Admin - Production Manager-81Eighty
Production Manager
Job Summary:
The 81Eighty Production Manager oversees the end-to-end production coordination process for branded
merchandise and promotional products. This role leads a team of Production Coordinators and
Associates, ensuring orders are executed accurately, on time, and within budget. The Production
Manager plays a critical role in vendor management, invoicing accuracy, and cross-functional
collaboration with Warehouse and Accounting
teams to support seamless delivery of client orders.
Key Responsibilities:
Team Leadership & Development
• Manage, mentor, and support a team of Production Coordinators handling promotional product
orders
• Act as the primary escalation point for order-related questions, vendor issues, and production
challenges
• Lead onboarding and training of new team members on systems, processes, and industry best
practices (e.g., sourcing, decoration methods, timelines)
• Conduct bi-weekly one-on-one meetings to support performance, development, and goal
setting
• Foster a fast-paced, solutions-oriented team culture focused on accuracy and client
satisfaction
Production & Order Management
• Oversee the full lifecycle of promotional product orders—from purchase order placement through
production, shipment, and delivery
• Ensure Production Coordinators are effectively managing timelines, proofs, vendor communication,
and order status updates
• Monitor order progress to proactively identify and resolve delays, quality issues, or vendor
constraints
• Implement and improve processes to enhance efficiency, scalability, and service levels
• Manage reporting related to production volume, order status, inventory and attributing
Vendor & Invoicing Management
• Support building vendor relationships through strong communication, reliability, and quality
standards
• Monitor the invoicing lifecycle, ensuring all vendor invoices are received, reviewed, and
processed in a timely manner
• Review and approve invoice coding for accuracy across products, freight, decoration, and
additional charges (e.g., rush fees, setup fees)
• Partner closely with Accounting to resolve discrepancies, track accruals, and ensure financial
accuracy
• Ensure adherence to pricing, margin, and billing guidelines
Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Maintain strong working relationships with Warehouse teams to ensure accurate receiving,
inventory handling, kitting, and fulfillment of promotional products
• Collaborate with Accounting on invoicing, reconciliation, and financial reporting
• Partner with Sales/Account teams as needed to support client deliverables, timelines, and issue
resolution
• Serve as a key liaison to ensure alignment across all stages of the order lifecycle
Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, or related field (or equivalent
experience)
• 3–5+ years of experience in promotional products, branded merchandise, or a related
production/operations environment
• Previous experience managing or mentoring a team preferred
• Strong understanding of promotional product workflows, including sourcing, decoration methods
(screen print, embroidery, etc.), and vendor management
• Excellent organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency in ERP/order management systems and Microsoft Excel
Key Competencies:
• Knowledge of promotional product production processes
• Vendor negotiation and relationship management
• Attention to detail and financial accuracy
• Ability to manage high-volume, deadline-driven work
• Leadership and team development
• Cross-functional collaboration