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