VDS Operator

About the Team

Fanatics Collectibles is a new company working at the intersection of collectibles and technology. We are backed by some of the best investors, sports & entertainment properties and operators in the world. Fanatics Collectibles is integrating with Fanatics’ global digital sports platform – which includes 900 sports relationships and more than 81 million reachable fans – to reimagine the collectibles business for the 21st century.

Role Summary

The mandate of the Fanatics Collectible Pre-Press team is to translate card designs to accurate, error-free files that are ready for press. Fanatics Collectibles is looking for a Prepress Variable Data Operator that will be responsible for preparing, processing, and managing data for personalized print ready PDF. This position requires expertise in print production, ideally, variable data printing (VDP) knowledge, and the use of specialized prepress software to ensure high-quality output. 
Candidates with a passion for sports and entertainment will likely find themselves a strong cultural fit.

In This Role, You Will…

• Utilize variable data software to write logic to incorporate variable imagery and text into InDesign 
• Identify and resolve issues related to variable data integration, file formatting, or output errors
• Collaborate closely with the production team to align on project priorities and timelines
• Strong focus on PDF review and quality control checks of approved designs against personalized PDF to ensure design accuracy (e.g., checking fonts, images, bleeds, trap, color separations, ensuring variable data fields are correctly populated and other prepress elements)
• Utilize the printing workflow management tool system to process incoming print jobs, ensuring proper file preparation, imposition, and trapping for optimal output
• Maintain accurate documentation of project specifications and file versioning
• Adapt to current industry trends, software updates, and emerging technologies related to variable data-driven print production

The ideal candidate:

• Must have expertise in Adobe InDesign, Acrobat, Illustrator, and Photoshop
• Must have certifications in graphic design, print production, prepress technology or 1+ year of experience in a prepress printing environment
• Attention to detail and ability to problem-solve complex scenarios in a fast-paced deadline-driven environment
• Strong written and verbal communication skills to interact with various production teams 
• Entry level understanding of databases (e.g., Excel, SQL) and Microsoft Office
• Familiarity with variable data print and composition software (e.g., XMPie, Fusion Pro), is a plus
• Knowledge of Javascript Programming language or QLingo (a scripting language developed by XMPie) is a plus

Fanatics is building a leading global digital sports platform. We ignite the passions of global sports fans and maximize the presence and reach for our hundreds of sports partners globally by offering products and services across Fanatics Commerce, Fanatics Collectibles, and Fanatics Betting & Gaming, allowing sports fans to Buy, Collect, and Bet. Through the Fanatics platform, sports fans can buy licensed fan gear, jerseys, lifestyle and streetwear products, headwear, and hardgoods; collect physical and digital trading cards, sports memorabilia, and other digital assets; and bet as the company builds its Sportsbook and iGaming platform. Fanatics has an established database of over 100 million global sports fans; a global partner network with approximately 900 sports properties, including major national and international professional sports leagues, players associations, teams, colleges, college conferences and retail partners, 2,500 athletes and celebrities, and 200 exclusive athletes; and over 2,000 retail locations, including its Lids retail stores. Our more than 22,000 employees are committed to relentlessly enhancing the fan experience and delighting sports fans globally. 

Fanatics Collectibles is a new model and vision for the hobby, fundamentally changing the experience for current and future collectors, leagues, and players across many U.S. and international professional and college sports. The organization has long-term, exclusive rights to design, manufacture and distribute trading cards for several sports and entertainment properties, including MLB, MLBPA, the Premier League, MLS, UFC, Formula 1 as well as Disney, Marvel, Pixar, and Star Wars, among others. In January 2022, Fanatics Collectibles announced the acquisition of Topps, establishing the preeminent licensed trading card brand as the cornerstone of Fanatics’ trading cards and collectibles business, and jumpstarted its MLB and MLBPA rights to design, manufacture and distribute trading cards