AVP, Production at Saks in San Francisco, CA

AVP, Production Location: SF_0689_Saks Direct Salary Range $178,000 - $233,000* Job Description: WHO WE ARE: Saks Global is the largest multi-brand luxury retailer in the world, comprising Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks OFF 5TH. Powered by our talented colleagues, we are redefining luxury shopping by offering each customer a personalized experience across our store network and e-commerce platforms. Through strong partnerships with the world’s most esteemed brands, cutting-edge technology and the industry’s most comprehensive luxury customer data, Saks Global is shaping the future of retail. YOU WILL BE: We are looking for a AVP-level Creative Production leader to own the full production function across three luxury department store banners. This is a hands-on operational role responsible for end-to-end delivery from pre-production planning through post-production sign-off across campaigns, in-store activations, editorial shoots, and digital content. The right person brings deep process expertise, strong commercial instincts, and the ability to build scalable systems without slowing down creative teams. You will work closely with creative leadership, brand partners, and external vendors to ensure every output meets the standards expected at this level of retail. YOU WILL DO: Production Manage end-to-end production across all three locations, from brief through delivery. Build and maintain production SOPs, workflow templates, and a master production calendar covering campaigns, shoots, events, and activations. Act as the senior production voice in creative reviews and cross-functional planning sessions. Partner with creative leadership to translate briefs into executable production plans with clear timelines, budgets, and resource requirements. Identify and resolve production risks before they impact delivery. Post-Production Oversee all post-production workflows: retouching, colour grading, asset management, versioning, and final approval. Build and maintain a post-production infrastructure — DAM systems, delivery specs, approval loops — that works across all three banners Manage relationships with retouchers, editors, and finishing partners to maintain quality within commercial deadlines. Ensure clean handoffs from production to post so brand intent is preserved at every stage. Manage multi-format delivery across print, digital, social, e-commerce, and in-store. Operations & Process Design and continuously improve production workflows to reduce bottlenecks and improve turnaround times. Own consolidated production budgets across all three banners, tracking spend against forecast with rigour. Implement and manage project management tooling that gives senior stakeholders clear visibility across all active productions. Report regularly on production KPIs, capacity, and operational performance. Team & People Hire, develop, and retain a production team including producers, coordinators, and post-production specialists. Set clear expectations, run regular performance reviews, and actively develop career paths within the team. Create a culture where process supports creative work rather than getting in the way of it. Vendor Management Maintain and manage a roster of preferred production vendors, studios, and post-production partners. Negotiate contracts and rate cards; conduct regular performance reviews against agreed standards. Maintain contingency options to ensure production continuity. YOU WILL BRING: Required Qualifications (Minimum Requirements): 10+ years in production, with at least 4 years in a senior or AVP-level production leadership role. Proven experience managing production and post-production in a high-volume, multi-location environment. Background in luxury retail, fashion, beauty, or premium consumer goods. Strong operational track record: budgeting, scheduling, resource planning, and workflow design at scale. Solid post-production knowledge across retouching workflows, colour management, asset delivery, and DAM systems. Experience managing cross-functional production teams and developing talent. Vendor management experience including contract negotiation. Preferred Qualifications (nice to haves): Experience in department store or multi-concept retail environments. Familiarity with integrated campaigns spanning in-store, digital, print, and social simultaneously. Exposure to AI-assisted retouching, virtual production, or CGI workflows. Experience implementing or optimising project management platforms YOUR LIFE AND CAREER AT SAKS GLOBAL: Opportunity to work in a dynamic fast paced environment at a company experiencing growth and transformation Exposure to rewarding career advancement opportunities across the largest multi-brand luxury retailer from retail to distribution, to digital or corporate Comprehensive benefits package for all eligible full-time employees (including medical, vision and dental) An amazing employee discount Benefits: We offer the following benefits for this position, subject to applicable eligibility requirements: medical insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, 401(k) retirement plan, basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance, disability insurance, and a variety of additional voluntary benefits (such as critical illness, hospital and accident insurance). Saks.com is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Compensation for this role varies by geographic location. The listed range reflects multiple markets, including higher-cost areas. Actual starting pay will be determined based on work location, experience, and other job-related factors.