Commercial Print Estimator

We are seeking a skilled Commercial Print Estimator to join our team, playing a crucial role in analyzing job specifications, accurately calculating production costs, and preparing competitive and profitable quotes for commercial printing, signage, and marketing materials. This position serves as an essential technical liaison between Sales, Prepress, and Production departments, ensuring that project budgets meet customer expectations while maintaining company profitability and manufacturing feasibility.

Key Responsibilities:
- Job Specification Analysis: Review customer requests, RFQs, technical drawings, and artwork to determine the most efficient and cost-effective manufacturing processes across digital, offset, and large-format printing.
- Cost Estimation & Calculations: Accurately calculate all production costs, including paper stock, substrates, press run times, ink/toner usage, bindery, and finishing operations such as cutting, folding, laminating, saddle stitching, perfect binding, coil binding, and die-cutting.
- Proposal & Quote Generation: Prepare detailed and precise quotes and proposals using print management systems (MIS) and Microsoft Excel.
- Vendor & Material Sourcing: Request, compare, and negotiate pricing for specialized paper stocks, custom hardware, and outsourced vendor services to ensure cost efficiency.
- Cross-Department Collaboration: Work closely with Customer Service Representatives, Sales, and Production Managers to clarify job requirements, adjust parameters as necessary, and assess production timelines.
- Cost Variance Analysis: Monitor completed job metrics against initial estimates to identify variances, analyze profitability, and improve future estimating accuracy.
- Pricing System Maintenance: Assist in updating and maintaining costing databases, equipment rates, and paper vendor pricing within the estimating system.

Required Qualifications:
- Experience: Minimum of 3 to 5 years in print estimating, pre-production, or purchasing within a commercial print shop environment.
- Technical Knowledge: Strong understanding of commercial printing equipment, including digital, inkjet, and wide-format printers, as well as paper sizing, weights, press imposition, and finishing techniques.
- Software Skills: Proficiency with print management and estimating software such as EFI PrintSmith and CRM systems like PrintSpeak.
- Core Competencies: Excellent mathematical, analytical, and problem-solving skills with a high level of attention to detail.
- Communication & Deadline Management: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to manage tight deadlines in a fast-paced work environment.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree is required.
- Language: Fluent English is mandatory.
- Location: Candidates must be based in Karachi and able to work on-site.

Other Details:
- Work Schedule: The role requires working on-site from 6:00 PM to 3:00 AM PKT.
- Office Location: Off Shahrah-e-Faisal, PECHS, Karachi.
- Salary Range: Rs150,000 to Rs200,000 per month.

Applicants should be prepared to discuss their expected salary and confirm their availability for the specified night shift hours.

This position offers an excellent opportunity for professionals with solid print estimating experience to contribute to a dynamic team focused on delivering quality and cost-effective printing solutions.