Bookmarks from Word 2010 to Acrobat DC

Hi,

I will soon have to create a series of PDFs with lots of
internal document links. The tools I have to work with are Windows 7, Word 2010
and Acrobat DC. Due to an overbearing level of restrictions in a large
corporate organisation, I won’t be able to switch to alternative versions of
the programmes or other software.

I am creating the links within Word by use of its Bookmarks
facility. If I then create the PDF by using Word’s “File” > “Save as” . >
“PDF” commands, everything works fine. However, if I create the PDF directly
from in Acrobat DC from the “Tools”, the links do not work. The links also don’t
work if I create the PDF directly from the “Acrobat” command in the ribbon with
Word.

I can’t use the “Save as PDF” option  as any graphics imported in the file need to
have searchable text in the PDF. I do this by importing EPS’s into the Word
document which convert fine if the PDF is created in Acrobat DC. If I create
the PDF by using the “Save as PDF” commands, all the text in the EPS’s gets
converted to vectors and the text is then not searchable.

I realise I can create all the bookmarks natively within the
PDF, but there are going to be a lot of them and typically our authors keep
changing things right up to the submission deadline, so if all this can be
taken care of in the Word file as we go along, that would be much better.

So can anyone advise me on how I can convert from Word 2010
to PDF with bookmarks and graphics text intact? I realise if the source
documents were created in InDesign this simply would not be an issue but, for
now, that option is not on the table.

Many thanks in advance for all help and advice offered.