Job Title: Production Working Lead
Location: Shelbyville, Tennessee
Overview of Role:
The Working Lead Hand plays a critical role in overseeing and actively participating in daily production operations across multiple printing and decoration processes including Inkjet, Drinkware, DTF, Silkscreen, Pad Print, and Laser Printing. This hands-on leadership position ensures production targets are met while maintaining high standards of quality, safety, and efficiency. The Lead Hand is accountable for production turnaround time (TAT), quality metrics, and scrap management within their area. They will guide and support production staff, troubleshoot equipment and process issues, and coordinate workflow to consistently meet deadlines and performance expectations.
What you will do:
- Lead, motivate, and support a team of production operators across various printing processes.
- Take ownership for delivering on production TAT, quality performance, and scrap reduction targets for your area.
- Assign tasks and monitor team performance to ensure production schedules and customer deadlines are met.
- Provide hands-on training, coaching, and mentorship to new and existing team members.
- Act as the first point of contact for operational issues, ensuring quick resolution or escalation when necessary.
- Operate and oversee equipment within your designated area.
- Ensure proper setup, calibration, and preventative maintenance of machinery.
- Monitor production output for quality, consistency, and efficiency.
- Conduct in-process and final inspections to ensure product quality meets specifications.
- Record, track, and report production performance, quality metrics, downtime, and scrap.
- Ensure compliance with health, safety, and company policies at all times.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives, contributing ideas and supporting process enhancements.
- Coordinate material usage and availability to prevent delays.
- Assist with inventory counts, material handling, and ensure correct labelling/storage of inks, films, substrates, and consumables.
What we need from you:
- Previous experience desirable in a manufacturing or printing environment.
- Hands-on experience with at least two of the following: Inkjet, DTF, Silkscreen, Pad Print, Laser, or Drinkware decoration.
- Strong leadership and communication skills.
- Basic mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills.
Work Environment: This job works in a manufacturing environment, using various manufacturing equipment.
Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job the employee is required to stand for the entire shift, as well as the ability to bend, twist, push, pull, grasp, The employee is regularly required to speak or hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
About National Pen
With 60 years of experience and serving 22 countries worldwide, National Pen brands offer more value and simplicity to customers and distributor partners. National Pen’s flagship direct-to-business brand is Pens.com, and the company operates via a network of more than 10 facilities across North America, Europe, Africa, Australia and Asia.
To learn more, visit: www.PENS.com
National Pen is a Cimpress brand (Nasdaq: CMPR).
Application Question(s):
- What is your desired hourly salary expectations for this role?
Experience:
- Production Lead: 1 year (Required)
- Manufacturing: 2 years (Required)
Shift availability:
Ability to Commute:
- Shelbyville, TN 37160 (Required)
Work Location: In person
