Position Summary
The Offset Printing Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, quality, productivity, scheduling, and operational success of Planet Direct Mail's offset printing department. This position oversees all personnel, equipment, materials, and production processes associated with the department and ensures that jobs are produced safely, efficiently, on schedule, and to the highest quality standards.
The Offset Printing Manager leads a team of press operators and assistant press operators and is responsible for maximizing equipment utilization, maintaining production schedules, controlling waste, managing inventory, and driving continuous improvement initiatives. The department currently operates two Didde VIP web presses, two Halm Super Jet envelope presses, and one Halm EM4000 four-color jet press.
This position also oversees the department's ink mixing operation, paper and consumable inventories, equipment maintenance coordination, and overall quality performance in partnership with Planet Direct's Quality Control team.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Department Leadership & Personnel Management
- Directly supervise, coach, train, and develop all offset department employees.
- Maintain staffing levels necessary to achieve production objectives.
- Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback and coaching.
- Assist with recruiting, interviewing, onboarding, and training new employees.
- Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
- Address employee performance concerns and disciplinary matters in coordination with Human Resources.
- Approve employee schedules, timecards, overtime, PTO requests, and attendance records.
Production Management
- Develop and manage daily, weekly, and long-range production schedules.
- Coordinate production priorities with Customer Service, Scheduling, Data Processing, Lettershop, and Management teams.
- Ensure all work is produced according to customer specifications and production standards.
- Monitor departmental productivity and implement improvements to increase throughput and efficiency.
- Identify bottlenecks and implement corrective actions to maximize equipment utilization.
- Manage departmental labor resources to meet production deadlines while controlling overtime costs.
- Ensure production metrics are achieved regarding efficiency, spoilage, downtime, and on-time delivery.
Quality Management
- Maintain ownership of quality performance within the offset department.
- Partner with Quality Control Auditors to identify, investigate, and resolve quality issues.
- Implement corrective and preventive actions to reduce defects, rework, and customer complaints.
- Ensure adherence to documented quality procedures and production standards.
- Promote continuous improvement initiatives focused on print quality, consistency, and process control.
Inventory & Purchasing Management
- Maintain appropriate inventory levels of paper, ink, press chemicals, and other production consumables.
- Forecast inventory requirements based on production schedules and anticipated demand.
- Place purchase orders and coordinate replenishment of departmental supplies.
- Monitor inventory usage and implement waste reduction initiatives.
- Work with vendors to obtain competitive pricing and maintain supply continuity.
- Participate in vendor evaluations and purchasing decisions.
Ink Mixing & Color Management
- Oversee all ink mixing operations within the department.
- Ensure accurate color matching and consistency across production runs.
- Establish and maintain procedures for ink inventory control and color standards.
- Minimize ink waste while maintaining quality requirements.
- Train operators on proper ink handling and color management procedures.
Equipment Management
- Oversee the operational performance of:
- Two Didde VIP web presses
- Two Halm Super Jet presses
- One Halm EM4000 four-color jet press
- Coordinate preventative maintenance schedules to maximize uptime.
- Monitor equipment performance, downtime, and reliability.
- Work with maintenance personnel, operators, and outside service providers to resolve equipment issues.
- Participate in evaluating equipment upgrades, replacements, and capital investments.
- Ensure equipment is operated safely and according to manufacturer specifications.
Safety & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with all company safety policies and OSHA requirements.
- Conduct safety meetings and reinforce safe operating practices.
- Maintain certification in the Company's Powered Industrial Truck (PIT) Training Program to train and evaluate operators and ensure compliance with OSHA and Company safety standards.
- Ensure proper handling and storage of inks, solvents, chemicals, and hazardous materials.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work environment.
- Participate in incident investigations and implement corrective actions when necessary.
Qualifications:
Required
- Minimum 7 years of commercial printing experience.
- Minimum 3 years of supervisory or management experience in a production environment.
- Strong knowledge of offset web printing operations.
- Experience managing production schedules, staffing, and workflow.
- Experience managing inventory, purchasing, and vendor relationships.
- Strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
- Demonstrated ability to improve productivity and operational efficiency.
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
- Proficiency with Microsoft Office and production reporting systems.
Preferred
- Experience operating or managing Didde VIP web presses.
- Experience operating or managing Halm Super Jet presses.
- Experience operating or managing Halm EM4000 presses.
- Knowledge of direct mail production and USPS requirements.
- Experience with color management and ink mixing operations.
- Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement experience.
Physical Requirements:
- Ability to stand and walk throughout a manufacturing environment.
- Ability to occasionally lift up to 50 pounds.
- Ability to work around moving machinery, ink systems, chemicals, and production equipment.
- Ability to respond to production issues during extended shifts when necessary.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):
The Offset Printing Manager will be evaluated on:
- Departmental productivity and labor efficiency
- On-time completion of production schedules
- Equipment uptime and utilization
- Quality performance and defect rates
- Spoilage and waste reduction
- Inventory accuracy and control
- Overtime management
- Employee retention and development
- Safety performance
- Continuous improvement initiatives
Supervisory Responsibility:
Direct supervision of approximately 14 press operators and assistant press operators within the Offset Printing Department.
Work Environment:
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently exposed to fumes or airborne particles, moving mechanical parts and vibration. The noise level in the work environment can be loud.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is very active and may require standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, and crouching. The employee may be required to lift and/or move items over 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
Position Type and Expected Hours of Work:
This is a full-time position. The hours for this position may vary occasionally, depending on the company's needs. Regular working hours: Monday – Friday; 8:00am – 5:00pm.
Travel:
No travel is expected for this position.
Required Education and Experience:
High school diploma or GED, or equivalent years of experience.
Additional Eligibility Qualifications:
Must be able to pass background check and drug test.
Work Authorization:
Must be eligible to work in the United States.
Pay: $60,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
