Director of Press Operations

Shift:

Equipment:

Wide web flexo experience (W &E, Nilpeter, Soma)

Job Description: Director of Press Operations

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Director of Press Operations to lead printing and prepress operations in a polyethylene packaging manufacturing environment. This role is responsible for supervising press department employees, overseeing product quality, supporting production efficiency, troubleshooting press related issues, and ensuring customer expectations and internal quality standards are consistently met.

The ideal candidate will have strong experience in press operations, flexible packaging, OPV, lamination, quality control, employee leadership, and production troubleshooting. This position requires a hands on leader who understands pressroom operations and can step in to support department duties as needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise employees involved in printing and prepress operations
• Oversee daily press operations to ensure quality, safety, efficiency, and productivity
• Monitor product quality while jobs are running on all presses
• Inspect and approve mounter proofs, press setups, slitter setups, and ink room color proofs
• Read and interpret work orders, job specifications, artwork, print masters, product samples, and customer requirements
• Observe and evaluate equipment settings, conditions, and press performance
• Operate testing and analyzing equipment to measure dimensions, review samples, and complete quality checks
• Record quality check results on QC logs and required documentation
• Assist operators and team members with troubleshooting quality, output, and production issues
• Monitor equipment condition and performance
• Perform minor maintenance when needed or initiate maintenance requests
• Review production documents for accuracy, including daily production logs, accumulation sheets, work orders, and quality assurance logs
• Input production data into computer systems for tracking production time, output, scrap, equipment issues, and processing problems
• Check and approve timesheets for subordinate employees
• Perform quality checks on incoming anilox rollers, fountain rollers, and plate cylinders
• Receive employee call ins, document absences, and arrange coverage when needed
• Ensure employees are at assigned workstations and ready to begin work at the start of shift
• Support scheduling and work assignments as needed
• Enforce company policies, procedures, quality standards, and safety requirements
• Perform all other duties as assigned
• Supervisory Responsibilities
• Directly supervise employees within the Press Department
• Train employees and support job progression within the department
• Plan, assign, and direct work
• Evaluate employee performance and provide feedback
• Address complaints and help resolve employee or production issues
• Support accountability, performance goals, and department expectations
• Enforce all current company policies and procedures
• Assist scheduling and sales as needed with assigning and directing work
• Press Operations Responsibilities
• Review job orders, print masters, mounter proofs, samples, and production specifications
• Determine setup plans and direct press crew members during setup
• Support setup duties including cleaning print stations, confirming correct ink colors and viscosities, and obtaining materials and supplies
• Install plate sleeves, anilox sleeves, and intermediate mandrels as needed
• Set impressions on printing plates and adjust color to color register
• Inspect initial setup samples for color, register, impression, location, and overall print quality
• Make final adjustments and document required quality checks
• Inspect samples from each roll and troubleshoot quality or production problems
• Adjust press settings to support maximum output, quality, and safety
• Monitor and calculate production information
• Audit required paperwork, including production sheets, accumulation sheets, and job orders
• Perform preventive maintenance
• Check and approve color matches, mounter proofs, slitter setups, folder setups, and other press setups
• Required Qualifications
• Thorough knowledge of press department equipment, functions, procedures, and production requirements
• 4 year college degree preferred, or minimum of 7 years of experience as a press operator or press manager
• Strong understanding of printing, prepress, OPV, and lamination processes
• Ability to read and interpret work orders, safety rules, operating instructions, maintenance instructions, procedure manuals, and company policies
• Ability to communicate clearly and professionally with supervisors, employees, and other departments
• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide using whole numbers, fractions, and decimals
• Ability to read a tape measure
• Ability to solve practical production problems and make sound decisions with limited standardization
• Ability to interpret written, oral, diagram, and schedule based instructions
• Ability to understand and operate production and testing equipment related to the department
• Must complete all required company and regulatory training
• Skills and Competencies
• Strong pressroom leadership
• Strong quality control mindset
• Strong troubleshooting ability
• Strong mechanical and production understanding
• Ability to lead teams in a fast paced manufacturing environment
• Ability to monitor production performance and correct issues quickly
• Strong communication and follow through
• Ability to enforce safety, quality, and production standards
• Ability to support operators and crew members as needed
• Strong attention to detail and documentation accuracy
• Physical Requirements
• Ability to stand for up to 12 hours
• Ability to walk, reach, handle materials, talk, and hear throughout the shift
• Ability to occasionally climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl
• Ability to regularly lift and move up to 50 lbs
• Ability to lift more than 50 lbs with assistance or proper equipment
• Must have close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus
• Ability to concentrate for long periods of time
• Work Environment
• Manufacturing environment with moving mechanical parts
• Exposure to fumes or airborne particles may occur
• Occasional exposure to hazardous chemicals, extreme heat, high places, or risk of electrical shock may occur
• Noise level may be loud
• Temperature may vary based on seasonal conditions
• Must be able to work in a constant state of alertness and in a safe manner
• Safety and Hazmat Responsibilities
• Follow all safety and environmental rules and procedures
• Enforce safety and environmental requirements with department employees
• Support response to incidental releases of hazardous substances when properly trained
• Coordinate communication with supervision and management when incidents occur
• Understand labels and identify hazardous substances in the work area
• Participate in required OSHA HazCom, EPA hazardous waste, DOT hazmat handling, spill response, evacuation, and flammable liquid fire safety training
• Support employee health, safety, and environmental compliance within the department
• Schedule Requirements
• Must be able to work 12 hour shifts as needed
• Must be able to work 7 days a week depending on production schedules and customer demand
• Overtime may be required based on business needs