Pre-Press Manager

Plans and coordinates the pre-press department workflow in a manner which will consistently meet customer requirements and meet team and corporate profit goals. Provides leadership to all screen and digital pre-press production art personnel. Participates with Sales department on new design requests. Continually effects improvement in quality, methods and productivity by identifying waste and eliminating it. Provides technical knowledge and assistance to all areas.

DUTIES

Oversees daily screen and digital pre-press production art activities including file preparation, color management and proofing to ensure efficiency and quality standards are met.

• Schedules and monitors the daily pre-press production art workflow to ensure timely and efficient production.
• Controls and monitors processes; ensures in-process inspections are conducted.
• Works with sales, customer service and production teams to pre-plan orders, determine optimum processing methods, resolve artwork issues and clarify specifications.
• Oversees color management programs for screen and digital printing processes.
• Communicates with internal staff and customers as needed to provide technical assistance.
• Ensures a system for maintaining art files and archives.

Meets with and collaborates with Sales on new design requests.

• Determines scope of project.
• Recommends proper materials for project.
• Reviews nesting and various size elements.
• Assists Estimating with pricing.
• Provides technical guidance on structural elements of point-of-purchase (POP) displays.
• Collaborates with outside creative design personnel.

Management responsibilities.

• Conducts area meetings on a regular basis.
• Evaluates direct staff via the performance review process.
• Equitably interprets and enforces company policy within the area.
• Identifies, recommends and coordinates with manager and Human Resources, all decisions regarding hiring, training, evaluating, promoting and disciplining of associates consistent with corporate policies.
• Ensures training and cross training of staff.
• Keeps manager informed of problems adversely affecting the team; makes recommendations for corrective action.
• Ensures all safety practices and procedures are followed; provides appropriate training and equipment.

Responsible for quality improvement process.

• Develops process operator instructions and work instructions and conducts periodic audits of same.
• Ensures compliance with quality procedures including Blaze and First Article Inspections.
• Ensures timely response to formal and informal corrective action through the immediate use of problem solving tools to prevent reoccurrence.

Performs other duties as assigned or apparent.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Thorough knowledge of screen and digital printing processes.
• Thorough knowledge of print and color theory, and appropriate methods to produce required art and digital files.
• Thorough knowledge of various pre-press software and technologies such as Mac software, and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Thorough knowledge of pre-press operations and printing processes, including file preparation, color correction, and proofing techniques.
• Considerable knowledge of structural point-of-purchase (POP) design elements.
• Working knowledge of electronic cutting equipment, methods and processes (i.e. Zund, Kongsberg, Routers, Plotters.)
• Considerable ability to identify, analyze and resolve production-related problems including troubleshooting file issues and quickly resolving technical challenges.
• Considerable ability to lead departmental staff, provide performance feedback and technical guidance.
• Considerable ability to deal tactfully and effectively with associates, vendors and customers, while supporting company policies.
• Considerable verbal and written communication skills.
• Considerable ability to work in a high-pressure, demanding work environment.
• Considerable ability to stay abreast of technological advances and trends in the printing industry.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree from four-year college or university with emphasis on commercial art, or computer graphic design.
• Five years of screen printing and/or digital imaging pre-press experience.
• Two years of Pre-Press management experience.
• Must not be color blind.