Print Operations Manager

Description

Print Operations Manager

Location: Wentzville, MO – On-site (overseeing two production facilities within driving distance)

Employment Type: Full-Time, Salaried (Exempt)

Reports To: COO

Industry: Print-on-Demand (POD) Sublimation – Personalized Gifts & Home Décor

About the Role

We are a rapidly scaling leader in customized sublimation gifts (mugs, tumblers, blankets, apparel, ornaments, etc.). To support explosive growth and maintain best-in-class quality and on-time fulfillment, we are creating a new Print Operations Manager position responsible for all digital printing and sublimation transfer production across our two facilities.

This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership role. You will own print quality, color consistency, printer uptime, workflow standardization, and team performance across both sites. You will standardize best practices, drive continuous improvement, and scale print capacity while building a strong, engaged print production team.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct leadership for 4-10 team members across two facilities.
• Ensure identical print quality, color standards, and output consistency between both locations.
• Own all aspects of color management: ICC profiling, linearization, daily color calibration, spectrophotometer use, and RIP software settings.
• Develop and enforce standardized SOPs for printer operation, daily/weekly maintenance, ink systems, substrate handling, and quality checks.
• Partner with the Maintenance Manager to maximize printer uptime and implement preventative maintenance schedules for the entire print network.
• Lead Lean/continuous improvement initiatives 
• Plan and execute print capacity expansion, new equipment installation, and cross-training programs.
• Establish and track KPIs.
• Recruit, train, coach, and develop print supervisors and high-potential operators; build succession plans.
• Collaborate with customer service, and inventory teams to resolve quality issues and meet aggressive daily ship deadlines.
• Manage print-related consumables budget and vendor relationships

• Required Qualifications

• 5 years of progressive leadership experience in digital printing or sublimation production 
• 3 years managing multiple shifts or multiple locations with proven ability to align teams around common standards.
• Deep expertise in color management and print quality management (G7 certification or equivalent experience a major plus).
• Hands-on knowledge of printer maintenance and troubleshooting
• Demonstrated success implementing Lean principles and process standardization in a high-SKU, high-volume environment.
• Strong team-building and coaching skills; experience growing operators into leads and supervisors.
• Data-driven: comfortable with production dashboards, Excel/Google Sheets analysis, and presenting metrics to senior leadership.
• Ability to travel regularly between the two facilities

• Preferred Skills & Attributes
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or higher
• Familiarity with automation 
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) highly desirable
• Calm under pressure; thrives in a fast-paced, deadline-driven e-commerce fulfillment environment

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive salary
• Annual performance bonus
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off paid holidays

If you live and breathe print quality, love building strong teams, and get excited about standardizing and scaling high-volume digital print operations, this is your role.

We are an equal-opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.