Job Title: Lead Print Production Manager
Key Results
- Work with key partners and external experts to identify interventions vital to step‑change the company’s approach to artwork creation, development and qualification.
- Build strategic relationships with key suppliers, sharing and building technical expertise and aligned approaches to artwork qualification on press.
- Lead a continuous improvement drive to implement agreed changes end‑to‑end that significantly impact quality and consistency of artwork output.
- Roll out training across the organisation to upskill all functions.
Responsibilities
Initially, you will be expected to work with all team members to summarise where interventions are required (Tools, Processes, and People), and then lead a continuous improvement drive to implement agreed changes that significantly improve the quality of artwork output across all UK brands.
- Complete management of the UK artwork portfolio to deliver artworks on time, on cost, and to agreed quality expectations.
- Make priority calls when business demand outstrips system capacity.
- Offer continuous guidance and retraining to ensure compliance with the new artwork development processes at creation, translation, and print phases.
- Identify and directly manage technically difficult or strategically important artwork development programs end‑to‑end.
- Attend first print trials and ensure printer accountability is clearly defined.
- Provide technical insight during print issue investigation and root‑cause analysis.
- Coordinate with partners to ensure root‑cause takeaways are fed into the Print Quality program for every printer.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing, Graphic Design, or Print technology fields.
- Recent PPM experience with Flexo and Gravure printing, preferably within the food industry.
- Proficient to expert skill in Pre‑press and print techniques and processes (e.g., Flexo, Litho, Gravure, colour separation, rotation, trapping, bleeding, stepping, file resolution, etc.).
- Strong understanding of effective print, photo studio, and/or digital production processes, roles, tools (digital and conventional) and workflow practices and trends.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills, including analysis, interpretation, and reasoning.
- Ability to develop and maintain collaborative relationships with peers and colleagues across the organisation, as well as with internal and external clients.
- Ability to communicate effectively and work within a team in a fast‑paced and evolving environment.
- Ability to influence peers and management.
- Self‑motivated with critical attention to detail, deadlines, and reporting.
- Strong organisational and planning skills with a strategic outlook and attention to operational priorities.
- Strong understanding of brand design equity elements and guard‑rail metrics.
Preferred
- Demonstrable experience in a printing or print manager role.
- Understanding of packaging technology substrates (flexibles, paper and board, corrugated board).
- Proven track record of project/programme leadership.
Travel: Requires periodic travel to printers within the UK & EU for print trials.
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