Job description
Join NorthStar Printing Group, a premier commercial and packaging print house in Chicago, as a Print Production Manager. You will oversee all facets of print production, coordinate with sales, prepress, and finishing teams, and ensure on-time delivery with uncompromising quality across multiple formats including offset, digital, and packaging.
We value strategic thinkers who thrive in fast-paced environments, optimize workflows, and manage budgets to maximize throughput and profitability. If you excel at leading diverse teams and delivering complex print projects from proof to ship, we want you on our team.
Responsibility
- Plan and manage daily production schedules for offset, digital, and packaging projects, balancing capacity and deadlines.
- Oversee prepress workflows, color management, proofs, and file integrity to ensure print-ready files.
- Coordinate with vendors, bindery partners, and internal teams to secure materials, proofs, and finishing services.
- Monitor quality control at all stages, implement corrective actions, and maintain quality standards.
- Control production costs, track KPIs, and drive continuous improvement initiatives to reduce waste and increase throughput.
- Ensure safety, compliance, and standard operating procedures across the print floor.
- Develop and mentor production staff, schedule training, and foster a collaborative, results-driven culture.
- Prepare accurate production reports for leadership and ensure customer expectations are met or exceeded.
Qualification
- Bachelor's degree in Print Technology, Graphic Communications, or related field; or 5+ years of hands-on print production leadership.
- Proven experience with offset and digital printing, prepress, color management, and finishing processes.
- Strong knowledge of prepress workflows, RIP software, ICC color profiling, and proofing standards.
- Excellent project management, scheduling, and vendor coordination skills.
- Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, reduce waste, and improve throughput in a high-volume environment.
- Leadership and communication skills to mentor teams and collaborate with sales, engineering, and operations.
- Knowledge of safety standards and quality systems (e.g., ISO 9001) and a continuous improvement mindset.