Hands-On Production Ops Lead – Printing & Signs

Alphagraphicsfranchise; Cornelius, Northern (NC, KY); Hybrid; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus plan based on team performance

Profit sharing plan

Paid time off

Paid holidays

Employee discounts

Training and development opportunities

Opportunity to play a key role in a成长g

Job summary

AlphaGraphics Lake Norman in Cornelius, NC, is seeking an hands-on Operations Manager to lead our daily production operation across digital print, wide-format, signs, finishing, and installation. You will plan work, schedule production, coach a team, troubleshoot issues, and ensure on-time, high-quality results while maintaining safety and efficiency in a fast-paced production environment.

This role emphasizes customer-focused service, collaboration with sales, design, and vendors, and

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in printing, signage, graphic production, digital print, wide-format, finishing, installation, or related production environment.
• Experience planning, scheduling, and prioritizing production work.
• Strong understanding of production workflow, deadlines, quality control, and job costing.
• Hands-on experience with digital printing, sign production, bindery/finishing, prepress, installation, or related equipment.
• Ability to lead, coach, motivate, and hold team members accountable.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make sound decisions under time constraints.
• Good written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfort with technology, including Adobe Creative Cloud, RIP software, production/order-entry systems, web-to-print, and related tools.
• Practical, mechanical, and process-oriented mindset.
• Willingness to learn new equipment, materials, products, and production techniques.
• Customer-focused attitude and ability to support business-to-business client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day production across digital print, signs, finishing/bindery, and installation.
• Review incoming jobs, confirm specifications, identify production needs, and plan the best path for completion.
• Schedule and prioritize the production queue to meet customer deadlines.
• Direct, coach, and support production team members.
• Communicate clearly with customer service, sales, design, production, vendors, and ownership.
• Perform hands-on production work as needed in digital printing, wide-format/sign production, bindery/finishing, and installation.
• Troubleshoot workflow, file, equipment, material, and scheduling issues.
• Help estimate, plan, and manage custom or complex projects.
• Coordinate outside vendors, subcontractors, materials, and supply needs.
• Purchase materials and supplies while helping control inventory, waste, and production costs.
• Maintain an organized, efficient, safe, and professional production environment.
• Ensure jobs are completed accurately, on time, and to customer expectations.
• Help improve systems, procedures, workflow, quality, and team performance.
• Support a customer-first culture built on teamwork, accountability, quality, and continuous improvement.

Skills

5+ years printing

Production planning

Workflow & quality control

Hands-on with digital printing

Leadership & coaching

Problem solving

Communication skills

Technical software

Mechanical mindset

Willingness to learn

B2B customer relations

Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud

RIP software

Production/order-entry systems

Web-to-print

Job description

AlphaGraphics Lake Norman in Cornelius, NC, is seeking an hands-on Operations Manager to lead our daily production operation across digital print, wide-format, signs, finishing, and installation. You will plan work, schedule production, coach a team, troubleshoot issues, and ensure on-time, high-quality results while maintaining safety and efficiency in a fast-paced production environment.

This role emphasizes customer-focused service, collaboration with sales, design, and vendors, and