Prepress Manager

Socket.dev; Minnesota; On-site; USD 84,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare

Paid time off

Employee ownership

401k with match

Career development

Flexible hours

Tuition reimbursement

Safe manufacturing environment

Job summary

The Bernard Group, Inc. in Chanhassen, MN, is seeking a strategic leader to manage the Prepress department’s daily operations and workflow. You will oversee a technical team, optimize processes, and balance workloads while driving long-term innovation through training and strategic planning.

Ideal candidates bring leadership experience in a matrix environment, strong project management skills, and a collaborative mindset to deliver high-quality printing services on time.

Qualifications

• 2 Year Technical or Trade school diploma or certification, or bachelor degree in commercial Art or related field (required)
• 8 years minimum related experience in Prepress or wide digital format printing industry (required)
• previous experience with print production software (required)
• 3 years minimum related experience in leadership of staff (required)

Responsibilities

• oversee daily operations and workflow distribution across Prepress, Preflight, and Color teams to ensure efficiency and quality.
• manages team capacity by assigning projects based on workload and departmental priorities.
• evaluates and improves work processes, implements SOPs, and recommends operational enhancements.
• supervise, train, and evaluate staff performance while fostering a high-performing team environment.
• collaborate with internal departments to ensure alignment on project needs, color standards, and timelines.
• lead research and testing of new software, tools, and methods for print production innovation.
• monitor project progress and quality standards, troubleshooting issues and ensuring high service levels.
• develop documentation, training materials, and provides regular feedback and development opportunities for team members.
• communicate effectively with senior leadership, providing updates, presentations, and strategic input.
• participate in cross-functional meetings to align with company goals and continuously improve service delivery.
• perform miscellaneous projects and tasks as assigned by Management.

Skills

Leadership in matrix orgs

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Adaptability

Education

2 Year technical or trade school diploma or certification, or bachelor degree in commercial art or related field

Tools

Adobe Creative Suite

Excel

Outlook

Prepress software

Job description

Do you want to work for a company where your co-workers are co-owners? We are 100% employee owned! Smartpress is a fast-growing online printing service, disrupting the traditional printing industry one innovation at a time. Our customers love us (seriously, google Smartpress reviews) and we love them right back, providing an easy online experience, high-quality printed products and world-class customer service. Not to mention our commitment to eco-friendly practices and sustainable materials (“smart” is in our name, after all).

We’re looking for a strategic and solutions-focused leader to manage the daily operations and workflow of our Prepress department. This role is responsible for overseeing a team of technicians, optimizing work processes, balancing project loads across teams, and ensuring high-quality output that meets client and company standards. The ideal candidate excels in cross-functional collaboration, process improvement, and team development, while also contributing to the department’s long-term innovation through research, training, and strategic planning.

Shift available: Monday through Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

A variety of these traits will help land you this job:

• 2 Year Technical or Trade school diploma or certification, or bachelor degree in commercial Art or related field (required)
• 8 years minimum related experience in Prepress or wide digital format printing industry (required)
• previous experience with print production software (required)
• 3 years minimum related experience in leadership of staff (required)

On top of that you must have:

• proven experience leading and influencing within a matrix-managed environment and across diverse teams
• strong proficiency with project management tools and software, including Adobe Creative Suite, Excel, Outlook, and other Prepress applications
• excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• flexibility to adapt quickly to shifting priorities and business needs
• a collaborative mindset with the ability to thrive in a team-oriented environment

In this position, you will:

• oversee daily operations and workflow distribution across Prepress, Preflight, and Color teams to ensure efficiency and quality.
• manages team capacity by assigning projects based on workload and departmental priorities.
• evaluates and improves work processes, implements SOPs, and recommends operational enhancements.
• supervise, train, and evaluate staff performance while fostering a high-performing team environment.
• collaborate with internal departments to ensure alignment on project needs, color standards, and timelines.
• lead research and testing of new software, tools, and methods for print production innovation.
• monitor project progress and quality standards, troubleshooting issues and ensuring high service levels.
• develop documentation, training materials, and provides regular feedback and development opportunities for team members.
• communicate effectively with senior leadership, providing updates, presentations, and strategic input.
• participate in cross-functional meetings to align with company goals and continuously improve service delivery.
• perform miscellaneous projects and tasks as assigned by Management.

To get hired at The Bernard Group, you MUST be:

• able to effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing. Strong interpersonal skills including, demonstrated listening skills and the ability to present ideas and thoughts concisely and effectively both internally and outside the organization
• willing to admit when you make a mistake (it happens to the best of us)
• fiercely loyal to both our customers and team
• trustworthy, reliable, and easy to get along with
• enthusiastic and eager to take on new challenges
• adaptable and willing to wear whatever hat gets the job done

TBG Overview:

• We’re a 1,00-person visual merchandising company
• We are 100% employee-owned
• We offer a generous paid time off benefit that increases with tenure
• This is a full-time position in Chanhassen, MN 55317

Compensation Range: $83,900 - 105,000 annually

*Range reflects our good-faith assessment of our hiring range for this role based on market conditions, experience level, and internal equity considerations.

Benefits Overview:

The Bernard Group offers a competitive variety of benefits designed just for you:

• Healthcare, dental, life insurance, disability
• Paid parental leave
• Retirement Savings programs
  • Employee Stock Ownership Plan-100% Employee-Owned
  • 401k with a company match
• Career Development Opportunities
• Flexible Work Hours
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Employee Referral Program
• Safe & Clean Manufacturing Environment

What, still want more? We have it.

• A culture of freedom, trust and a passion for excellence!
• Collaboration and teamwork
• Talented, empowered and engaged co-workers by your side
• We have fun!

The Art of Teams at TBG:

We believe teams of top talent with clear objectives will consistently outperform centralized control. We put a great amount of energy into building skilled and diverse teams to handle our most challenging pursuits.

It’s the difference between average and being a world class service provider.

Thanks! The Bernard Group, Inc.