Senior Prepress Technical Specialist - 2nd Shift

Great Northern Corporation; Brooklyn Park (MN); On-site; USD 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Shift differential $2/hour

Profit sharing

401(k) with company match

Medical, dental, life insurance

Job summary

Great Northern Corporation is hiring a Senior Prepress Technical Specialist for the 2nd shift. The role involves reviewing and preparing artwork for print, modifying designs with Adobe tools, and ensuring efficient prepress workflows in a packaging production environment.

The ideal candidate has a two-year Graphic Communications degree (or equivalent) and at least seven years in lithographic print production, with strong teamwork and problem-solving abilities.

Qualifications

• Two-year degree in Graphic Communications or equivalent experience.
• At least seven years of lithographic print production experience.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills.
• Ability to work with cross-functional teams and manage time effectively.
• Proficiency with graphics software in a print production environment.

Responsibilities

• Review artwork and layouts to optimize producibility.
• Modify artwork using graphics software for printable media.
• Leverage workflows to ensure error-free, repeatable outputs.
• Troubleshoot issues and provide practical solutions.
• Convert files into printable formats with color management considerations.
• Collaborate with Design, Production, and Customer Service teams.
• Create original artwork and mockups for customers.
• Maintain prepress software and SOPs, and support training.

Skills

Team collaboration

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Time management

Communication skills

Education

Graphic Communications degree

Equivalent experience

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe InDesign

Adobe Photoshop

Esko Automation Engine

Esko Artios

Esko WebCenter

Job description

Senior Prepress Technical Specialist – 2nd Shift (Plus $2/hour Shift Differential)

Why Great Northern

Established in 1962, Great Northern is a local, privately owned paper-based packaging manufacturer with a long history of providing secure, stable, and meaningful positions. You will experience a collaborative team-first, safe, clean, enjoyable, and predictable workplace where team members support and care for one another.

Our team members produce sustainable and eco-friendly products that are supplied to national brands that impact people's day-to-day lives.

Additionally, Great Northern is continually investing in upgrading or purchasing new, high-speed manufacturing equipment to maximize and increase capacity. Our employees have access to state-of-the-art technology and tools, enabling them to work more efficiently and effectively. These investments not only maximize our capacity and increase production, but also create more opportunities for our employees to learn and grow their careers.

What We Can Offer You

In addition to excellent wages, Great Northern has a competitive benefits package including medical; dental; life insurance; paid vacation; paid holidays; profit sharing and 401(k) with company match.

We also offer our employees a safe, clean, friendly environment and room for growth! Are you looking for a career with an established and stable company?

Pay/Schedule

• Minimum starting at $31/hour - Dependent on experience and qualifications (Plus $2.00/hour Shift Differential)
• Monday – Friday from 2:30pm – 11:00pm. This is an onsite position

Under general supervision and following established procedures, the Senior Prepress Technical Specialist is responsible for performing a variety of graphics and pre-production related tasks and support functions for Manufacturing, Sales, and Customer Service.

Position Summary

Essential Duties and Responsibilities Include the Following. Other Duties May be Assigned.

• Reviews artwork, structural designs, and layout in order to make recommendations that will enhance the Company's ability to produce a particular product.
• Modifies artwork utilizing software tools to create printable media. This may include the creation of artwork to satisfy requirements.
• Leverages electronic workflow systems to provide error-free, repeatable methods of creating/modifying artwork.
• Troubleshoot issues and provide solutions to problems.
• Utilizes experience to convert provided files into printable files. This includes screening theory, color correction theory, and software understanding.
• Identifies potential issues related to the assembly of a product at store level and reviews with the Design Team.
• Actively seeks new knowledge of ongoing software changes to provide accurate and efficient outputs.
• Creation of original artwork and graphic design to provide customers with mockups.
• Responsible for output of artwork to imaging devices.
• Collaborates with other prepress team members to balance workload requirements necessary to meet internal (printing press) and external (proofs, mockups) customer needs.
• Collaborates with the prepress and customer service departments at our Great Northern locations.
• Advises customers and Management on efficient prepress procedures and innovations in graphic arts.
• Responsible for seeking understanding and knowledge in a wide variety of graphic arts software and procedures.
• Acts as a training and knowledge resource for less experienced members of the prepress team.
• Creates laminating and die cutting specification sheets for production showing graphic placement and other information pertaining to the production of graphic products. (i.e. cartons and displays)
• Provides technical support to Customer Service, Sales, Design, and Production on color, graphics, direct print, litho laminated and related products.
• Partners with the Senior Workflow Analyst to create Standard Operating Procedures and improve our prepress/RIP workflows.
• Partners with the Senior Workflow Analyst in administering the prepress software. (Adobe, Automation Engine, ArtPro+)
• Partners with the Senior Color Analyst in managing the color profiles and press curves.
• Actively participates in maintaining proofers according to maintenance schedules.
• Develops process improvement initiatives that enhance the effectiveness of the product development process.
• Pulls and inspects existing printing plate files and modifies them as needed.
• Participates in periodic staff meetings as required.
• Participates in periodic training and development programs as required.
• Performs a variety of miscellaneous job-related tasks as may be assigned from time to time by a Management Representative.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• A two-year degree in Graphic Communication-related fields or equivalent experience.
• Requires at least seven years of experience in lithographic print production.
• A commitment to ethical business standards and personal integrity.
• Self-motivation and ability to work with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with others, and the ability to convey a positive and professional image of service and support to employees at all levels of responsibility in the company.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.
• Accuracy in work and strong attention to detail.
• Ability to demonstrate strategic thinking, influence, and implement change.
• High level of ability to make sound and courageous decisions on your own.
• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret various instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram format.
• Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw conclusions.
• Approachable and supportive when working with others.
• Demonstrated communication skills in both oral and written format.
• Demonstrated ability to use graphics software in a print production environment (Adobe Illustrator, Adobe InDesign, and Adobe Photoshop).
• Ability to create new artwork when needed.
• High level of ability to work effectively with employees and Managers/Supervisors and the ability to convey a positive and professional image to employees and customer.
• Practical experience in at least one workflow/RIP system for preparation of files for printing is beneficial.
• Ability to use and interpret Internet/Intranet information.
• Ability to work with Macintosh and Windows-based operating systems.
• Ability to use Microsoft Office software (Word, Outlook, and Excel spreadsheet applications).
• Experience with the Esko Platform (Automation Engine, Artios, WebCenter) preferred.
• Demonstrates openness to constructive feedback and applies insights to continuously improve performance, processes, and outcomes.

Expectation

To be successful your teammates will depend on you to have pride in your work, be on time, work safely, work effectively with others, be optimistic, take ownership of your responsibilities, and look for continuous improvement opportunities.

Great Northern is an Equal Opportunity Employer

We are a Tobacco free campus