Senior Print Operations & Digital Workflows Lead

Vanderbilt University; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Vanderbilt University Printing Services seeks a Senior Operations Manager to lead core business and production operations for a university in-house print shop. You will oversee the print MIS (PACE), web storefronts, inventory records, receiving, outsourced production, and employee training, while maintaining proficiency in small-format production.

You will back up production during absences or peaks and guide continuous improvement in quality, cost, and turnaround time for campus printing needs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree and a minimum of three years of relevant experience in print operations, print‑production systems, promotional products, outsourced production, inventory management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of small‑format digital print production, including file preparation, press operation, finishing, and quality control.
• Experience with PACE or a comparable print management information system, web‑to‑print platforms, inventory systems, or comparable business applications.
• Experience coordinating customers, vendors, projects, deadlines, and operational handoffs.
• Ability to operate and troubleshoot small‑format printing and finishing equipment.
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to develop procedures and train or guide employees without formal supervisory authority.
• Commitment to customer service, quality, accountability, sustainability, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the functional owner and primary subject‑matter expert for PACE or any future print management information system.
• Maintain system workflows, operational records, pricing information, inventory data, and user access.
• Provide user support, troubleshoot routine system issues, and coordinate enhancements with vendors and university technology resources.
• Manage web-to-print storefronts, including products, templates, pricing, permissions, approvals, and ordering workflows.
• Develop procedures, job aids, and training materials for applicable systems and digital workflows.
• Maintain accurate inventory records for paper, substrates, supplies, promotional products, and other materials.
• Coordinate physical inventory counts and reconcile discrepancies between system records and actual quantities.
• Monitor inventory levels and usage to support timely purchasing and reduce shortages, excess inventory, and waste.
• Receive and inspect incoming supplies, promotional products, and outsourced orders.
• Verify quantities, condition, specifications, and documentation and resolve receiving or inventory discrepancies.
• Manage promotional product sales and fulfillment from initial customer consultation through delivery and billing.
• Research products and vendors, obtain estimates, prepare pricing, and coordinate artwork, proofs, approvals, ordering, tracking, receiving, and delivery.
• Coordinate print and production projects that are outsourced to external vendors.
• Monitor vendor performance and resolve product, quality, shipment, communication, or billing issues.
• Ensure promotional and outsourced products align with approved proofs, customer specifications, university requirements, and departmental quality standards.
• Maintain proficiency in all small‑format production functions, including file preparation, digital press operation, finishing, packaging, and quality control.
• Serve as the primary backup for small‑format production during employee absences and periods of high volume.
• Provide surge support for large‑format and specialty production as needed, including apparel pressing, rotary engraving, finishing, packaging, and other production activities for which the employee has been trained.
• Perform routine equipment setup, maintenance, and troubleshooting within assigned production areas.
• Ensure work is completed accurately, safely, and according to customer specifications and departmental standards.
• Coordinate onboarding, system training, process instruction, and cross‑training for employees and student workers.
• Develop and maintain standard operating procedures, checklists, and job aids.
• Provide functional guidance and technical support without serving as the employees’ direct supervisor.
• Establish quality‑control checkpoints and investigate system, inventory, vendor, production, or delivery failures.
• Use operational data to identify improvement opportunities related to quality, efficiency, cost, turnaround time, and customer service.
• Support sustainability through responsible sourcing, inventory control, efficient production, and waste reduction.
• Perform other duties and provide operational coverage as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Print operations

PACE

Web-to-print

Inventory management

Vendor coordination

Training

Problem solving

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Tools

PACE

Web-to-print platforms

Inventory systems

Job description

Vanderbilt University Printing Services seeks a Senior Operations Manager to lead core business and production operations for a university in-house print shop. You will oversee the print MIS (PACE), web storefronts, inventory records, receiving, outsourced production, and employee training, while maintaining proficiency in small-format production.

You will back up production during absences or peaks and guide continuous improvement in quality, cost, and turnaround time for campus printing needs.