Senior Graphics Manager / Graphics Team Leader

Jobomas; Bloemfontein; On-site; ZAR 480,000 - 720,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobomas in Bloemfontein invites a Senior Graphics Manager to lead and coordinate the Graphics Department, ensuring artwork, prepress files and production graphics meet deadlines and quality standards.

You will oversee daily operations, guide the team, liaise with Production, Sales and Quality, and ensure compliance with standards and audit requirements. Strong Adobe CC skills and packaging artwork experience are essential.

Qualifications

• Diploma or Degree in Graphic Design, Prepress, Printing Technology or related field.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in graphic design/prepress, preferably in printing or packaging.
• 2–3 years' supervisory or team-leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud, especially Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat.
• Understanding of colour separation, CMYK, spot colours, trapping and print specs.
• Experience with flexographic printing and packaging artwork is advantageous.
• Knowledge of prepress and print production processes.
• Excellent attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate day-to-day activities of the Graphics Department.
• Allocate work and monitor workloads and deadlines.
• Ensure artwork and prepress work is completed accurately and on time.
• Monitor staff performance, productivity and quality.
• Provide guidance, training and support to graphics team members.
• Ensure departmental procedures and company standards are followed.
• Review, prepare and amend customer artwork for production.
• Ensure artwork is technically suitable for flexographic printing and packaging production.
• Check dimensions, colours, separations, fonts, barcodes, images and text.
• Prepare print-ready files and production proofs.
• Ensure artwork is correctly imposed and prepared per production specs.
• Identify and resolve artwork and prepress issues before production.
• Manage the artwork approval process from receipt to final production approval.
• Maintain accurate records of artwork versions, amendments and approvals.
• Ensure only approved artwork is released to Production.
• Document changes to artwork and communicate accordingly.
• Liaise with customers and internal departments on amendments and approvals.
• Work with Production and Printing teams to resolve issues.
• Provide technical graphics support during production.
• Assist with colour matching, print specifications and production requirements.
• Investigate recurring artwork or print-quality problems and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure graphics specifications align with production capabilities.
• Ensure graphics processes comply with Quality Management and Food Safety Systems.
• Maintain graphics records and documentation for audits.
• Ensure approved artwork and specifications are controlled.
• Participate in internal and external audits as required.
• Ensure customer and regulatory packaging artwork requirements are met.
• Supervise and mentor Graphics Designers and Junior staff.
• Conduct performance discussions and provide feedback.
• Identify training and development needs within the department.
• Promote teamwork, accountability and attention to detail.
• Ensure staff adhere to policies, procedures and deadlines.
• Maintain records of jobs, artwork approvals and revisions.
• Monitor turnaround times and outstanding work.
• Report delays and quality issues to management.
• Assist with improving departmental procedures and workflows.
• Maintain organised digital artwork files and archives.

Skills

Leadership

Graphic design

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Planning

Organisational skills

Communication

Quality focus

Multi-project management

Computer literacy

Cross-department collaboration

Education

Diploma or Degree in Graphic Design, Prepress, Printing Technology or related field

Tools

Adobe Creative Cloud

Illustrator

Photoshop

Acrobat

Job description

The Senior Graphics Manager / Graphics Team Leader is responsible for managing and coordinating the Graphics Department, ensuring that all artwork, prepress files, cylinders/plates and production-related graphic requirements are completed accurately, efficiently and within required deadlines.

The position requires strong technical knowledge of graphic design and prepress, attention to detail, leadership ability and the ability to work closely with Production, Sales, Quality, and customers to ensure that artwork is correctly prepared and approved before production.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and coordinate the day-to-day activities of the Graphics Department.
• Allocate work and monitor workloads and deadlines.
• Ensure all artwork and prepress work is completed accurately and on time.
• Monitor staff performance, productivity and quality.
• Provide guidance, training and support to graphics team members.
• Ensure departmental procedures and company standards are consistently followed.
• Review, prepare and amend customer artwork for production.
• Ensure artwork is technically suitable for flexographic printing and packaging production.
• Check dimensions, colours, separations, fonts, barcodes, images, text and other technical requirements.
• Prepare print-ready files and production proofs.
• Ensure artwork is correctly imposed and prepared according to production specifications.
• Identify and resolve artwork and prepress issues before production.
• Manage the artwork approval process from receipt through to final production approval.
• Maintain accurate records of artwork versions, amendments and approvals.
• Ensure only approved and current artwork is released to Production.
• Ensure changes to artwork are properly documented and communicated.
• Liaise with customers and internal departments regarding artwork amendments and approvals.
• Work closely with Production and Printing teams to resolve artwork and printing-related issues.
• Provide technical graphics support during production where required.
• Assist with colour matching, print specifications and production requirements.
• Investigate recurring artwork or print-quality problems and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure graphics specifications are aligned with production capabilities.
• Ensure graphics processes comply with the company's Quality Management and Food Safety Management Systems.
• Maintain required graphics records and documentation for audit purposes.
• Ensure approved artwork and specifications are properly controlled.
• Participate in internal and external audits where required.
• Ensure customer and regulatory requirements relating to packaging artwork are met.
• Supervise and mentor Graphics Designers and Junior Graphics staff.
• Conduct regular performance discussions and provide constructive feedback.
• Identify training and development requirements within the department.
• Promote teamwork, accountability and attention to detail.
• Ensure staff adhere to company policies, procedures and deadlines.
• Maintain accurate records of jobs, artwork approvals and revisions.
• Monitor departmental turnaround times and outstanding work.
• Report delays, quality issues and operational concerns to management.
• Assist with developing and improving departmental procedures and workflows.
• Maintain organised digital artwork files and archives.

Minimum Requirements

• Grade 12 / Matric.
• Diploma or Degree in Graphic Design, Prepress, Printing Technology or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years' experience in graphic design/prepress, preferably within the printing or flexible packaging industry.
• At least 2–3 years' experience in a supervisory or team‑leadership role.
• Strong knowledge of Adobe Creative Cloud, particularly Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop and Acrobat.
• Strong understanding of colour separation, CMYK, spot colours, trapping and print specifications.
• Experience with flexographic printing and packaging artwork will be highly advantageous.
• Knowledge of prepress and print production processes.
• Excellent attention to detail.

Key Skills & Competencies

• Leadership and people management
• Strong graphic design and prepress skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• Problem-solving and analytical ability
• Planning and organisational skills
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Strong communication skills
• Quality-conscious approach
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Strong computer literacy
• Ability to work effectively with Production, Quality, Sales and Management

Advantageous Experience

• Flexible packaging
• Flexographic printing
• Packaging artwork
• Cylinder/plate preparation
• Colour separation
• Prepress
• Artwork approval systems
• Packaging compliance requirements
• ISO 22000 / food safety environments

Key Performance Areas

• Accuracy and quality of artwork
• Artwork turnaround times
• Reduction of artwork-related production errors
• Effective management of the Graphics Department
• Compliance with artwork approval procedures
• Team productivity and performance
• Customer satisfaction
• Accurate document and artwork control
• Support provided to Production and other departments

Salary will be discussed during the interview process.