Operations Manager - Print & Sign Production

Job Description

Job Description

Benefits:

• Paid holidays
• Paid time off
• Profit sharing
• Training & development
• Bonus based on performance
• Competitive salary
• Employee discounts

AlphaGraphics Lake Norman Cornelius, NC

AlphaGraphics Lake Norman is a growing digital print, marketing, and sign center serving business clients throughout the Lake Norman area. We are looking for a hands-on Operations Manager to lead our daily production operation.

This is a key role for someone who can plan work, manage schedules, direct a team, solve problems, and jump into production when needed. Our work includes digital printing, wide-format printing, signs, finishing/bindery, design/prepress coordination, and sign installation.

The right candidate will be organized, process-oriented, technically capable, customer-focused, and comfortable working in a fast-paced production environment.

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.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in printing, signage, graphic production, digital print, wide-format, finishing, installation, or a related production environment preferred.
• 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.

Key Traits

• Organized and detail-oriented
• Calm under pressure
• Hands-on and willing to help
• Process-driven
• Tech-savvy
• Team-oriented
• Accountable and dependable
• Curious and solution-minded

Benefits

• 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 growing local business

About AlphaGraphics Lake Norman

AlphaGraphics Lake Norman helps businesses communicate, promote, and grow through print, signs, marketing materials, direct mail, branded graphics, and visual communications. We are a locally owned business focused on service, quality, speed, teamwork, and long-term customer relationships.

If you are an experienced production professional who enjoys leading people, solving problems, improving workflow, and producing great work, we would like to hear from you.