Vinyl Department Lead - Sign Manufacturing

Job Description

Job Description

SouthWood Corporation is a 55-year-old, turn-key sign company known for its exceptional quality and innovation as an industry leading designer, manufacturer, and installer of architectural signage throughout the country. Our core values of passion, curiosity, relentlessness, and a commitment to excellence are our blueprint to success every day and definitive of our community and culture. We are always seeking highly skilled and motivated performers to join our team. As a sign professional, you will play a vital role in driving results to meet challenging company goals and client expectations with signs of the highest quality.

Position Summary

The Vinyl Department Lead is responsible for leading daily operations in the vinyl production area of a sign manufacturing environment. This role oversees workflow, quality, team coordination, and production readiness to ensure vinyl graphics, printed materials, and related sign components are completed accurately, safely, and on schedule. The ideal candidate is hands-on, detail-oriented, and able to balance speed, craftsmanship, and accountability in a fast-paced production setting.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate daily workflow for the vinyl department to support production schedules and customer deadlines.
• Assign work based on priority, complexity, and team capacity.
• Review work orders, drawings, and art files to confirm jobs are production-ready before release.
• Ensure accuracy of vinyl, print, ADA, and graphic elements prior to fabrication or installation.
• Monitor department output, identify bottlenecks, and communicate risks or delays early.
• Maintain high quality standards while reducing waste, rework, and remakes.
• Support training, coaching, and cross-training of team members within the department.
• Coordinate with project management, production, fabrication, paint, ADA, and installation teams to keep jobs moving.
• Maintain organization of materials, tools, workstations, and work-in-progress inventory.
• Verify accurate job tracking, time reporting, and material usage in company systems.
• Help maintain equipment cleanliness and perform basic maintenance checks.
• Promote a safe work environment and enforce proper PPE and safety procedures.

Qualifications

To succeed in this role, candidates should bring proven production experience in sign manufacturing, vinyl graphics, wide-format print, or a related environment, along with the ability to lead by example and keep work moving efficiently.

• Experience in sign manufacturing, vinyl application, print production, graphics finishing, or a similar production environment.
• Prior leadership, lead, trainer, or team coordination experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of production workflow, job prioritization, and quality control.
• Ability to read and interpret work orders, drawings, dimensions, and production files.
• Working knowledge of vinyl materials, substrates, laminates, and application techniques.
• Familiarity with plotters, printers, laminators, and related production equipment is preferred.
• Strong attention to detail, organization, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly with team members and cross-functional partners.
• Experience with Adobe Illustrator or similar file-preparation software and using production tracking or ERP systems.

What We Offer:

• Competitive pay based on experience.
• Opportunities for growth and skill development.
• Paid time off and paid holidays.
• Benefits package includes medical, dental, vision and 401k.

Why Join Us

This is an opportunity for a strong production leader to make a direct impact on quality, efficiency, and team performance in a growing sign manufacturing operation. The Vinyl Department Lead plays a key role in keeping jobs on track, supporting team development, and ensuring finished products meet customer and company standards.