Director of Operations

Director of Operations – Printing / Graphics Manufacturing

Location: Rochester, NY Pay Range: $140,000-$160,000 Manpower is assisting a fantastic company located in Rochester, NY with hiring a Director of Operations to lead their manufacturing operations. The Director of Operations will serve as a key operational leader responsible for driving performance across our client's production facility. This role is instrumental in managing, communicating, and reinforcing the company's commitment to leading-edge manufacturing through high safety and quality standards, while fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. This is a highly visible, hands-on leadership position within a family-owned organization, requiring close partnership with the Owner/CEO, CFO, IT, and Production Leadership teams. The Plant Manager will oversee all production operations, including five shifts and approximately 140 production associates, ensuring efficient, high-quality output aligned with customer expectations—particularly within school printing programs. A major focus of this role will be optimizing and advancing the recently implemented PrintVis (Microsoft-based ERP) system, with emphasis on scheduling, training, and continuous system improvements.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily plant operations across five shifts (A, B, C, and weekend D & E shifts) to meet production, safety, quality, and cost objectives.
• Lead a team of Production Managers (direct reports) and indirectly manage approximately 140 production associates in a 170-person facility.
• Maintain a strong floor presence and hands-on leadership approach to ensure operational excellence.

• Lead, coach, and develop Production Managers and front-line leaders to build high-performing, accountable teams.
• Effectively manage and navigate strong personalities within a diverse workforce.
• Foster an inclusive, team-oriented culture within a bilingual (English/Spanish) environment.

• Champion continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing and problem-solving methodologies.
• Collaborate with all department leads on new software improvements, regular training on software development and changes
• Lead ongoing optimization of the PrintVis (Microsoft platform) system, particularly its scheduling functionality.
• Partner cross-functionally with IT and production teams to gather operator feedback and implement system enhancements.
• Support training initiatives to improve system adoption and performance.

• Champion workplace safety, ensuring compliance with OSHA, environmental regulations, and internal policies.
• Drive quality standards to meet customer specifications, particularly for high-volume school printing work.
• Reduce process variation and cost of non-conformance through structured improvement initiatives.

• Collaborate with Owner/CEO, CFO, and senior leadership to align operational strategy with business goals.
• Work closely with Scheduling, Supply Chain, Maintenance, and Process Engineering to optimize production flow and equipment performance.
• Partner with R&D and IT teams to support automation and system-driven process improvements.

• Manage plant budget, monitor KPIs, and implement cost optimization strategies.
• Analyze operational data to identify trends, gaps, and opportunities for improvement.
• Provide regular reporting on plant performance, strategic initiatives, and operational challenges.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of Plant Manager or senior manufacturing leadership experience within the printing / graphics industry (required)
• Strong hands-on leadership style with experience managing complex, multi-shift manufacturing operations
• Proven ability to implement systems, drive change, and lead teams through operational transformation
• Experience with ERP/MIS systems (PrintVis or similar preferred), particularly in scheduling and production workflows
• Demonstrated success in Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and automation initiatives
• Ability to manage and influence diverse teams, including bilingual environments (Spanish/English preferred)
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to make sound decisions aligned with company policies and standards
• Excellent communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills
• Strong analytical ability with experience interpreting operational and performance data
• High attention to detail with strong execution and multitasking capabilities
• Technical writing ability for operational procedures, training materials, and process documentation
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office; familiarity with Microsoft-based production systems is a plus