OPERATIONS MANAGER

J R Cole Industries•Charlotte, NC

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Operations Manager is responsible for the overall leadership, performance, and continuous improvement of all manufacturing operations within the facility. This role collaborates with and oversees sections of Production, Finishing, Maintenance, Quality, and Workforce Management to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing of pressure-sensitive labels, shrink sleeves, and folded literature products. The Operations Manager will drive operational success by optimizing production processes, improving equipment and employee utilization, and ensuring on-time delivery while maintaining cost control along with quality. This individual will partner closely with Sales, Customer Service, Prepress, and Supply Chain teams to meet Customer expectations and support profitable growth.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or related field preferred.
7–10+ years of manufacturing leadership experience, preferably in labels, packaging, or printing manufacturing environments.
Demonstrated experience managing flexographic printing operations.
Experience with HP and ABG digital label printing platforms.
Experience with shrink sleeve converting and finishing processes.
Strong understanding of: Narrow web flexographic printing, Digital label printing technologies, Finishing equipment (die cutting, slitting, rewinding, inspection), Shrink sleeve converting processes, Folded literature and insert production
Deep understanding of printing substrates, inks, adhesives, and coatings.
Experience using ERP systems to analyze data and monitor production performance.
Proven ability to lead and motivate teams in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
Strong decision-making and problem-solving skills.
Excellent communication and cross-functional collaboration abilities.
Ability to manage competing priorities and production deadlines.
Strong understanding of manufacturing cost drivers including labor, materials, waste, and equipment utilization.
Ability to analyze operational data and translate insights into performance improvements.
Experience managing operational budgets and capital planning.
Must be able to stand and walk for extended periods (8–12 hours).
Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. occasionally.
Intermittent bending, stooping, reaching, climbing, and crouching.
Manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination to operate machinery and tools.
Must be able to visually inspect print quality and color accuracy.
Tolerance for working in environments with exposure to printing inks, cleaning solvents, loud noise, and varying temperatures.
Ability to manage multiple tasks, priorities, and deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.
Excellent attention to detail and quality control.
Ability to remain calm under pressure and during emergencies or troubleshooting situations.

Nice To Haves

Experience with folded literature or insert manufacturing preferred.
Prior leadership of multi-shift manufacturing operations.

Responsibilities

Provide daily leadership and oversight of all plant manufacturing operations including printing, finishing, shrink sleeve production, and folded literature operations.
Manage production supervisors, leads, and production staff across multiple shifts.
Ensure safe, efficient, and cost-effective plant operations in alignment with company goals.
Drive accountability for safety, quality, delivery, and productivity metrics.
Establish production schedules in collaboration with scheduling groups and coordinate resources to meet customer commitments and timelines
Oversee narrow web flexographic and digital printing operations including highly embellished PS and shrink sleeve labels
Manage finishing operations including slitting, inspection, rewinding, and packaging.
Oversee shrink sleeve converting processes including seaming, inspection, and finishing in a high-speed environment.
Monitor production throughput, changeover efficiency, and equipment uptime.
Ensure all products meet internal quality standards and customer specifications.
Partner with Quality leadership to support GMP and regulated market requirements when applicable.
Investigate root causes of defects and implement corrective actions.
Maintain adherence to quality system standards, GMP, or other applicable regulatory and quality standards.
Build and maintain a strong production team through effective hiring, training, and development.
Foster a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Manage staffing levels across shifts to meet operational needs.
Lead performance management and employee engagement initiatives.
Collaborate with sales and customer service teams to support customer expectations and growth initiatives.
Work closely with prepress and engineering teams to ensure smooth product launches and efficient job setups.
Partner with maintenance to maximize equipment reliability and uptime.