Print Manager

CookUnity•New York, NY

14h•$110,000 - $140,000•Onsite

About The Position

CookUnity is seeking a hands-on Print Manager to establish and lead their new in-house printed materials function at their Brooklyn facility. This role involves managing the commissioning, ramp-up, and daily operations of integrated Domino digital inkjet, Nilpeter material-handling, and Precision folding and gluing equipment. The ideal candidate will have deep knowledge of print production, be able to troubleshoot alongside operators, and be motivated by developing people, creating processes, and improving quality and throughput. This position offers a unique opportunity to build a new capability within a high-growth company and define operational excellence from the outset. The role requires partnership with various departments including Packaging, Automation, Operations, Engineering, Facilities, Food Safety & Quality, Brand, Menu, and equipment partners.

Requirements

5+ years of progressive experience in commercial printing, folding-carton production, packaging print, or a comparable high-volume print environment.
2+ years of experience leading print operators, technicians, or a production team, with a track record of developing people and improving performance.
Hands-on experience operating and troubleshooting digital inkjet, flexographic, offset, or hybrid print equipment. Direct experience with high-speed web handling and converting equipment is strongly valued.
Working knowledge of prepress and digital print workflows, including PDFs, RIPs, job setup, color and density control, variable data, barcode and QR-code quality, and artwork version management.
Strong understanding of print defects, registration, substrate behavior, ink adhesion and curing, folding and gluing quality, and structured root-cause problem-solving.
Demonstrated ability to build SOPs, preventive-maintenance routines, training programs, production dashboards, and disciplined shift handoffs.
Mechanical aptitude and comfort partnering with electrical, controls, facilities, and vendor technicians to diagnose equipment and process failures.
Strong production-planning and prioritization skills in a fast-changing, deadline-driven environment with many SKUs and short runs.
Clear, practical communication skills and the ability to work effectively across Operations, Engineering, Packaging, Quality, Brand, Technology, and external suppliers.
A strong commitment to safety, quality, and data-driven continuous improvement.
Ability to work on-site and flex across production schedules during commissioning, ramp-up, and critical operating periods.
Ability to perform the essential physical requirements of a production environment, with or without reasonable accommodation, including standing for extended periods and safely handling production materials and supplies.

Nice To Haves

Direct operating or technical experience with Domino digital inkjet systems, Nilpeter platforms, Precision folder/gluers, or closely comparable equipment.
Experience commissioning a new press or converting line, launching a print room, or materially scaling an existing print operation.
Experience with folding cartons, paperboard sleeves, food or consumer packaging, and high-SKU, short-run production.
Familiarity with OEE, CMMS, Lean manufacturing, 5S, standard work, and structured problem-solving methods.
Experience with automated inspection, vision systems, barcode verification, or print-management and production-workflow software.
Technical or trade-school training in graphic communications, printing technology, manufacturing, engineering technology, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Lead the installation, commissioning, acceptance testing, start-up, and production ramp of CookUnity’s integrated Domino, Nilpeter, and Precision print and finishing line.
Own daily print operations end to end, including production planning, job setup, prepress and file readiness, material staging, make-ready, printing, folding and gluing, quality release, and handoff to downstream operations.
Build the function from the ground up, including team structure, hiring, onboarding, shift coverage, skills matrices, training and certification, standard work, and a culture of accountability.
Remain close to the equipment by coaching operators on setup and changeovers, diagnosing print and converting issues, and leading structured troubleshooting when performance falls short.
Establish rigorous controls for artwork versions, job recipes, variable data, barcodes and QR codes, registration, print density, adhesion, folding, gluing, and finished-sleeve quality.
Create and own operating KPIs, including safety, uptime/OEE, throughput, schedule attainment, yield, waste, rework, changeover time, maintenance performance, and cost per sleeve.
Develop preventive and autonomous maintenance routines, maintain critical spare-parts and consumables strategies, and coordinate vendor service, escalation, and warranty support.
Partner with Packaging and suppliers to qualify paperboard, coatings, inks, adhesives, and other consumables while balancing print quality, runnability, food-packaging requirements, availability, and cost.
Partner with Brand, Menu, Culinary, Packaging, and Technology teams to translate a high volume of changing content into accurate, production-ready print jobs.
Own the safe operation of the line and work area, including machine guarding, lockout/tagout, UV-ink and chemical handling, ventilation requirements, housekeeping, training, and compliance with CookUnity standards and applicable regulations.
Manage the operating budget and inventory for inks, flush, adhesives, paperboard, spare parts, tooling, and other print-room supplies.
Build a continuous-improvement roadmap that increases capacity, quality, reliability, and labor efficiency while helping CookUnity determine how the print capability should expand over time.

Benefits

Health insurance coverage
401(k) plan
Stock Options Plan granted on Day 1
Eligibility for a biannual performance bonus
PTO policy and paid sick days
5-year sabbatical: After five years with CookUnity, you’ll receive a four-week paid sabbatical
Paid family leave
Compassionate leave: 3–5 days each time the need arises
A generous amount of CookUnity credits added to your account monthly so you can enjoy our amazing meals
Wellness perks, including access to fitness subsidies to support a healthy lifestyle
Personalized Spanish coach
An exciting opportunity to join a company that is changing how we eat and how chefs work