OPERATOR, LEAD PRESS - Full-time

Position: Flexographic Press Group Lead (Night Shift)

Shift Hours: Night Shift — Monday–Thursday, 5 PM – 3 AM

About Inovar Packaging Group

EMP, an Inovar Packaging Group, LLC Company, is proud to be one of North America’s premier flexographic and digital printing companies. We are committed to the success of our employees and customers by investing in advanced equipment, innovative technology, and strong operational leadership. Our culture is customer-driven, team-oriented, and built on accountability, craftsmanship, and win-win partnerships.

Why Join Us?

• Competitive pay 
• Comprehensive benefits package (medical, dental, vision, life, STD/LTD)
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Growth opportunities within a rapidly expanding organization

Key Objective

The Flexographic Press Group Lead is a hands-on production leader responsible for overseeing nightshift press operations while actively running a servo-driven narrow web flexographic or hybrid press. This role serves as the go-to technical and people leader on shift, ensuring safety, quality, productivity, and uptime while supporting and coaching press operators and production staff.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support night-shift flexographic press operations, ensuring jobs are completed safely, efficiently, and to quality standards.
• Set up, operate, and troubleshoot a servo-driven narrow web flexographic or digital hybrid press, including printing and die-cutting operations.
• Act as the first point of escalation for press, ink, registration, or quality issues during the shift.
• Review job tickets and specifications to ensure proper materials, inks, tooling, and press setup.
• Prepare presses for production, including loading substrates, mounting plates, installing tooling, setting impressions, and verifying registration.
• Monitor and adjust ink distribution, viscosity, press speed, and curing/drying systems to maintain print quality and minimize waste.
• Coach and mentor press operators and support staff, reinforcing best practices, quality expectations, and safe work behaviors.
• Coordinate with production, quality, and maintenance teams to resolve issues and maintain schedule adherence.
• Perform routine press maintenance, cleaning, and minor repairs; escalate maintenance needs as appropriate.
• Ensure safety procedures, housekeeping standards, and company policies are consistently followed on shift.
• Communicate shift performance, issues, and handoffs clearly to leadership and the incoming team.

Requirements

• Proven hands-on experience operating Mark Andy, Nilpeter, MPS, Omet, or other servo-driven narrow web flexographic presses.
• Strong working knowledge of UV and/or water-based inks, pressure-sensitive labels, and film substrates.
• Demonstrated ability to troubleshoot independently and make sound decisions in a production environment.
• Prior experience serving as a lead operator, senior operator, or informal shift lead preferred.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable using basic computer systems for job tracking, reporting, and production documentation.
• Excellent communication skills with a team-oriented, accountable leadership mindset.
• Ability to meet the physical demands of press operation, including standing, lifting, and working on the production floor.