Apparel Direct to Garment Lead

Position Overview: The DTG Lead, under the direction of the Production Manager, is responsible for overseeing day-to-day DTG operations while actively operating DTG equipment to personalize garments to customer specifications. This role provides technical leadership, ensures production standards are met, and supports continuous improvement within the DTG department. As a working lead, the DTG Lead performs all DTG department functions alongside team members, not solely in a supervisory capacity, and is expected to develop the ability to train all positions within the department.

Reports to: Production Manager

Duties/Responsibilities:

• Lead daily DTG production activities to ensure quality standards, productivity goals, and ship windows are consistently met
• Operate DTG machines and set up jobs using work orders and Fiery Digital Factory software to meet customer specifications
• Perform and oversee daily preventative maintenance on DTG machines, heat presses, and related equipment, and ensure the DTG work area is cleaned and organized daily
• Review, organize, and prioritize DTG orders by date, ship window, and business needs
• Accurately assign daily duties to DTG team members based on production priorities and individual skill sets
• Submit and track completed units using SGB applications to ensure accurate production reporting
• Conduct quality checks on finished products to ensure compliance with SGB standards
• Run samples of new materials, garments, and print designs while keeping production orders on schedule
• Work hands-on alongside DTG team members, performing all department tasks in addition to leading the team
• Train, support, and provide guidance to DTG team members to promote consistency and skill development, with the goal of training all positions within the DTG department
• Troubleshoot machine, print, and production issues and escalate concerns to Maintenance or Management as needed
• Partner with the Logo department to improve and correct logos as needed from a production standpoint
• Communicate clearly and promptly with Management and Maintenance regarding machine performance and production challenges
• Adapt to changing production demands, materials, and workflows with minimal or no advance notice
• Support continuous improvement efforts related to quality, efficiency, and safety
• Use Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Outlook, Teams, and Word) for communication, reporting, and production tracking
• Any other duties assigned by Production Manager

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to lead by example and work collaboratively with team members
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including the ability to accurately assign duties and direct a team
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced production environment
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality standards
• Ability to problem-solve and troubleshoot equipment or production issues
• 2-3 years of Direct to Garment or screen printing experience required
• Working knowledge of Fiery Digital Factory software
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office, including Excel, Teams, and Outlook

Preferred Skills:

• Supervisory experience in a DTG, screen printing, or apparel decoration environment
• Experience training or mentoring team members
• Familiarity with production reporting or order tracking systems

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or equivalent required
• 2-3 years of Direct to Garment or screen printing experience required
• Previous leadership experience required; leadership in manufacturing or apparel decoration preferred

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to stand for long periods of time
• Must be able to bend, twist, reach, and perform repetitive physical tasks
• Must be able to lift up to 40 pounds