Lead Printer
KDM | Job Description
Job Title: Lead Printer
Reports To: Production Manager
Department: Digital
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Job Level: Mid
Location: Cincinnati, OH
About KDM
KDM is a full-service print and point-of-purchase (POP) display company, partnering with brands and retailers to design, produce, and deliver custom in-store marketing solutions. From concept through production and fulfillment, we help our clients bring their brands to life at retail.
Core Values
KDM Team Members are Customer Centric in all our actions through Empowerment and Nimble Team Members who are Accountable to each other.
- C – Customer Centric: Provide quality and quick response to our external and internal customers.
- A – Accountable for our own actions and to the Team and Customer — taking ownership of our actions.
- N – Nimble in our thinking and ability to change the flow to meet our customer's needs.
- D – Can Do! Yes, We are KDM! Taking Pride in our work and the company.
- O – Our Team Members are Empowered to make decisions to support KDM's Customers and other Team Members in order to achieve our collective goals.
Position Summary
This position is responsible for setting up and operating a semi-automatic press according to written and/or verbal instructions, established by company procedures, safety and quality guidelines. The Lead Printer provides direction and leadership to press operators, ensuring production quality and efficiency standards are consistently met.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Yes — provides direction and oversight to press operators.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Communication
- Providing direction and delegating assignments to press operators.
- Leading by example and maintaining high standards of quality and productivity.
- Providing positive feedback and constructive criticism within the department.
- Facilitating effective communication between employees and management.
- Assisting with training and onboarding in the department.
Press Operations
- Reading Job Ticket to verify quantity to be run, overrun tolerance, color sequence, and paper stock.
- Verifying size, color, and type of substrate, as well as color of ink from Job Ticket.
- Setting up press and printing proof sheets, checking registration and color matches against the Job Ticket, and securing Manager approval prior to the production run.
- Collecting production run samples as required.
- Ensuring quality assurance by continuous inspection of job specifications.
- Adhering to all SOPs, Safety, PPE, Productivity, and 6S requirements.
- Performing and completing all other work duties as assigned, including helping in other departments as needed.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Department Productivity: Ensure the press team meets or exceeds established daily output targets with a consistent on-time job completion rate of 95% or higher.
- Quality Reject Rate: Maintain a quality reject rate below 2% across all press runs by enforcing consistent inspection and approval standards.
- Team Training Completion: Ensure all direct reports complete required SOPs, safety, and equipment training within 30 days of assignment or updates.
- Press Setup Efficiency: Reduce average press setup time by meeting or beating the department benchmark, minimizing production delays between jobs.
- Safety Leadership: Maintain zero recordable safety incidents within the team per quarter and conduct regular 6S audits of the production area.
Required Skills & Abilities
- Ability to communicate effectively in both written and verbal formats; ability to present to small and medium-sized groups.
- Good judgment of color, design, layout, and print specifications.
- Proven ability to lead, train, and motivate a production team.
- Basic math skills.
- Basic Microsoft Office proficiency.
Qualifications
- High School diploma or GED required.
- Three to five years of printing or related production experience required.
Preferred
- Five to seven years of experience preferred.
- Printing experience highly preferred.
What We Offer
- Competitive pay based on experience.
- Health, dental, and vision insurance.
- 401(k) with company match.
- Paid time off and holidays.
- A collaborative, team-oriented culture with a company that takes pride in its work and its people.
Physical Requirements & Work Environment (ADA)
The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Physical Demands
- Regularly required to stand, walk, use hands to handle or feel, reach, talk, and hear; regularly required to stoop, kneel, or crouch.
- Must regularly lift and/or move up to 20 pounds; occasionally lift and/or move up to 80 pounds.
- Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, color vision, and ability to adjust focus.
Work Environment
- This position works primarily in a production environment — clean, fast-paced, and high-efficiency manufacturing facility.
- Regularly exposed to fumes, hazardous chemicals, moving mechanical parts, and heat.
- Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is provided where necessary.
- Position is required to meet established standards/rates for the particular process being performed.
Acknowledgements
We have discussed this form and agree that it is a fair and accurate description of the responsibilities and expectations of this position.
Employee Signature: ________________________________ Date: ____________
Supervisor Signature: ________________________________ Date: ____________
KDM is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.