Guided Search Partners (GSP)
Guided Search Partners is an Executive Search firm built on Trust, Transparency, Specialization, and Long-term Relationships.
We connect high-performing professionals with organizations that value people, performance, and growth, helping leaders find roles where they can make an impact and build meaningful careers.

About the Opportunity
We’re supporting a search for a Printing Manager with a large manufacturing operation in Georgia. This role will lead the printing department within a 24/7 union facility. The focus is on moving the department from a highly individual, experience-dependent model to a more structured and repeatable operation with clear roles, stronger process control, and consistent performance across shifts.

What You’ll Do
You’ll lead printing operations with a focus on production performance, team development, process control, and long-term repeatability.

Key areas of focus include:

• Lead the printing department within a 24/7 manufacturing operation
• Manage printing performance across four presses
• Support three flexographic presses and one gravure press
• Oversee web printing operations with inline die cutting
• Establish clear roles and responsibilities across the department
• Improve repeatability and consistency across shifts
• Work closely with experienced employees and frontline leaders
• Develop and train the team
• Provide hands-on leadership on the production floor
• Support short-term production needs while building stronger long-term operating structure
• Monitor production against schedules, volume, cost, waste, and quality targets
• Partner with Manufacturing Engineering, Supply & Logistics, Sales, and other functions
• Support production scheduling and labor/capital resource allocation
• Coordinate production line maintenance and downtime to minimize disruption
• Manage operational performance and results for the department
• Support hiring, training, development, and performance management
• Manage schedules and performance expectations
• Resolve operational, scheduling, and technical issues
• Support continuous improvement using Lean and Six Sigma tools
• Support process controls and die-cutting operations
• Follow Safe Quality Food requirements and support corrective actions as needed

Who You Are
You are a hands-on manufacturing leader with printing experience and a strong focus on developing people, building structure, and improving process consistency.

You are comfortable working closely with the team on the floor while also creating clearer expectations, stronger accountability, and more repeatable operating practices. You bring a servant-leadership approach and enjoy training and developing employees.

Preferred Experience & Attributes
• Printing manufacturing experience
• Flexographic printing experience preferred
• Lithographic printing experience considered
• Gravure printing exposure is relevant
• 3–5 years of frontline supervision experience
• Process control experience
• Die-cutting experience preferred
• Platen die-cutting experience is a strong plus
• Union manufacturing experience is a plus
• Lean / Six Sigma continuous improvement experience
• Strong people leadership and team development skills
• Hands-on leadership approach
• Ability to support a 24/7 operation as needed
• Strong communication and problem-solving skills

Why This Role Matters
The printing department is a major part of the plant’s performance and revenue. The team has strong tenure and technical experience, but needs a leader who can create a more consistent, team-based operating model and reduce dependence on individual employees to solve problems. The role will also have visibility into future capital discussions that may impact the press room.