Technical Manager - Printing 1st Shift

Airlite Plastics is a premier, privately held, family-owned manufacturer headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska. Our family style and personal culture is what makes Airlite an amazing place to grow and build a successful career. Airlite’s company values of unquestionable integrity and respect and appreciation for each other are at the core of our success! These values set a strong foundation to build on where we can ‘wow’ our customers with innovative products and sustainable solutions, and continuously improve our processes and efficiencies.

Our product lines include rigid plastic containers and lids for food packaging and cosmetics, dry powder scoops, plastic drink cups, shipping containers, industrial strength insulated concrete forms (ICF) and sustainable permeable paving systems. As pioneers in our industry, focused on sustainable solutions, we strive to provide our customers with top-notch service and quality, which aligns with our award-winning products.

How would you contribute?

This role is a contributing member of our Airlite Plastics team, located in Omaha, NE. As a Technical Manager - Printing you are a key to continued growth and success of Airlite. The Technical Manager – Printing leads the Print Technical team and is accountable for the technical performance, process reliability, and continuous improvement of container and lid decoration operations using offset and flexographic printing equipment. This position combines advanced technical expertise with direct people management, resource planning, performance accountability, and cross-functional leadership. The manager establishes priorities and standards for size changes, troubleshooting, process optimization, and technical training; develops the capabilities of assigned and cross functional teams to improve safety, quality, productivity, and customer outcomes

Essential Duties:

• Lead, direct, coach, and evaluate assigned teams across assigned shifts; establish clear expectations, assign work, monitor results, and address performance or conduct concerns consistent with company policy.
• Plan technical staffing, shift coverage, skill development, and work priorities to support production schedules, equipment changeovers, and timely resolution of critical issues.
• Own the technical team’s execution of printing size changes, advanced troubleshooting, setup standards, and process optimization; establish repeatable practices and accountability for results.
• Use production, downtime, scrap, quality, and process data to identify trends, diagnose root causes, prioritize corrective actions, and verify sustained improvements.
• Define and monitor relevant team and process performance measures; communicate performance, risks, corrective actions, and improvement priorities to the Production Manager and stakeholders.
• Develop and maintain technical work instructions, troubleshooting resources, training plans, and process documentation; verify employee competency and consistent application across shifts.
• Lead technical problem-solving and continuous improvement projects from scope and resource planning through implementation, documentation, and measurement of outcomes.
• Partner with Production, Engineering, Maintenance, Graphics, Quality, Sales, and New Product Development on print trials, equipment capability, design changes, product introductions, and customer-related technical concerns.
• Assess equipment performance and condition; prioritize repair or improvement needs, initiate work orders, and coordinate follow-through with Maintenance and Engineering.
• Provide technical guidance and training to production personnel on offset and flexographic printing setup, optimization, defect identification, and troubleshooting.
• Ensure timely documentation and escalation of product quality, food safety, equipment, and operational risks; support compliance with applicable safety and quality procedures.
• Maintain accurate technical records, including recurring problems, corrective actions, project results, and lessons learned; use findings to prevent recurrence.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Do you have what it takes? Airlite Plastics is a versatile employer; complacency is not one of our strengths! We work hard each day to ensure that equipment efficiency and customer satisfaction never leave our line of sight. Successful candidates for the role will possess the following:

Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:

• Associate degree in a technical, manufacturing, engineering technology, or related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Demonstrated experience in industrial printing, manufacturing process technology, or related production operations, including advanced troubleshooting and process improvement.
• Demonstrated experience leading employees, coordinating technical work, coaching performance, and developing team capability; prior formal supervisory or management experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of offset and flexographic printing processes and equipment strongly preferred.
• Must meet applicable pre-employment screening and job-related requirements, including color vision requirements where essential to the position.

• People leadership: Ability to set direction, establish accountability, deliver candid and constructive feedback, manage performance, develop employees, and build a capable, engaged technical team.

  • Operational judgment: Ability to balance safety, quality, customer requirements, production continuity, labor resources, and cost when setting priorities and making decisions.

  • Technical expertise: Strong knowledge of printing equipment, changeovers, process variables, defect analysis, and systematic troubleshooting in a manufacturing environment.

  • Analytical problem-solving: Ability to interpret operational and quality data, identify root causes, assess alternatives, and implement sustainable corrective actions.

  • Planning and execution: Ability to allocate resources, manage competing priorities across shifts, lead projects, and deliver results through others.

  • Cross-functional influence: Ability to collaborate with and influence Production, Maintenance, Engineering, Graphics, Quality, and other partners without relying solely on positional authority.

  • Communication: Ability to communicate technical findings, performance expectations, recommendations, and escalations clearly to frontline employees and business leaders.

  • Change leadership: Ability to standardize processes, build adoption, coach through change, and sustain improvements.

  • Professional judgment and integrity: Ability to handle sensitive employee and business information appropriately, apply policies consistently, and model ethical conduct.

  • Adaptability and urgency: Ability to make sound decisions in a fast-paced, 24/7 manufacturing environment while responding appropriately to unplanned operational issues.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

Is responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and evaluation of direct reports. Carries out managerial responsibilities in accordance with the company’s policies and applicable laws. Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring and training employees; planning and assigning work; appraising performance; rewarding and leading employees; addressing conflict resolution and providing workforce success opportunities for team members.

Physical Demands & Work Environment:

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; stand; walk; use hand dexterity to operate office equipment including computer keyboards; reach with hands and arms; and talk and hear. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts. The noise level in the office work environment is typically quiet; when visiting the production floor the noise level may be loud.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

JOB HAZARD ANALYSIS

All positions must have a current Job Hazard Analysis attached to the job description. See the JHA for Office Staff, located on the Company Intranet: Corporate Services> Safety> Job Hazard Analysis> JHA Office.

Our Core Values Drive Us!

• Do you conduct yourself with unquestionable integrity?
• Do you demonstrate respect and appreciation for those around you?
• Are you innovative and strive to challenge the status quo?
• Do you strive for continuous improvement and to deliver the “wow” factor?
• Do you care about environmentally sustainable solutions? Do you take meaning and pride in a job well done?

What’s in it for you? As a Full-Time employee, you will be eligible for the following benefits:

• Health, dental and vision insurance
• Company paid life insurance
• Company paid short term disability
• Generous 401k match
• Generous Time Off
• Annual company activities

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