Newspaper Printing Mailroom / Packaging Department Manager

Hearst Newspapers – Big Rapids, Michigan
Schedule: 4:00 PM–12:00 Midnight

Build Your Career With Hearst

At Hearst Newspapers, we do more than produce printed products. We help connect communities with the local news, information, advertising and stories that matter to their daily lives.

Every publication leaving our Big Rapids production facility represents a commitment to our readers, customers and communities. Our mailroom and packaging team plays a critical role in making sure those products are assembled accurately, completed on schedule and delivered with the quality our customers expect.

Hearst is a leading global, diversified information, services and media company with operations around the world. For more than a century, Hearst has built its reputation through innovation, integrity and a commitment to informing audiences and improving lives. Hearst Newspapers operates daily and weekly publications across the country, combining the strength and resources of a major media company with the local focus of community journalism.

The Pioneer has served Big Rapids and the surrounding communities since 1862 and continues to provide trusted local coverage of schools, government, sports, businesses and community events.

At Hearst, we attract talented people, build careers and provide opportunities for employees to grow. We value teamwork, accountability, continuous improvement and employees who take pride in producing excellent work.

Position Overview

The Newspaper Mailroom / Packaging Department Manager is responsible for leading the daily operations of the mailroom, packaging, inserting and commercial finishing departments at our Big Rapids printing facility.

Reporting to the Plant Manager, this position will manage the evening production team and ensure that newspaper, commercial printing and mailing jobs are completed safely, accurately, efficiently and on schedule.

The successful candidate will be a hands-on leader who is comfortable operating equipment, training employees, troubleshooting production issues and holding team members accountable. This position requires strong communication, organization and mechanical problem-solving skills.

The ideal candidate will have direct experience operating newspaper inserting, inkjet addressing, stitching, trimming or related commercial finishing equipment.

Major Areas of Accountability

• Lead the daily operations of the mailroom, packaging, inserting, mailing and commercial finishing departments.
• Ensure that safety, productivity, quality, housekeeping and on-time production goals are consistently achieved.
• Manage, train, coach and develop employees working on the evening shift.
• Establish clear expectations and hold team members accountable for performance, attendance, quality and workplace conduct.
• Coordinate labor, equipment and materials based on daily and weekly production schedules.
• Operate production equipment and provide hands-on support when needed.
• Promote a positive workplace culture based on teamwork, respect, accountability and pride in our facility.
• Identify production problems, workflow bottlenecks and equipment concerns before they affect customer deadlines.
• Lead improvement efforts focused on safety, quality, efficiency, waste reduction and equipment reliability.

Key Responsibilities

• Review daily production schedules, job tickets and customer specifications.
• Assign employees to equipment and production responsibilities based on workload, experience and deadlines.
• Coordinate newspaper inserting, commercial finishing, addressing, stitching, trimming, sorting and packaging activities.
• Ensure all publications and commercial jobs are produced according to customer specifications.
• Verify insert quantities, bundle counts, mailing information, skid tags and production documentation.
• Monitor production throughout the shift and adjust staffing or workflow as production needs change.
• Work closely with press, prepress, customer service, scheduling, shipping and transportation teams.
• Confirm that completed products are properly labeled, packaged, staged and ready for delivery.
• Maintain accurate production, waste, timekeeping, training, maintenance and quality records.
• Train new employees on equipment operation, job procedures, quality expectations and safe work practices.
• Provide ongoing coaching and cross-training to strengthen the capabilities and flexibility of the department.
• Troubleshoot mechanical, electrical and workflow issues and coordinate repairs when additional support is required.
• Ensure preventive maintenance, cleaning and equipment inspections are completed.
• Maintain an organized, clean and customer-tour-ready production department.
• Monitor inventory levels for supplies such as inkjet ink, strapping, wrapping materials, labels, stitching wire and other production materials.
• Investigate quality concerns, missed deadlines, shortages and production errors and implement corrective actions.
• Communicate production results, staffing concerns, equipment needs and improvement opportunities to plant leadership.
• Support company policies, safety requirements and operating procedures.
• Participate in improvement projects throughout the production facility.
• Perform other duties as assigned based on the needs of the operation.

Equipment Experience

Experience operating, maintaining or supervising production on the following equipment is strongly preferred:

• GMA SLS 1000 inserting system
• Kansa inserting equipment
• Kirk-Rudy inkjet addressing equipment
• Muller Martini stitcher-trimmer
• Newspaper inserting and packaging equipment
• Inkjet mailing and addressing systems
• Commercial bindery, stitching, trimming or finishing equipment
• Material-handling and palletizing equipment

Candidates with experience on similar newspaper, direct-mail, commercial printing or bindery equipment are also encouraged to apply.

Qualifications

• Three or more years of leadership, supervisory or lead-operator experience in newspaper production, commercial printing, direct mail, manufacturing, packaging or a related environment preferred.
• Demonstrated experience managing employees in a deadline-driven production environment.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and the ability to troubleshoot production equipment.
• Ability and willingness to operate equipment and work alongside the production team.
• Strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to set clear expectations and consistently follow up on results.
• Strong organizational, scheduling and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage multiple jobs, changing priorities and firm production deadlines.
• Attention to detail and a commitment to producing accurate, high-quality work.
• Basic computer skills, including experience with Microsoft Excel, Word, email and production-related software.
• Ability to communicate effectively with employees, managers, customers, vendors and technical support providers.
• Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully with employees throughout the organization.
• High school diploma or equivalent required. Additional technical, printing, manufacturing or leadership education is preferred.

Physical and Work Requirements

• Ability to work the regular schedule of 4:00 PM to 12:00 midnight.
• Ability to work additional hours, weekends or holidays when necessary to meet production requirements.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
• Ability to bend, reach, climb and work around moving production equipment.
• Ability to lift and move materials commonly used in newspaper and commercial print production.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment with production noise, moving equipment and changing temperatures.
• Ability to safely perform equipment setup, adjustments, cleaning and basic maintenance.

Why Join Hearst?

Hearst offers the resources and stability of a respected global company while maintaining the strong local connections of a community newspaper organization.

This position provides an opportunity to:

• Lead an important production department within a growing commercial printing operation.
• Develop employees and build a strong, accountable production team.
• Work with a wide variety of newspaper, mailing and commercial printing products.
• Gain experience with specialized inserting, inkjet and bindery equipment.
• Participate in equipment improvements and production improvement projects.
• Build a long-term career with one of the country’s leading media and information companies.
• Produce products that directly support local journalism, community organizations and area businesses.

Our Benefits

Hearst recognizes that its employees are one of the company’s most valuable assets. We offer a competitive benefits package designed to support employees’ health, financial security, professional development and quality of life.

Benefits and programs may vary based on position, work schedule and eligibility and may include:

• Competitive compensation
• Medical, dental and vision insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan
• Paid time off
• Paid holidays
• Life and disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program
• Wellness programs
• Training and professional development
• Tuition assistance
• On-the-job equipment and leadership training
• Employee discounts and additional Hearst employee programs

Hearst is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age or other characteristics protected by law.

About Hearst Newspapers:

With 2,500 employees across the nation, HNP represents a network of 24 daily and 52 weekly publications, including the San Francisco Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News and Albany Times Union, several top digital-only news and lifestyle sites, marketing services businesses, and entertainment businesses such as King Features Syndicate. At HNP, we are investing in new and innovative ways to tell stories–growing newsrooms, diversifying tools, evolving platforms–to support the millions of people who trust us each month to help them make decisions, take action, and be inspired. 

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