Description

At District Photo, our employees are the heart of our company. We are seeking a Operations Manager in our Arizona factory

Purpose of the Role

The Operations Manager provides second-line leadership support to the Group Operations Director, with full accountability for end-to-end operational performance and process stability across the site. This role owns not only execution, but the standardization, control, and continuous improvement of core production processes, with a strong emphasis on print-on-demand market and digital printing and finishing printing and finishing workflows.

The Operations Manager ensures processes are defined, followed, corrected when off-standard, and sustained over time to deliver consistent results in quality, throughput, and cost.

Job Overview

Benefits

401K, paid vacation, paid holidays, sick and safe leave, life insurance, medical, dental, vision, and short/long term disability benefits.

Culture

At DPI, our success is powered by our people and its client’s satisfaction ratings. Our culture allows employees to be engaged, empowered, and rewarded. We are a diverse and inclusive company who seeks to expand our brand by hiring collaborative individuals who think outside of the box. We are committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace for all of our employees and visitors. Check us out

Requirements

Key Responsibilities and Tasks

• Lead and manage site production teams, driving performance, engagement, and accountability at all levels.
• Own the performance and stability of print and finishing production processes, including print, press, color management, and finishing workflows.
• Establish, document, and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) across all production areas, ensuring consistency across shifts and locations in partnership with QCIT team.
• Drive root cause problem solving on process failures (quality defects, rework, downtime), ensuring corrective actions are implemented and sustained.
• Implement process control methods (e.g., audits, control checks, visual management) to maintain gains and prevent regression.
• Partner with Production Managers to ensure process adherence, not just output attainment.
• Monitor and analyze KPIs with a focus on process capability (yield, first-pass quality, rework, press uptime, color consistency).
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives targeting waste reduction, throughput improvement, and process reliability, particularly within digital print/finishing operations.
• Support new product or material introductions by ensuring process readiness, validation, and documentation.
• Oversee P&L performance, ensuring operational decisions align with financial targets.
• Collaborate with HR on workforce planning, capability building, and performance management.
• Ensure all teams are trained and certified on critical process standards and equipment operation.
• Maintain rigorous safety standards while integrating safety into process design and execution.
• Support the Group Director in strategic planning and execution of operational projects.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Criteria

• Proven experience in operations leadership within a manufacturing or high-volume production environment.
• Demonstrated experience owning and improving complex production processes (not just managing teams).
• Strong working knowledge of textile and digital printing processes, including color management, heat press operations, and material behavior.
• Experience implementing and sustaining standard work, process controls, and SOPs.
• Proven ability in root cause analysis and corrective action (RCA/CAPA) with measurable results.
• Strong understanding of process capability metrics (yield, scrap, rework, uptime).
• Leadership skills with a track record of driving accountability and performance discipline.

District Photo Inc.

Founded in 1949 by Melvin Cohen as a small black & white photo lab, the business grew during the last half of the 20th century into a large wholesale photofinishing lab serving mid-Atlantic retailers and a national mail order film business. In the late 1990's under Neil Cohen’s leadership, DPI acquired a photo business in the UK and has transitioned from a mid-Atlantic film developing lab to multiple state-of-the-art digital labs shipping millions of photos worldwide every day.

Today, District is one of the largest variable data printing companies in the world as their facilities comprise over a million square feet of manufacturing space with a global reach that sets them apart in the digital printing market. With 7 production fulfillment facilities located in the United States (MD, PA, KY, AZ), England, the Czech Republic & Australia, District Photo is the leader in creating photo-based products as they deliver millions of prints, greeting cards, books, calendars, blankets, mugs, and other gift items yearly.

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