Location: Burntwood, Staffs

Full time, Salary: £ attractive (depending on experience) + profit share

After 7 consecutive record years of growth Mercian Labels wishes to appoint an experienced Senior Artworker / Reprographic Operator for its HQ in Burntwood, Staffordshire to further our drive towards the highest standards in pre-press and Colour Management. We are looking for an experienced labels / packaging artworking professional with excellent interpersonal and communication skills who can bring a proven track record of excellence in pre-press to the Business. You will be expected to expertly configure and maintain the latest preflight/web2print tools to professionally automate the processing of as much incoming artwork as possible, and add value to clients by manually correcting defective artwork to a high Standard with a chargeable service. You should be of graduate calibre or equivalent, demonstrate commitment and a totally positive “can-do” attitude.

This is an exceptional opportunity for someone wishing to develop their career, therefore, you should have the desire and ability to be the company’s EXPERT in pre-press, colour standards and graphic design, using experience and knowledge of artwork and print production to identify and resolve challenges with the appropriate skills and inform the best way to present files for production. You may be at this level already but in an organisation with no-where to move. This role offers autonomy, prospects and opportunities for success including recognition for your expertise.

The Ideal Person …

Essential skills and experience:

• At least 5 years’ experience in a pre-press role within the packaging industry
• Expert skills in Adobe Illustrator.
• Experience in configuring Pitstop Preflight software
• Experience of automating an increasingly complex pre-press workflow using the latest tools.
• Capable of supporting the implementation of the FOGRA39L colour management standards in a combined flexo/digital environment across 2 sites.
• A self-motivated professional who can introduce and maintain high pre-press standards and industry best practice across the business.
• Demonstrable experience of working within a fast paced environment with the ability to work to tight deadlines.
• Multi-tasking skills.
• Have a reputation amongst your peers for having a keen eye for detail who rarely makes mistakes.
• Possess a good, strong understanding of business and financial issues.

Desirable skills and experience:

• A formal qualification in pre-press, design or colour.
• Experience in label printing, flexography, digital printing or packaging design.
• Ability to internally train relevant staff in best practice pre-press standards.

JOB DESCRIPTION

Reporting to: Sales Director

Overall purpose: Process customer supplied artwork for printing with a high degree of accuracy and productivity, using your experience to deliver industry best practice in pre-press, and ensure conformity of work to job specifications and company standards.

Key accountabilities and tasks

Day to day functions

• Liaison with external (customers) and internal (sales/production)
• To reconcile all electronic design files with customers’ expectations.
• Manage and optimise Preflight, colour management and web to print automated workflows
• Liaison with external printing plate suppliers.
• To support the Sales team with technical pre-press queries.
• Other tasks to support the business plan as and when required including working extra hours if required to ensure company business objectives are met.

Key behaviours

• Have lots of energy and self-motivation
• Be committed and proactive
• Be a strong minded individual who can handle different aspects of the business and individuals
• Able to challenge the status quo and drive through changes
• Diligent, analytical and inquisitive with excellent attention to detail
• Sound decision making
• Demonstrate professional conduct with exemplary integrity
• Reliable, flexible and co-operative

Job Challenges

The key challenge of this new role is to take advantage of recent and upcoming investments in pre-press software and systems to raise standards and productivity in a busy & successful environment.

This is a key role and we truly want the right person to join our team. We are looking for someone to bring confidence, a flair for the role and an upbeat approach to our business!

If you feel you have what it takes to fulfil this role and have the genuine desire and drive to contribute to, and be a part of, the ongoing growth & development of the company, please send covering letter and CV stating your current salary and / or salary expectations as well as a short paragraph explaining how you feel you could work within, and demonstrate our company values. Applications to Tara Warner, HR Consultant email [email protected]

For further information on working for Mercian Labels please visit our careers page.

Deadline for applications: 4th July 2016 with interviews soon after

NO AGENCIES PLEASE