Pre-Press Core Lead

Circle Graphics is the world's foremost producer of grand and large-format digital graphics, and an industry leader in innovative products for outdoor advertising, business signage, wall decor, art reproduction, and the professional photography and art communities.

Across 407,000 square feet of manufacturing facilities in the United States, we operate over 88 grand and large-format digital printers, custom automated finishing equipment, and coating capabilities that produce recyclable printed materials up to 16 feet wide. Our prepress department processes more than 20,000 files a day using proprietary software automation tools, and we run 7 days a week to deliver extraordinary customer service, printing over 431 million square feet of material annually. We're known for industry-leading innovation paired with world-class service.

I. ROLE PURPOSE

The Core Lead is responsible for coordinating Core prepress workflow, coaching Core Tech I and II employees, and ensuring quality and production execution. This role serves as the primary technical resource and first-line supervisor for core production, balancing hands-on specialty work with team leadership, QC oversight, and Account Management support.

II. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assign and balance workloads for Core Tech I & II; prioritize work to meet production deadlines.

• Ensure all rush and Account Management requests are executed accurately and on time.

• Review DWF errors, rush job queues, and workflow bottlenecks; implement corrective actions.

• Train, coach, and develop Core Tech employees; conduct product-type certification assessments.

• Perform QC checks to ensure standards are met; escalate unresolved quality concerns to Supervisor/Manager.

• Support Account Management with Core product knowledge and technical guidance.

• Perform specialist duties across Wall, Transit Fleet, and Specialty products as needed.

• Serve as technical resource and escalation point for the Core team.

• Communicate workflow status, issues, and team performance to Supervisor/Manager.

III. ADDITIONAL TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

This role requires proactive, responsive communication throughout the day by monitoring the inbox continuously, reviewing, prioritizing, and addressing internal and external inquiries promptly. The expectation is clear, professional responses that accurately resolve questions and reflect a high standard of service. Strong triage skills - quickly identifying urgent messages, tracking ongoing threads, and keeping communication organized - are essential to supporting the team’s daily workflow and ensuring no critical updates are missed. Resolve questions and reflect a high standard of service. Strong triage skills - quickly identifying urgent messages, tracking ongoing threads, and keeping communication organized - are essential to supporting the team’s daily workflow and ensuring no critical updates are missed.

IV. EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Education Requirements

• Required: High School Diploma or GED

• Preferred: Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Print Production, or related field

• 3+ years of prepress experience with demonstrated leadership ability

Experience

• 3+ years in prepress production, with proficiency in Core OOH products

• Exposure to specialty products (Stadium Wall, Transit Fleet, NP)

• Previous lead, peer-training, or team coordination experience preferred

V. SPECIFIC SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

Technical Skills

• Advanced Adobe CC Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign)

• Working proficiency across Wall, Transit Fleet, and Specialty workflows

• QC audit processes and DWF error review

• Workflow management and job queue systems

• Timecard/payroll systems (as applicable)

Soft Skills / Competencies

• Coaching and employee development

• Conflict resolution and team communication

• Decision-making under production pressure

• Operational awareness and accountability

• Cross-functional communication with AM and Production teams