Top Benefits
About the role
Winpak Division is looking for a Graphics Manager to join their team based out of Winnipeg, Manitoba.
Reporting to the Director, Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning, the Graphics Manager plays a key leadership role in driving the success of our flexible packaging operations through innovation, collaboration, and operational excellence. This position leads the Graphics Department, providing technical expertise and strategic direction to ensure the seamless execution of artwork and prepress processes from concept to production.
The Graphics Manager is responsible for delivering high-quality, accurate, and timely graphic solutions that meet both customer expectations and manufacturing requirements. Working cross-functionally with Sales, Customer Service, Production, and external partners, this role helps bring customer visions to life while supporting business growth, continuous improvement, and a strong customer experience.
This is an exciting opportunity for a collaborative and solutions-focused leader who is passionate about building strong teams, improving processes, and delivering exceptional results.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Graphics Operations
- Lead and oversee the Graphics Department, ensuring alignment with business goals, customer expectations, and production requirements.
- Develop and maintain efficient, standardized workflows for artwork creation, approvals, and release to production.
- Manage department resources, staffing, and team development to support service levels, accuracy, and continuous improvement.
- Foster a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team culture focused on quality and operational excellence.
Artwork, Prepress & Cross-Functional Execution
- Oversee all artwork development, color separation, and prepress activities to ensure production-ready files that meet print and quality standards.
- Approve final artwork and ensure accurate information is communicated to Scheduling and Production teams.
- Leverage Esko systems and workflow automation tools to improve efficiency, consistency, turnaround times, and accuracy.
- Partner closely with Sales, Customer Service, Production, Scheduling, and R&D to support customer expectations, manufacturability, quoting, and new product initiatives.
Supplier Management, Quality & Continuous Improvement
- Manage external graphics suppliers and establish performance expectations related to cost, quality, and turnaround time.
- Track and report key performance indicators including artwork turnaround, error rates, and on-time release to production.
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives that enhance efficiency, reduce errors, and support operational optimization.
- Ensure compliance with ISO, SQF, customer, and internal quality standards across all graphics processes.
Required Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in a flexographic prepress, printing, or flexible packaging manufacturing environment, with strong knowledge of graphics workflows, artwork development, and printing processes. Experience with both graphics and press operations is strongly preferred to support effective collaboration with Production teams.
- 5+ years of leadership or management experience leading teams in a manufacturing environment, with demonstrated success driving accountability, performance improvement, and operational change.
- Post-secondary education in Graphic Design, Printing Technology, or a related technical field; equivalent combinations of education, leadership experience, and industry knowledge will also be considered.
- Proven experience leading cross-functional collaboration with internal stakeholders including Production, Sales, Scheduling, and Customer Service, as well as external customers
- Strong communication, organizational, problem-solving, and influencing skills, with the ability to lead teams through change, challenge long-standing processes, and build alignment across departments.
Preferred Qualifications
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Experience leading continuous improvement initiatives, workflow modernization, or cultural change
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Experience working with Esko systems, including WebCenter, and leveraging workflow automation tools to improve efficiency, accuracy, and turnaround times.
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Strong understanding of flexographic print standards, color separation, plate requirements, and production readiness processes.
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Experience managing supplier relationships, graphics quality standards, and service expectations related to turnaround time and cost.
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A leadership style that balances coaching and development with accountability, helping teams adapt, evolve, and improve performance in a changing environment. A people-centered leadership style that encourages shared ownership, accountability, and continuous growth while supporting teams through change and performance improvement.
Why Winpak?
Winpak is committed to providing comprehensive benefits to support the physical, mental, financial, and social well-being of our employees and their families. Our benefit package includes the following:
- Medical, dental, vision & prescription coverage
- Travel coverage
- Disability coverage
- Voluntary life insurance
- Life and accidental death & dismemberment insurance
- Tuition assistance program
- Retirement savings plans
- A comprehensive employee and family assistance program which includes short term counselling, wellbeing coaching, financial and legal consultations services.
Winpak’s vision is to provide the best packaging solutions for people and planet. We are a leading supplier of innovative packaging solutions, known for providing high-quality products that meet the needs of a variety of industries, including food and beverage, pharmaceuticals, and consumer products. With a commitment to sustainability, safety, and excellence, Winpak continues to grow as a global leader in the packaging industry.
At Winpak, inclusion is one of our core values. We believe that an inclusive culture fosters a sense of belonging, drives innovation, and provides our brand a competitive advantage. Our goal is to create an environment free from harassment and discrimination, and where every individual feels respected, valued, and appreciated.
As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we are committed to an equitable and inclusive recruitment process, evaluating applicants based on merit, capability, and qualifications related to the job - never on identity factors such as race, colour, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion, disability, national origin, or any other protected status. To support this commitment, if you require any accommodation during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will work with you to ensure your needs are met.
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