Newspaper Mailroom​/Packaging Department Manager

Newspaper Printing Mailroom / Packaging Department Manager Hearst Newspapers – Big Rapids, Michigan

Schedule:

4:00 PM–12:00 Midnight

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.

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.

• 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.

• 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,…