General Manager of Operations

Printing Bellingham, Washington


Description

Northwest Center (NWC) is an ambitious, dynamic, and driven social enterprise organization that operates successful businesses to drive societal change. We are focused on our collective North—a world where all children have equitable access to education and the employment rate for people with disabilities is the same as the general population. Since its inception in 1965, Northwest Center has built and acquired a portfolio of commercial businesses to fuel our mission of disability inclusion and enable our journey North.  
    
Position: General Manager of Operations   
Location: Bellingham, WA    
Relocation Stipend of up to $10,000 is available.

  
LithtexNW is a Northwest Center business that does good in the world. This means the top-quality printing services LithtexNW delivers funds for Northwest Center’s nonprofit services. We are a versatile commercial printing company offering sheetfed offset and digital printing services. Our facility is fully equipped with a comprehensive bindery, which includes letterpress and wide-format equipment. We serve a diverse clientele of over 2,000 active customers who rely on us for a wide range of products, including letterhead, blueprints, publications, banners, and clothing. As a commercial printer with over 100 employees during peak production season, we currently serve both the public and commercial sectors, with ambitious plans to expand our presence and customer base in the coming year. To drive this growth and advance our mission, we are seeking a dynamic, results-oriented business leader who will support our cause.    
Reporting to our Chief Growth & Operating Officer (CGOO), the General Manager provides staff leadership, ensures operational efficiency and effectiveness in our printing plant, spearheads sales and marketing efforts to generate revenue, and fosters customer success. In this role, you will take ownership of the profit and loss statement, work to enhance awareness of our service offerings, drive robust growth and scalability, deliver impressive bottom-line results, and empower the team to optimize current operations. Join us in our journey to make a difference through exceptional printing services and meaningful contributions to the community.

  
Salary: $140,000 - $180,000 annually    
Additional Compensation: Surplus Bonus: Paid out once per year based on annual results.    
Commitment Bonus: Based on managing strong business fundamentals and growth. Paid out twice per year.    
    
Benefits:
  • Competitive and affordable Medical (including hearing & hardware coverage!), Dental, Vision, Disability, and Life Insurance 
  • Relocation Stipend of up to $10,000 is available.
  • 17 Accrued Paid Time Off Days Annually
  • 7 Paid Holidays + 1 Day of Floating Holiday; 2 Floating Holiday days annually after one year
  • Parental Leave & Paid Compassion Leave
  • Retirement 401(K) with a company match
  • Employment Assistance Program (EAP) via Spring Health
  • Mental Wellness Program including six free therapy sessions per year
  • Physical Wellness Reimbursement Program - $25/month
  • Student Loan Contribution Program - $50/month
  • Pet Insurance Discount Program 
Check out the entire list of benefits Northwest Center has to offer here: http://www.nwcbenefits.com/    
  
The Role:    
Operations:    
  • Responsible for overall management, growth, and profitability of operations at both the Bellingham plant and the Mt. Vernon locations
  • Provide leadership to multiple managers who ensure the retention of current customers and the acquisition of new customers through high-quality and cost-effective solutions
  • Develop and meet company goals while supplying expertise and guidance on operations
  • Coaching and development of the team to ensure strong bench strength and succession planning opportunities
  • Monitoring the printing industry for developments and informing leadership of important advances, including making equipment recommendations to improve cost, quality, and performance
  • Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal laws and regulations and company policies
Business Development:    
  • Expand the company’s business across work environments, helping build customer relationships and assisting the CGOO in maximizing the company's operating performance
  • Lead LithtexNW business development/ sales team to expand market share in existing markets, expand into new industries, and drive partnerships within mission-adjacent printing services (e.g. accessible printing) that can be converted to successful clients
  • Establishes, implements, and communicates the strategic direction of LithtexNW’s printing solutions
  • Develop and nurture relationships with key strategic individuals (local and regional non-profits, key industry players, strategic suppliers, government clients, and small and mid-sized organizations)
  • Identifies unmet needs in the marketplace. Develops and ensures the execution of strategies to expand or launch offerings, bring services to new markets and clients, and maximize sales. Drives the adoption of new company service offerings and go-to-market campaigns
     
Who you are:    
  • Experienced operational leader (10 + years experience in printing or manufacturing-based industry) well versed in financial management with full P&L accountability
  • A supportive and adaptable manager who leads based on data and KPIs while maintaining a focus on leading inclusively
  • Entrepreneurial by nature, constantly seeking potential growth areas both for business continuity and incremental growth
  • Strong verbal and written communication skills in both the leadership setting and with staff at the plant
  • Strong commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Northwest Center is committed to offering reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, perform essential job functions, and/or receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact us at [email protected]
    
At Northwest Center, we do not just accept diversity and inclusion — we celebrate it, support it, live it, and flourish in it to benefit our employees, the community, and our clientele. We believe that our strength lies within our diversity and the forward motion toward a day when people of all abilities can learn and work together.    
We believe that curiosity and critical thinking are essential to the dialogue and improving decision-making, planning, resource allocation, and how we treat others. Our goal is to create and implement more equitable practices, policies, and culture. To be equitable means to value and respect individuals from all cultural backgrounds, genders, races, identities, and abilities. Northwest Center is proud to be an equal opportunity employer, including disability and veteran status.
    
    
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