Flexographic Print Operative

Salary: Starting £32,950, raising to £39,863 once trained

Hours: Working a 3-shift pattern (6am to 2pm, 10pm to 6am, 2pm to 10pm)

About the role

We are looking for an experienced and accomplished wide web flexographic printer to join our team at our Belper site.

This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled print professional who takes pride in producing high-quality work, maintaining excellent machine performance, and driving continuous improvement. You will play a key role in ensuring that customer requirements are met through the efficient operation of our flexographic printing equipment, delivering exceptional print quality while maximising productivity and minimising waste.

Health & Safety is our number one priority and therefore you will be accountable for your own health and the health and safety of others, operating in line with safe systems of work (SSOW) and company procedures, immediately raising any unsafe acts with those concerned and reporting health and safety incidents to management, to ultimately help create a safe working environment for all.

As part of a highly skilled production team, you will be responsible for setting up, operating, monitoring, and maintaining the printing press to consistently achieve quality, efficiency, and performance targets.

Key responsibilities include

• To be accountable for own and others health and safety whilst at work, operating in line with SSOW (safe systems of work) and company procedures to enable a safe working environment.
• To raise any unsafe acts seen immediately with individual(s) concerned and immediate reporting of health and safety incidents to management.
• Operate and optimise wide web flexographic printing presses safely and efficiently.
• Set up printing jobs, including inks, plates, sleeves, anilox rolls, substrates, and press settings.
• Ensure print quality meets customer specifications and company standards.
• Monitor colour consistency, print registration, and overall press performance throughout production runs.
• Troubleshoot print and mechanical issues to minimise downtime and waste.
• Complete routine maintenance, cleaning, and housekeeping activities to ensure equipment reliability.
• Work closely with colleagues across production, quality, and maintenance departments.
• Support continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity, quality, and operational efficiency.
• Maintain accurate production records and documentation.

About you  

Minimum requirements: 

• Puts safety first
• Proven experience operating printing presses within a manufacturing or packaging environment.
• Strong understanding of print processes, colour management, and print quality standards.
• Experience with print fault finding and problem solving.
• Ability to work independently and make sound operational decisions.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.
• Positive, proactive, and safety-focused approach.
• Good understanding of production performance measures, waste reduction, and efficiency improvement.

Preferred requirements:

• Knowledge of CI flexographic presses.
• Mechanical aptitude and first-line maintenance experience.
• Experience working within Lean Manufacturing or Continuous Improvement environments.
• Relevant print industry qualifications.

Benefits 

• DS Smith pension scheme
• Death in service life assurance
• Company sick pay scheme
• Income protection
• Employee assistance programme
• Occupational Health including physiotherapy, and virtual GP service
• Cycle to work scheme via salary sacrifice
• Shopping discounts
• Electric car scheme via salary sacrifice
• Free eye test and flu vaccines
• Employee recognition scheme
• Opportunities to progress within the business
• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays 
• Discretionary bonus
• Free on-site car park parking
• On site canteen