Print binding and finishing workers create physical printed media, such as books, using binding machinery and manual finishing processes. They establish the correct settings on binding and finishing machines to fulfill custom orders, and may also trim page edges and add decorative final touches by hand.
When you are crafting your print binding and finishing worker job description, you should focus on a candidate’s technical proficiency with appropriate machinery and equipment. Most people in their field learn through on-the-job training rather than formal education. Candidates should follow instructions and have an eye for detail.
Along with a working knowledge of the binding and finishing process, candidates should have good time management and organizational abilities. Customer-service skills are also important. Use the print binding and finishing worker job description below to see what other skills and information you should include in your job description.
Print Binding and Finishing Worker Job Summary
If you want a job that presents exciting challenges and allows you to move around and complete physical tasks rather than sitting at a desk all day, consider joining our crew of print binding and finishing workers. Bring your experience with automated and manual bindery work and enjoy a friendly, fast-paced atmosphere with a focus on supporting continual training and career advancement. You will have the opportunity to work directly with customers and expert bindery technicians, and to learn new skills as you complete a wide variety of projects. We are always open to new ideas for improving collaboration and workflow, and we reward innovative, high-quality work with excellent pay and benefits.
Job Responsibilities
- Complete binding processes for books and other printed media using specialized equipment and machinery along with manual work such as cutting, folding, gluing and sewing
- Read work orders from customers to understand overall project goals and requirements, and translate instructions to develop workflow and set up machinery specifications properly
- Inspect collated, stitched or unbound product samples to determine overall quality and find defects, recommend necessary changes to the binding and finishing process and follow up with customers as needed
- Attach and adjust specific tools and equipment to binder machines, including guides, clamps, knives and forms to accommodate books and pages of certain sizes and meet project requirements for final results
- Communicate directly with customers and other bindery technicians as needed to verify order information, confirm proper machine settings and deliver completed projects according to specified schedule
- Clean and inspect machinery frequently, and add lubrication, make adjustments and complete minor repairs as necessary to ensure optimal performance and safe operation
- Collect, package and prepare completed books and deliverables according to standard protocols, and complete final quality check to ensure items meet customer requirements
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- High school diploma plus at least 1 year of relevant experience
- Physically able to lift paper and equipment weighing up to 75 lbs.
- Knowledge of bindery and finish work, including cutting, folding and operating machinery
- Excellent customer service and communication skills
Preferred:
- Supervisory experience
Print Binding and Finishing Worker Job Responsibilities
Finding new talent for your organization means knowing how to put together a print binding and finishing worker job description that draws in qualified candidates by making it clear what you need from your next hire. It can do that by presenting a clear set of expected duties to the jobseeker in the job responsibilities section. Presenting those duties effectively means following a few basic stylistic rules to help ensure your print binding and finishing worker job responsibilities are complete and clear.
This is the longest section of most job descriptions, but it also needs to be efficient. Writing in active language helps to keep your wording concise. It also promotes more detailed understanding thanks to the specific nouns and verbs you choose to describe each duty. Limit yourself to between six and eight core duties to make sure you give a complete overview of the positon without overwhelming the reader.
Here are a few examples of responsibilities you can adapt to your print binding and finishing worker job description:
- Operate machinery involved in binding and finishing print projects
- Inspect final product for quality assurance purposes
- Track scrap and alert the machine setter whenever the scrap rates rise
- Package finished print materials for shipping
Print Binding and Finishing Worker Job Specifications
Presenting a clear list of job responsibilities can help qualified candidates determine their level of interest in your organization, but ensuring that each jobseeker you interview is qualified means writing a stellar job qualifications and skills section for your print binding and finishing worker job description. This section is essentially the checklist for candidates, so ensuring it is complete and communicates clearly is essential. You can achieve this by making sure each candidate meets all the vital print binding and finishing worker job specifications.
You need to know about the position before you will be able to write a solid job description, so start by talking to hiring managers and others in your organization who have direct experience with this role. It also helps to do a little research that lets you see different versions of a complete set of job specifications. As you write, make sure you use specific terms and metrics as needed to help candidates judge their fitness for the position.
Here are a few example skills that you might include in a complete print binding and finishing worker job description:
- High school diploma
- Strong problem sensitivity
- Visual inspection skills
- The ability to lift in excess of 50 lbs repeatedly