Color Control Specialist

At Japs-Olson (JO), we believe a career should be more than a job—it should be an opportunity to create a lasting impression. As a trusted leader in direct mail and commercial printing for over a century, JO is proud to be an employer of choice in the Twin Cities, empowering our team to solve problems creatively within a culture of collaboration and growth.

Whether you're a recent graduate eager to launch your career, seeking meaningful work that aligns with your values, or a seasoned professional ready to share your expertise, JO is a place where your contributions can make a difference. We offer competitive benefits, career advancement opportunities, and a commitment to work-life balance, all within a supportive environment where everyone is empowered to grow and succeed.

Join JO, where progress is celebrated, people are uplifted, and your ideas can make a difference every day.

The Color Control Specialist plays a key role in ensuring our customers receive beautifully printed, color accurate work every time. In this role, you’ll verify color during production, support customer press checks, and help maintain the calibration systems that keep our color standards consistent. You’ll partner closely with Prepress, Pressroom, and Quality teams—serving as a trusted resource for color guidance, troubleshooting, and continuous improvement. This is a hands-on, detail focused position where your expertise in color, communication, and problem-solving helps deliver the high-quality results Japs-Olson Co. is known for.

• Verify color accuracy during make‑ready and production using visual inspection and measurement tools; ensure alignment with proofs, swatches, and customer brand standards.
• Conduct and support customer press checks, communicate color expectations and variances, and document feedback for production teams.
• Serve as Premedia’s primary resource for color‑related questions and technical guidance, including calibration support.
• Calibrate and maintain all proofing and plating systems
• Monitor and document color processes using accurate data to support consistency, quality control, and decision‑making.
• Collaborate with Premedia, Pressroom, and Quality Teams to resolve color issues, support continuous improvement, and recommend corrective actions.
• Address ISO‑related findings and ensure color management practices meet internal and ISO quality standards.
• Maintain color logs, calibration records, approval notes, and other quality documentation.
• Develop and facilitate color theory and quality training for production departments.

• Strong knowledge of color theory, brand color standards (Pantone, color libraries), and color‑management principles.
• Solid understanding of Prepress workflows and production processes, ideally with experience in commercial print, digital print, packaging, or large‑format environments.
• Exceptional attention to detail with a commitment to maintaining accurate, high‑quality output.
• Proficiency with Prepress and design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Acrobat), Prinergy, and Microsoft Office, with the ability to learn new platforms quickly.
• Curve+ and Kodak ColorFlow knowledge a plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to interpret production instructions and collaborate effectively with internal teams and customers.
• Working knowledge of ISO print standards and quality assurance or process control practices.
• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Communication or equivalent experience in print, prepress, or color‑focused production environments.
• G7 Professional or Expert certification (preferred but not required).

• Affordable medical insurance plans
• Vision and dental insurance
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with company contributions
• 401(k) savings plan with company contributions
• Additional voluntary benefits
• Paid holidays and floating holidays
• Paid parental leave
• Company sponsored life insurance
• Short and long-term disability

JO is an equal employment opportunity employer. All employees and applicants will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital status, or status with regard to public assistance.

Due to the nature of the manufacturing environment, Japs-Olson Company considers this position to be a safety-sensitive position. All job offers are conditional based on satisfying a 9-panel drug screening and physical test in accordance with the Drug Testing in the Workplace Act.

The pay range listed reflects typical compensation based on market data, generally between the 25th and 75th percentile for similar roles. Where you land within that range depends on your experience, skills, and qualifications. Our recruiters will keep you in the loop throughout the process, so you know where you stand. We’re committed to fair and open conversations every step of the way.