Vanguard Packaging Inc is hiring: Creative Director in Kansas City

Overview

This position is located in Kansas City, MO. Relocation assistance available.

Manages and leads a design team of graphic and structural designers in the development of corrugated POP displays, graphic packaging, industrial packaging, and pre-press production. Provides creative guidance, aesthetic direction, and oversight to design projects, processes, ideation, and innovation. Responsible for managing three design centers, staff, schedules, and customer projects. Interfaces with clients, the sales team, marketing, and designers during the development and progression of projects or design initiatives.

This position is highly collaborative and requires not only leading a team well but also taking direction from other directors and managers. It requires creative vision and the ability to listen to and nurture the creative ideas of others. It also requires overseeing targets such as deliverable timelines, budgets, and client relationships. The creative director may also assume the roles of an art director, copywriter, or designer.

DUTIES AND ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Manages and improves synergies across our design locations.
• Makes regular visits to all satellite design locations.
• Directs staffing, training, and performance management to develop and improve the design personnel and functions.
• Responsible for managing, guiding, coaching, developing and monitoring performance of team members.
• Provides the vision, guidance, aesthetic direction, and oversight to design projects.
• Effectively manages design schedule / backlog and level loads resources as needed to meet customer timelines while providing ongoing tracking and status reports to key stakeholders.
• Engages in sales meetings, customer meetings, and presentations to aid in the business development cycle.
• Oversees design solutions and sample production to meet customer requirements and equipment and plant efficiencies.
• Drives optimization and continuous improvement initiatives through all design locations.
• Leads development of creative strategies and initiatives.
• Organizes and leads collaboration amongst designers and with other departments.
• Assumes the role as designer when required and must have the skillset to execute.
• Takes ownership of design initiatives through concept, manufacturing, and fulfillment; works closely with other designers, the sales team, marketing, and operations.
• Serves as design subject matter expert on services and products aligned with customer’s products and objectives.
• Demonstrated experience to drive projects to completion in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.
• Acts with creative leadership when supporting corporate activities.
• Represents creative lead in industry and customer events.
• Oversees digital prepress process.
• Develops effective design processes and procedures.
• Responsible for non-conformance investigation and resolution related to design.
• Oversees creation of specifications, diagrams, set-up instructions and / or animations for end user.
• Reviews sample requests for layout and planning of project with key stakeholders.
• Supports sales team including interaction with customers (customer facing) and / or vendors to meet customer’s expectations.
• Reviews in-process production orders to assure conformance to design functionality.
• Facilitates or executes product testing as required.
• Provide training and mentoring to all designers including entry level talent to build a sustainable creative department.
• Guide, coach and mentor design team through performance management and development processes.
• Attendance is an essential function of the role.
• Other duties may be assigned.
• Ability to travel to meet business needs of approximately 15-20% with heavy travel during certain project periods.

OTHER FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Perform other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum Required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Design, Packaging Design, or Communication Design or combined experience and education.
• Minimum 5 years design management leading and managing a team of designers.
• Minimal 10 years’ structural design experience in the corrugated POP display and packaging industry.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant experience. Proficient in the use of current design software (e.g., Artios, SOLIDWORKS, Adobe Illustrator, etc.).
• Staff and project management experience.

Preferred

• Sketching and / or rendering skillset to support responsibilities.
• Experienced with the retail environment specifically in-store marketing promotions and executions.
• Portfolio or awards of work in the corrugated promotional industry.