Sheard Pa
We are looking for someone to lead, develop and strategically advance Sheard’s Structural Design function.
The Design Manager owns the design strategy, capability development, innovation pipeline, and alignment between Sales, Technical, Operations and Commercial.
Operating primarily within the fast-paced FMCG and retail goods sectors, the role ensures our design output meets the demands of these markets while showcasing Sheard’s creativity, technical capability and customer focus.
A key objective is to drive operational efficiency, improve design accuracy, reduce waste, elevate the customer experience, and maximise the commercial impact of design.
Sheard Packaging is a successful family-run business and proud to be one of the UK’s leading independent cardboard box manufacturers. With vast investment into the business to ensure continued growth and success, we are committed to continuing to encourage and develop our employees. After all, they make our business what it is today.
If you are self‑motivated with an interest in Sales, we would love to hear from you. Apply now to join our team and make a meaningful impact. Submit your application below, including your resume and cover letter, or email it to recruitment@sheard.co.uk.
Sheard Packaging has a commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion. Striving to create an open, inclusive, and equal environment free from bias and discrimination.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership
Develop a long-term vision for the design function, ensuring capability aligns with business growth plans and customer expectations.
Lead the innovation agenda across structural design, sample development, sustainability and new packaging concepts.
Set performance targets for the design department, including efficiencies, service levels, accuracy and customer satisfaction.
Champion design‑led customer experience improvements, ensuring Sheard delivers solutions that delight customers and reinforce our market positioning.
Represent the design function during customer visits to ensuring a professional, consistent and impressive experience.
Operational Excellence & Efficiency
Analyse processes, workflow and throughput to identify improvements and operational efficiencies.
Implement systems, standards and continuous improvement plans to reduce design errors, speed up sampling, and enhance manufacturability.
Work closely with Operations to ensure design outputs match machine capability and tooling constraints, while satisfying the customer’s request.
Being the main contact for tooling suppliers, ensuring quality, standards and best practices are adhered to.
Manage, mentor and develop the Design Team Leader and wider design team, creating a culture of accountability, creativity and high performance.
Support recruitment, onboarding and training.
Manage and lead team personal development reviews of the design team, ensuring training plans for team are in place.
Process & Systems Ownership
Ensure design processes (SOPs), documentation and procedures are followed consistently.
Track key performance indicators (sample lead time, design accuracy, error rates, workload balance).
Highlight opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and refine workflow.
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Significant experience in structural corrugated packaging design within a manufacturing environment or design centre.
Minimum of 2 years leadership experience managing design teams or technical functions.
Expert knowledge of CAD (Kasemake/AG CAD, ArtiosCAD or equivalent), corrugated materials, board performance, and manufacturing processes.
Ability to engage confidently with customers at all levels.
Demonstrable track record of improving processes, efficiency and team capability.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to present confidently and clearly.
Ability to recognise the commercial implications of design decisions.
Experience in managing improvement, innovation or value creation projects is advantageous.
PERSONAL BEHAVIOUR
Approachable, supportive leader who helps others succeed.
Strategic thinker with strong analytical and organisational skills.
Professional, customer‑focused and innovative.
A creative approach to problem solving.
Proactive, structured and highly collaborative.
Passionate about innovation, continuous improvement and world‑class customer service.
SUSTAINABILITY We strive to ensure our entire supply chain is as sustainable as possible, beginning with the use of fully FSC®‑certified materials for our products and concluding with our fuel‑efficient transport fleet, supporting the Circular Economy, and helping our customers meet their environmental goals.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The Design Manager owns the design strategy, capability development, innovation pipeline, and alignment between Sales, Technical, Operations and Commercial.
Operating primarily within the fast-paced FMCG and retail goods sectors, the role ensures our design output meets the demands of these markets while showcasing Sheard’s creativity, technical capability and customer focus.
A key objective is to drive operational efficiency, improve design accuracy, reduce waste, elevate the customer experience, and maximise the commercial impact of design.
Sheard Packaging is a successful family-run business and proud to be one of the UK’s leading independent cardboard box manufacturers. With vast investment into the business to ensure continued growth and success, we are committed to continuing to encourage and develop our employees. After all, they make our business what it is today.
If you are self‑motivated with an interest in Sales, we would love to hear from you. Apply now to join our team and make a meaningful impact. Submit your application below, including your resume and cover letter, or email it to recruitment@sheard.co.uk.
Sheard Packaging has a commitment to diversity, equity & inclusion. Striving to create an open, inclusive, and equal environment free from bias and discrimination.
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Strategic Leadership
Develop a long-term vision for the design function, ensuring capability aligns with business growth plans and customer expectations.
Lead the innovation agenda across structural design, sample development, sustainability and new packaging concepts.
Set performance targets for the design department, including efficiencies, service levels, accuracy and customer satisfaction.
Champion design‑led customer experience improvements, ensuring Sheard delivers solutions that delight customers and reinforce our market positioning.
Represent the design function during customer visits to ensuring a professional, consistent and impressive experience.
Operational Excellence & Efficiency
Analyse processes, workflow and throughput to identify improvements and operational efficiencies.
Implement systems, standards and continuous improvement plans to reduce design errors, speed up sampling, and enhance manufacturability.
Work closely with Operations to ensure design outputs match machine capability and tooling constraints, while satisfying the customer’s request.
Being the main contact for tooling suppliers, ensuring quality, standards and best practices are adhered to.
Manage, mentor and develop the Design Team Leader and wider design team, creating a culture of accountability, creativity and high performance.
Support recruitment, onboarding and training.
Manage and lead team personal development reviews of the design team, ensuring training plans for team are in place.
Process & Systems Ownership
Ensure design processes (SOPs), documentation and procedures are followed consistently.
Track key performance indicators (sample lead time, design accuracy, error rates, workload balance).
Highlight opportunities to improve efficiency, reduce waste, and refine workflow.
SKILLS & EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
Significant experience in structural corrugated packaging design within a manufacturing environment or design centre.
Minimum of 2 years leadership experience managing design teams or technical functions.
Expert knowledge of CAD (Kasemake/AG CAD, ArtiosCAD or equivalent), corrugated materials, board performance, and manufacturing processes.
Ability to engage confidently with customers at all levels.
Demonstrable track record of improving processes, efficiency and team capability.
Excellent communication skills with the ability to present confidently and clearly.
Ability to recognise the commercial implications of design decisions.
Experience in managing improvement, innovation or value creation projects is advantageous.
PERSONAL BEHAVIOUR
Approachable, supportive leader who helps others succeed.
Strategic thinker with strong analytical and organisational skills.
Professional, customer‑focused and innovative.
A creative approach to problem solving.
Proactive, structured and highly collaborative.
Passionate about innovation, continuous improvement and world‑class customer service.
SUSTAINABILITY We strive to ensure our entire supply chain is as sustainable as possible, beginning with the use of fully FSC®‑certified materials for our products and concluding with our fuel‑efficient transport fleet, supporting the Circular Economy, and helping our customers meet their environmental goals.
#J-18808-Ljbffr