Packaging Design Project Manager

Description

Agency Overview

Marks is a brand design and experience agency that is uniquely constructed to enable brands to win in an age of constant change. Fueled by our dual vantage points – embedded partners and future-forward experts – we build brand momentum to move fast, move forward, and move confidently.

As a full-service agency, our expertise extends across all facets of the branding spectrum: strategy, innovation, design, adaptation, integrated marketing communications. Together, we are 800+ people across 16 studios and 10 countries.

Marks is part of SGS & Co, a brand impact group built with the agility and inventiveness that enables our clients to thrive. Our sister company, SGS, is an integrated packaging and marketing company. Together, we shift brands to impact.

Position Overview

The Packaging Design Project Manager supports the Project Management team on a variety of client projects, working directly with PM Team Lead and collaborating with Accounts team, other PM’s, Operations and Studio. Project management responsibilities include the coordination and completion of projects on time within budget and within scope; overseeing all aspects of projects; including managing deadlines, properly scheduling projects/tasks within studio and different departments, reviewing work to ensure quality standards are maintained and client requests are delivered, and monitoring progress and status of any assigned projects.

This is a hybrid position that sits in our Fulton Market office 3 days per week.

Responsibilities:

• Ensure that all assigned tasks and/or projects are delivered on-time, flagging any out of scope or out of budget requests
• Monitor project progress, handle issues and escalations that arise, document and follow up on critical actions, decisions and risks
• Work with Scheduler to ensure resource availability and allocation
• Develop a detailed project plan/tracker to monitor and track progress
• Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation (can be shared with other internal employees)
• Develop thorough understanding of internal team operations and processes
• Be on top of changes to the project scope, schedule, and costs (working with the Account Manager to ensure all costs are captured)
• Comfortable leading client/internal meetings, when necessary
• Maintain positive relationship with the client and relevant stakeholders
• Participate in process improvement efforts at client and internal studio level
• Proven ability to consistently manage multiple projects in fast-paced environment
• May provide training and guidance to Junior Project Managers
• Report and escalate issue to management as needed
• Perform other related duties as assigned (ie: Prep for photoshoots – client specific duties, prepare projects for billing)

Project specific responsibilities:

• Ensuring that projects flow seamlessly from conception through to completion, embodying the highest standards of quality, budget adherence, and timeliness.
• Monitor project progress, handle issues and escalations that arise, document and follow up on critical actions, decisions, issues and risks.
• Develop a detailed project plan/tracker to monitor and track progress.
• Create and maintain comprehensive project documentation.
• Develop thorough understanding of internal team operations and processes.
• Manage changes to the project scope, schedule, and costs (working with CS to ensure all costs are captured).
• Review and validate mandatory project information required prior to project kick-off.
• Verify information is accurate on design briefs, and specifications received from the account team and/or client.
• Procure all assets (dielines, copy, packaging/printer specs, reference materials) needed for studio and provide flexible solutions to potential production roadblocks.
• Work within our project management tool to write up work orders, and create project tasks for the studio.
• Facilitate accurate and clear briefing to the creative team and/or Adaptive team in a timely fashion in partnership with CS.
• Act as a liaison between the creative team, external partners, and the account team to obtain missing information and materials.
• Set up and/or attend technical review of projects via pre-pro meetings or onboarding meetings providing valuable insight into project process and next steps.
• Provide the final rounds of QA on all assets – checking all design files to ensure work has been executed to the client brief prior to releasing for final delivery.
• Participate in post-mortem meetings to review and provide insight on completed projects.
• Report and escalate issues to management as needed.

Prerequisites

• BA or higher in Graphic Management Services (concentration in packaging is an asset), or Design or in Marketing/Business Administration.
• 3+ years proven experience in project management, preferably in a design environment (concentration in packaging preferred).
• Profound understanding of branding, design, and print-production processes, including knowledge of Flexo, Litho, and Gravure printing techniques.
• Experience with retail packaging design processes is an asset
• Excellent communication skills, leadership qualities, and the ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced agency setting.
• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, Teams, Outlook), project management platforms, and potentially Adobe software suite, with a focus on solution-oriented approaches and critical thinking.

Personal Attributes:

• A solutions-oriented mindset with unparalleled attention to detail, strong analytical skills, and a proactive problem-solving approach.
• Organized, a self-starter able to prioritize effectively, and possesses a deep interest in brand stewardship and project management excellence.
• Ability to take initiative on projects and have passion to learn/grow

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The U.S. pay range for this position is $70,000 USD - $80,000 USD annually. Ultimately, in determining pay, we will consider the successful candidate’s location, experience, and other job-related factors.

Group benefits currently include a selection of health care plans with prescription drug coverage, dental plan, vision plan, basic and supplemental life insurance, a flexible spending account for medical and dependent care expenses or a health savings account based on plan selection, short/long term disability and 401(k) Savings Plan.

Qualifications

Skills

Behaviors

:

Motivations

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Education

Required

Bachelors or better.

Experience

Required

Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office suite (Excel, Word, Teams, Outlook), project management platforms, and potentially Adobe software suite, with a focus on solution-oriented approaches and critical thinking

Profound understanding of branding, design, and print-production processes, including knowledge of Flexo, Litho, and Gravure printing techniques

##### 3 years:

Years proven experience in project management, preferably in a design environment (concentration in packaging preferred)

Preferred

Experience with retail packaging design processes is an asset