Design Project Manager

POSITION SUMMARY:
The Design Solution Manager works with Marketing, Sales Strategy, Trade Promotion, Customer Teams and other cross functional partners to lead design development and provide strategic, innovative thinking and expertise around creative direction and design solutions.

Position requires thorough knowledge of in store communication strategies across all classes of trade. Individual is considered expert in design development and has strong understanding of merchandising principles. Design Solution Manager applies brand, promotional, shopper, retailer and other consumer insights to deliver impactful design solutions across a variety of promotional materials including displays, promotional packaging, shelf signage, trade ads and other national/customer specific promotional programs (FSIs, direct mail, contests, sweepstakes, refunds & rebates). They are considered the functional SME in graphic development.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

- Lead the Design development and manage the execution of high impact graphic designs that support brand and trade strategies.
- Partner and support stakeholders in achieving their creative objectives by analysing information, strategizing solutions and translating to strong visual concepts appropriate for the brand, audience, market, retailer or business context.
- Act as the go to resource for all branded graphics and materials.
- Engage, inform and interact with both internal and external customers to establish design parameters.
- Effectively communicate technical aspects of projects to both technical and non-technical audiences.
- Assign projects to outside design firms, manage workload and set priorities for all vendor resources.
- Act as SME regarding the creative and production requirements for the development of all collateral materials.
- Responsible for establishing specifications, then sourcing and managing the execution of all promotional materials.
- Understand and negotiate with vendors on their project estimations as necessary.
- Ensure that all designs are developed to meet vendor technical specifications as well as meet budget and timeline requirements.
- Ensure compliance with all processes.
- Maintain visual library and reference for all display and product images.
- Leverage existing design solutions where possible to drive speed to market and cost efficiencies.
- Provide historical reference, support, education and coaching to all incoming ABM and cross functional team members.
- Stay abreast of industry trends and technology relating to design development.

SKILLS:

SKILLS/EDUCATION:

- BA/BS degree preferred.
- Minimum of 10+ years of design solution experience (agency, CPG, POP display, printing or related graphic design role.)
- General Knowledge of CPG industry and retailer requirements.
- Extensive knowledge of all aspects of package design, in store merchandising and marketing communications.
- Computer literate with additional experience in MAC, Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop.
- Strong interpersonal, organizational and project management skills.
- Must have excellent collaboration and communication skills to effectively influence business stakeholders and determine the most appropriate design solutions for any challenge.
- Requires strong project management skills, attention to detail and ability to be agile and thrive in a fast paced, ever changing environment.
- MS Word.