Packaging Artwork Manager - Blackburn

Position Overview:

*We can consider Full Time OR Part Time applicants*

This is a newly created role forming part of our Marketing Team!

The Packaging Artwork Manager will have responsibility for the delivery of branded artwork changes from the point of briefing to final printed samples for the assigned projects. The role will also take the lead on the management of packaging assets and controls as well as the approval of colour standards versus guidelines.

Location:

Blackburn, Hybrid

Company Overview:

Pets Choice is a leading pet food manufacturer whose industry knowledge spans over 135 years. Based in Blackburn, Lancashire, the Pets Choice portfolio of brands offers a variety of products for pets and wild animals under its brands; Webbox, TastyBone, Meatiful, Spike’s World, Goodwyns, Davies, Oceanic and Vitakraft. Each brand offers a unique insight into animals from dogs to ducks and produces high-quality products that cater to a wide variety of consumer needs. As a trusted partner, Pets Choice provide private label goods including extruded food, wet food and retorted trays, and baked fresh meat treats. The business also offers additional services such as packaging design, fulfilment and logistics. With a broad range of capabilities and distribution channels worldwide, Pets Choice are proud to be a major supplier to the UK grocery, independents and pet speciality sectors.

Role:

A key part of the role will be the daily management and tracking of projects through the artwork process system to ensure agreed deadlines are met and supporting other departments to prioritise artwork related actions to help them focus on the right projects at the right time.

The Packaging Artwork Manager will work cross functionally with marketing, purchasing, technical and 3rd party agencies and suppliers.

The applicant requires a strong background in artwork briefing and project management as well as good understanding of reprographics and print understanding across various substrates. They must be able to demonstrate their ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, have excellent organisation and attention to detail is a must.

We are after a hands-on knowledgeable, artwork change manager that will take accountability and will make a difference, quickly.

Duties include:

• Responsible for minor artwork changes from initial gate submission to briefing and proof sign off.
• Management of all secondary/outer case packaging artworks; from briefing to proof approval.
• Approval of the packaging responsibilities on all artworks e.g., codes, cutters.
• Responsible for the on-time FTP dispatch to purchasing, for all branded artwork projects.
• Approval of the printer ATP files and proofs for all branded projects.
• Approval of any press print campaigns if required, ensuring that technical and aesthetic requirements are met.
• Maintain a comprehensive artwork library of approved packaging assets.
• Create and manage asset databases and ensuring assets are published on time, (e.g., Brandbank and other systems).
• Develop and own the artwork tracker to facilitate artwork capacity planning, anticipating any capacity issues upfront and ensure the necessary actions are put in place to mitigate any risks.
• Provide accurate information on progress, and risks to the key stakeholders on your artwork assigned projects and escalate when appropriate to ensure packaging print deadlines are not missed. Attend project and gate meetings.
• Responsible for the control and request of packaging components codes and responsible for the creation and control of outsourced packaging component codes.
• Responsible for OPRL information, in conjunction with purchasing.
• Build and maintain relationships with cross functional stakeholders and sites and act as the primary point of contact for the reprographic agency.
• Agreement and management of SLAs of the artwork/repro agencies.
• Responsible for reprographic related purchase orders, invoices and forecast expenditure.
• Collation of printer details from purchasing, when required.
• Propose and implement agreed processes and new ways of working, which help to make the artwork approval process more efficient and reduce the number of errors.
• Customer and supplier contact may also be required.
• Travel (mainly within the UK) may be required at times.
• People development and management if required.

Key attributes and skills:

• Minimum of 5 years in artwork, packaging changes ideally from manufacturing and 3rd party organisations from briefing to final printed packaging
• An in-depth understanding of artwork, reprographics and print across a broad range of substrates and print processes.
• Knowledge of packaging technology and packaging materials
• Thorough understanding and demonstrable experience of leading artwork change projects through a stage and gate process.
• Proven ability to influence cross-functionally and at all levels - managing a complicated breadth of projects/number of people/geographical distance/supply and customer complexity.
• Excellent organisation skills and can manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Problem solver with a positive and can-do attitude, and an instigator of change.
• Thrives in a fast-paced and time pressured environment.
• Resilient, able to deal with challenges/ objections confidently and exert people influence skills

Desirable

• Advantageous to have packaging structural development experience.
• Advantageous to have good knowledge of regulatory and recyclable guidelines.
• A relevant qualification such as the Institute of Packaging diploma or equivalent
• Experience in the pet food/pet care sector or FMCG.