Artwork & Packaging Operations Manager

Position Overview The Manager, Artwork & Packaging Operations owns the end-to-end execution of packaging artwork and print production for a broad portfolio of fresh-food SKUs — facilitating creative development through prepress, color management, and printer release to flawless, print-ready packaging. You will lead a team, set color and print-production standards across print methods and partners, manage day-to-day agency, prepress, and printer relationships, and drive process and sourcing improvements that shorten cycle times and reduce errors. Key Responsibilities Team leadership — Direct, coach, and develop Artwork & Packaging Coordinators, including print production and artwork coordination roles; set objectives and manage workload. Artwork, prepress & print-production management — Own routing, regulatory and technical checks, dielines, proofs, ink drawdowns, and printer release across flexography, offset lithography, and digital printing; monitor first-pass print accuracy and uphold brand and color integrity. Color & print-quality standards — Establish and maintain color management standards, printer specifications and profiles, and a pre-media / master-printer database that enables print-ready files and consistent quality across all print partners and methods. Vendor, sourcing & budget management — Manage agencies, prepress houses and printers; track scopes, timelines, invoices, and the departmental budget to deliver quality, efficiency, and cost savings. Packaging changeover & commercialization — Coordinate timing with Supply Chain to balance inventory and customer requirements; communicate status across functions, partnering with Marketing, Regulatory, Legal, and Copy by region. Process ownership & continuous improvement — Design and refine SOPs; implement and optimize artwork and workflow systems (Esko / WebCenter, BLUE, Loftware, SmartFlow, or similar); report KPIs and lead efficiency, Lean, and Six Sigma initiatives. GS1 data & barcode partnership — Partner with Data Governance on the assignment of GTINs and maintenance of packaging master data. Required Qualifications 5+ years in CPG, food, or comparable brand packaging — spanning artwork/prepress operations and print production — including 2+ years in a people-management role. Deep expertise in color management and print production across multiple methods (flexography, rotogravure, offset lithography, and/or digital), including dielines, proofs, and printer release. Proficiency with an artwork or prepress workflow system (Loftware, Esko / WebCenter, BLUE, or similar). SAP experience (material master, packaging BOMs, purchasing, or PIM integrations) Strong vendor management background Proven track record of implementing process improvements that reduce cycle time and improve accuracy.