Design Manager in Leeds

Design Manager in Leeds

Leeds Full-Time 42000 - 58000 £ / year (est.) No home office possible
G

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead a creative design team to innovate packaging solutions and enhance customer experience.
  • Company: A thriving packaging business near Halifax with a focus on growth and sustainability.
  • Benefits: Competitive salary up to £50k, career development, and a supportive work environment.
  • Why this job: Make a real impact in a growing industry while developing your leadership skills.
  • Qualifications: Strong experience in corrugated packaging design and proven leadership skills.
  • Other info: Join a diverse team committed to equality and inclusion.

The predicted salary is between 42000 - 58000 £ per year.

My Client, a successful, profitable and growing packaging business, is looking for an experienced Design Manager to lead and develop a high-performing structural design team. This is a key leadership role, responsible for setting the direction of the design function, driving innovation, and ensuring design capability supports long-term business growth in the FMCG and Retail sectors.

As Design Manager, you will take ownership of the structural design function, balancing creative thinking with operational excellence. You’ll work closely with commercial, technical and production teams to deliver design-led solutions that enhance customer experience and meet manufacturing requirements.

Key Responsibilities
  • Set the direction and standards for the design function
  • Drive innovation across packaging design, sampling and sustainability
  • Champion strong, customer-focused design solutions
  • Improve workflows, accuracy and sample turnaround times
  • Ensure designs align with machine capability and tooling requirements
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with tooling suppliers
  • Lead, mentor and develop the Design Team Leader and wider design team (4pax)
  • Support recruitment, training and individual development plans
  • Maintain high standards through SOPs and design documentation
  • Track and improve performance across lead times, accuracy, errors and workload
What We’re Looking For
  • Strong experience in corrugated packaging design
  • Proven leadership experience (minimum 2 years)
  • Advanced CAD capability (Kasemake, AG CAD or similar)
  • Confident communicator with customer-facing experience
  • A continuous improvement mindset with strong commercial awareness

This is an excellent opportunity for a design leader who wants to make a real impact, influence strategy, and develop a team in a growing packaging business.

Design Manager in Leeds employer: Grosvenor Talent Ltd

Join a thriving packaging business near Halifax, where innovation meets operational excellence. As a Design Manager, you'll lead a dynamic team in a supportive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development, offering opportunities to influence strategy and drive impactful design solutions. With a commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, this company fosters a collaborative environment that empowers you to make a meaningful contribution to the FMCG and Retail sectors.
G

Contact Detail:

Grosvenor Talent Ltd Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Design Manager in Leeds

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the packaging industry and let them know you're on the lookout for a Design Manager role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity that’s not even advertised yet.

✨Tip Number 2

Show off your skills! Create a portfolio that highlights your best design projects, especially those related to corrugated packaging. When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, having tangible examples of your work can really set you apart.

✨Tip Number 3

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its design philosophy. Be ready to discuss how your leadership experience and innovative ideas can drive their design function forward. Tailor your answers to show you understand their needs!

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’ve got loads of resources to help you land that Design Manager gig. Plus, applying directly shows your enthusiasm and commitment to joining the team.

We think you need these skills to ace Design Manager in Leeds

Leadership
Structural Design
Packaging Design
Advanced CAD Capability
Customer-Facing Communication
Continuous Improvement Mindset
Commercial Awareness
Operational Excellence
Workflow Improvement
Team Development
Relationship Building
Sustainability in Design
Process Ownership
Performance Tracking

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the Design Manager role. Highlight your experience in corrugated packaging design and any leadership roles you've held. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to showcase your passion for design and how you can drive innovation in our team. Don’t forget to mention your experience with CAD tools like Kasemake or AG CAD.

Showcase Your Achievements: When detailing your past roles, focus on specific achievements that demonstrate your ability to improve workflows and enhance customer experience. We love numbers, so if you can quantify your successes, even better!

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother process. It helps us keep track of applications and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates from us!

How to prepare for a job interview at Grosvenor Talent Ltd

✨Know Your Design Stuff

Make sure you brush up on your corrugated packaging design knowledge. Be ready to discuss specific projects you've worked on and how your designs have driven innovation or improved customer experience. This will show that you’re not just a leader, but also a hands-on expert.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

Prepare examples of how you've led and developed teams in the past. Think about times when you mentored someone or improved team performance. This is crucial since the role involves leading a design team, and they’ll want to see your leadership style in action.

✨Communicate Clearly

As a Design Manager, you'll need to communicate effectively with various teams. Practice explaining complex design concepts in simple terms. During the interview, be confident and articulate, showing that you can bridge the gap between design and commercial needs.

✨Emphasise Continuous Improvement

Demonstrate your continuous improvement mindset by discussing specific processes you've enhanced in previous roles. Be prepared to talk about how you’ve tracked performance metrics and made data-driven decisions to improve workflows and accuracy.

Design Manager in Leeds
Grosvenor Talent Ltd
Location: Leeds

Land your dream job quicker with Premium

You’re marked as a top applicant with our partner companies
Individual CV and cover letter feedback including tailoring to specific job roles
Be among the first applications for new jobs with our AI application
1:1 support and career advice from our career coaches
Go Premium

Money-back if you don't land a job in 6-months

G
Similar positions in other companies
UK’s top job board for Gen Z
discover-jobs-cta
Discover now
>