Packaging Artwork Manager in Liverpool

About Princes

The Princes Group has over 7,000 employees with offices and production sites in the UK, Netherlands, Italy, Poland, France and Mauritius. Princes manufactures 350 different food and drink products responsibly sourced and enjoyed by consumers every day. None of this would be possible without striving to be an employer of choice, where our colleagues are proud to represent our business.

Role Description

We are currently looking for an experienced Packaging Artwork Manager to join our driven and accomplished Insights & Innovation team, based at our Head Office in Liverpool City Centre.

Business change and artwork process adaptation for integration of recent acquisitions and a Princes Group Global approach:

• Integration of separate business units and product category acquisitions to one artwork process and agency.

The role consists of 3 elements:

• People (leading the team)
• Process & systems (total process development and ownership for artwork delivery)
• Project manage artwork change projects (lead, execute and coordinate large artwork programmes / cross business unit changes projects e.g. wholesale artwork changes across products for legislation / re‑design and artwork specific change projects).

The Packaging Artwork Process & Team Manager is key in enabling the business to manage artwork changes consistently and managing the team of artwork managers to deliver finished artwork in full and on time for branded and customer own brand products across all sectors:

• To control approved artwork amendment and origination expenditure based on least cost principles.
• To maintain Princes brand and COB presence across customer e‑commerce sites via Brandbank and other service providers.
• To control colour standards in line with approved brand guidelines.

Dimensions

Princes has an approximate £2.0M spend on branded and customer own brand artwork. Part of the Product change PMO team (15 people including project management) that manage approximately 300+ product change projects or 1200+ SKU changes, often requiring new or amended artwork, across our existing and new operations. 3 direct reports.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Princes group Artwork delivery team:

• Determine and set objectives, targeted timebound outcomes agreed are reviewed and measured through the performance management process.
• Instil a continuous improvement / change mindset and practice.
• Develop new procedures and ways of working to achieve objectives, improved results and efficiency.
• Plan, organise and coordinate the balance of workload of your team.
• Build commitment with other departments to the product change framework, the artwork generation and approval process within it and its place in Princes strategy delivery with education and training.
• Support and influence other departments to take appropriate decisions as needed or to instigate changes.

Artwork Projects

• Own and lead the development of packaging artworks (labels, cases, displays etc.) using the Princes Wave packaging workflow tool.
• Manage the artwork approval process ensuring all key stakeholders are included and approve on time.
• Own the timeline and ensure all key deadlines are met so finished product can appear on shelf on time.
• Work closely with pre‑press suppliers, printers, production plants and act as link between these and Marketing/Project Managers.
• Attend project meetings and / or initiate specific artwork project meetings, leading cross‑functional project teams.
• Develop technical knowledge of artwork, repro and print processes to provide knowledge and support to the wider business.
• Manage and control of approved APC spend via the SAP PO system.
• Constantly look to improve, simplify process and reduce amount of separate artwork changes.

Role Requirements

Knowledge, Skills & Experience

• Educated to degree level with 5+ years’ experience in artwork either within artwork agency or internal artwork coordination roles.
• Experience of people management in FMCG or related business an advantage.
• Significant and in-depth understanding of artwork, reprographics and print across a broad range of substrates and print processes (ideally FMCG manufacture).
• Knowledge of packaging technology and packaging materials.
• Proven ability to influence, lead and manage cross‑functional teams and at all levels on time in a fast‑paced environment – managing a complicated breadth of projects / number of people / geographical distance / supply and customer complexity.
• Ability to engage with customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders with confidence and authority.
• Ability to manage budgets and report variances.
• Understanding of relevant systems and SAP processes.
• Ability to manage an effective system for control of colour standards.

Skills

• Influencing - Excellent problem solving and facilitation techniques and established coaching skills – within the artwork team itself, but also across departments and with others outside the organisation.
• Use of technology / workflow systems in delivery of high‑quality service (ideally artwork).
• Attention to detail.
• A relevant qualification such as the Institute of Packaging diploma or equivalent would be of great value.
• Planning and organisation.
• Excellent communication skills - complex commercial and technical information to appropriate levels, presented effectively.
• Creativity and change – ability to recognise opportunities, positively challenge and innovatively meet business needs.
• Leading a team, including the ability to create and implement shared team vision and delivery of outcomes.
• Strong mentoring skills – development of talent, provision of direction and guidance, matrix management across functions.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills at all levels - ability to drive and influence business decisions and command credibility at senior management level, managing complex relationships across an organisation.
• Proactive and pragmatic approach.

Benefits

• Cash car allowance.
• 25 days annual leave plus your birthday off.
• 14.5% pension - 5% employee opt in / 9.5% employer.
• Hybrid and flexible working - 4 days in office / 1 day WFH.
• Flexible holiday option - buy 5 additional days.
• Enhanced family friendly & carers policies.
• Life assurance cover.
• Private medical insurance.
• Critical illness cover.
• Learning and development opportunities.