Design Planner in London

With more than 150 years of industry-leading experience, the businesses of SGS & Co and SGK are uniting to form SGX—a powerful force in innovative packaging production. Building on the legacy of trusted service since 1947 and 1953, SGX will deliver the full suite of packaging graphics, plate and cylinder production, and metal deco services to brand owners, retailers, and printers—all with a focus on reducing complexity, delivering flawless in-market execution, and leveraging global reach to drive consistency and impact at scale.

We are currently looking for a Design Planner to join the team. Based at our client’s head office, the successful candidate will work within the client’s busy Design studio, working alongside our Account Management team and the clients Project managers. This exciting and demanding role requires an individual with impeccable organisation, presentation and communication skills who can illustrate their experience in multitasking and ‘cradle to grave project management’. A consistently professional approach of the highest standards is absolutely key.

This role will be to support the client’s Head of Packaging Design, and Account Management teams in all aspects of project planning, batching and data management providing visibility of workload across all stakeholders in the Design studio. As Design Planner, your absolute focus must be on ensuring project timelines are communicated and adhered to, while building an exceptional relationship with the client. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone with a sharp eye for detail who can show a real enthusiasm and determination to succeed.

• Agree & manage critical paths timelines for each packaging project and ensure project milestones fall within the agreed time-line/deadlines which have been set, ensuring the project stays on track & highlighting risks.
• Sense check and challenge critical path timings working collaboratively with the PM’s so Design is set up for success and aligned to overall project requirements.
• Work with other project management / planning roles / category to ensure all upcoming briefs and missing elements essential for design work are available and on time.
• Ensure design work is briefed in to the Design studio and work with the Design studio manager and lead Designer to ensure design requirements are met in line with critical path timings.
• Identify / resolve / escalate any issues which may impact the delivery of any job in respect of time-lines to Head of Food Packaging Design Planning and Head of Event Marketing & Packaging Design Food Marketing.
• Keep all work in progress trackers and project folders accurate and up to date.
• Provide an accurate on time reporting for studio lates and risks and issues.
• Attend line by line briefings from category and ensure Design routes are briefed to AM and planned in to manage through artwork process.
• Organise and attend weekly packaging meetings with & Lead Designer, to review creative, status of projects and discuss new packaging briefs.
• Work with the Art Buying team when photography is required to confirm shoot dates & photography briefs.
• Work with Product Developers to organise Products & clear briefs for Shoots.
• Work with outside suppliers when required, such as design agencies or freelance illustrators, to ensure project timings remain on track.
• Liaise with the Category and Suppliers face to face (where possible) and via telephone and email confirmation. Ensure that expectations are always managed and escalate issues as soon as they arise in the appropriate manner to M&S Head of Packaging Design.
• Take ownership and be responsible for prioritising your work and effectively manage your time to ensure task deadlines are met.
• Keep all administrative duties up to date and completed these on time, inform line Manager when support is required.

• Retail or brand design planning experience.
• Project Planning and tracking experience.
• Strong organisational skills along with ability to multi-task.
• Data Management and administration experience.
• An eye for Design and attention to detail.
• Strong excel skills.
• Excellent communication skills both verbal and written.
• PC literate – Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat, Database management.