Vibrant Foods is one of Europe's largest South Asian food groups, bringing together a portfolio of well-established heritage brands, including East End, TRS, Fudco, Cofresh, and Everest. Headquartered in Watford, with three manufacturing facilities across the Midlands, the company is dedicated to creating authentic, flavour-led food experiences that celebrate South Asian heritage while meeting the growing demand for plant-based and vegetarian products.
The business combines a rich cultural legacy with a modern, growth-focused approach, supplying both retail and foodservice markets across the UK and internationally. Its purpose is to create adventures in flavour that bring people together by connecting consumers with foods rooted in taste, heritage, and culture.
At the heart of Vibrant Foods is a people-focused culture underpinned by five core values: Swift, Passionate, Inclusive, Collaborative, and Empowered. Employees are encouraged to share ideas, work collaboratively to solve challenges, and take ownership of their work. This creates an agile, supportive environment where innovation, continuous improvement, and personal development are actively encouraged.
Job title - Artwork Project Manager
Location - Watford, UK
Working pattern - Monday to Friday - office closed on Fridays
Reporting to - Senior Marketing Manager
Role Purpose
To lead the end-to-end packaging artwork process, coordinating technical, creative, operational and supplier teams to deliver accurate, compliant, printer-ready artwork on time and improve Right First Time performance.
Key Responsibilities
- Own and improve the end-to-end artwork process and ITARUS workflows, controls and service expectations.
- Coordinate artwork from brief and pack copy through design, approval, printer-ready release and implementation.
- Maintain auditable artwork, cutter-guide, approval and release records with robust version control.
- Gather approved copy, specifications and cutter guides; manage packaging codes, GS1 barcodes and barcode verification.
- Lead artwork reviews and secure timely sign-off from Technical, Regulatory, Compliance and Marketing stakeholders.
- Plan launches, product changes, packaging updates and regulatory programmes, managing milestones and dependencies.
- Track workload, approvals, risks and deadlines through clear dashboards and exception reporting.
- Coordinate suppliers, printers, agencies and the ITARUS developer on issues, enhancements, testing and delivery.
- Analyse errors and rework, leading root-cause actions that improve speed, cost and Right First Time performance.
Person specification
- 3-5 years' packaging artwork management, artwork production or related project experience.
- Experience managing artwork from brief and pack copy through approval and production.
- Strong project skills, able to prioritise briefs, deadlines, stakeholders, risks and dependencies.
- Experience using artwork systems and maintaining controlled files, cutter guides and approvals.
- Knowledge of flexible or corrugated packaging, labels, and flexographic or gravure printing.
- Exceptional attention to detail across copy, versions, barcodes, specifications and production readiness.
- Strong communication and stakeholder skills, with a proactive, collaborative Right First Time mindset.
- Experience with packaging suppliers, printers, design agencies, GS1 standards and barcode-verification processes.
- Experience leading artwork change in food, FMCG or another regulated environment, ideally using ITARUS.
Benefits Full of Flavour
At Vibrant Foods, we believe great benefits are an essential ingredient in a rewarding career. Here’s a taste of what you can enjoy:
- 33 days’ annual leave - Plenty of time to relax, recharge and enjoy life outside work.
- Pension contributions matched up to 5% - Contribute 5% and we’ll match it—giving you a total pension contribution of 10%.
- Volunteering days - Take time away from your usual role to support the causes and communities that matter to you.
- Free on-site parking - Making your daily journey a little easier.
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Artwork Project Manager in Watford employer: Vibrant Foods Limited
Vibrant Foods is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture in Birmingham that prioritises safety and reliability in the food industry. Employees benefit from comprehensive training and development opportunities, fostering personal and professional growth while working alongside a dedicated team committed to continuous improvement and product quality.
