Project Manager, Packaging

Overview

As a Project Manager (Packaging), you will be the central hub for our creative packaging workflow, ensuring all projects are organized, prioritized, and delivered on time. You’ll serve as the main liaison between multiple teams, including packaging creative, packaging operations (sourcing), marketing, and product development. This role is crucial for keeping projects running smoothly and supporting the packaging art director and the broader creative team.

Key Responsibilities

Creative Project Coordination

• Manage the entire packaging creative workflow, from initial artwork creation to final approvals for dielines, artwork files, proofs, and pre-production samples (PPS).
• Create and maintain project timelines and milestones, ensuring creative deliverables align with product launch schedules.
• Lead the brief review and kick-off process by gathering inputs, consolidating feedback, and helping the creative team prioritize deliverables.
• Track and manage all change requests, ensuring revisions are logged, prioritized, and completed efficiently.
• Proactively communicate project requirements, due dates, and needed information to cross-functional teams to keep projects on track.
• Drive brand-wide packaging redesign initiatives, ensuring design systems, templates, and creative assets are updated consistently and on time.
• Coordinate with the packaging art director to provide clear, ready-to-use updates on packaging progress and dependencies.

Compliance & Vendor Management

• Lead the packaging compliance process for all projects, ensuring documentation and execution meet regulatory requirements (FDA, EU) and sustainability standards.
• Coordinate with translation partners for international packaging artwork versions, providing ingredient lists and copy.
• Identify and coordinate PPS samples for cross-functional activities like photoshoots, reviews, and marketing requests.
• Liaise with suppliers on artwork proofs, file transfers, and sample reviews.
• Coordinate with freelance or external creative resources as needed.
• Track vendor deliverables, approvals, and timelines, escalating risks or issues when necessary.

Communication & Reporting

• Act as the primary interface between the packaging creative team and cross-functional partners, including packaging operations, marketing, product development, copy, and regulatory.
• Consolidate communication across all teams to ensure clarity and alignment on next steps.
• Maintain project tracking in Monday.com, providing clear visibility of timelines, task ownership, and project status.
• Provide regular status updates and reports to all key stakeholders.
• Schedule and lead status meetings with clear agendas and action items.
• Maintain version control and documentation for all packaging assets.
• Provide overall creative operational support as needed during high-volume periods, assisting with other creative initiatives and streamlining workflows.

Qualifications

• 5–7 years of experience in packaging project management, creative operations, or cross-functional coordination, preferably in skincare, beauty, or consumer goods.
• Strong knowledge of packaging workflows, including dielines, printing processes, and pre-production samples (PPS).
• Experience with packaging supply chain logistics and vendor management.
• Proficiency with project management and review tools, especially Monday.com and Ziflow.
• Familiarity with regulatory guidelines (e.g., FDA, EU) and sustainability initiatives.
• A bachelor’s degree in Packaging Science, Supply Chain Management, Business, or a related field is preferred.

Essential Skills

• Organizational Skills: Exceptional ability to manage a high volume of moving parts, track details, and keep multiple projects aligned.
• Communication: Skilled at proactively sharing requirements, updates, and deadlines with cross-functional partners and vendors.
• Attention to Detail: Strong focus on accuracy, version control, and mitigating risks.
• Problem-Solving: Proactive in addressing roadblocks and escalating issues when necessary.
• Collaboration: Effective at working across departments and influencing without direct authority.
• Adaptability: Comfortable shifting between priorities in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment.

Hourly rate is $45-50 per hour.

About Aquent Talent:
Aquent Talent connects the best talent in marketing, creative, and design with the world’s biggest brands.
Our eligible talent get access to amazing benefits like subsidized health, vision, and dental plans, paid sick leave, and retirement plans with a match. We also offer free online training through Aquent Gymnasium. More information on our awesome benefits!
Aquent is an equal-opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics. We’re about creating an inclusive environment—one where different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives are valued, and everyone can contribute, grow their careers, and thrive.