In-House Packaging Designer

Position: In-House Packaging Designer

Location: Hershey, PA (Hybrid work model)

Role Summary

Join a dynamic team as an In-House Packaging Designer in a fast-paced, high-volume Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) environment. You will be instrumental in creating and executing innovative packaging and merchandising designs that are visually engaging, brand-consistent, and production-ready. This role demands a designer who excels in managing multiple projects efficiently while maintaining meticulous attention to detail and strong knowledge of print production processes.

The ideal candidate thrives in a collaborative yet independent work setting, understands the nuances of packaging design, and is committed to excellence in every design execution. You will contribute not only your design skills but also your expertise in pre-production, artwork preparation, and workflow management, delivering high-quality packaging solutions that support our brand's market presence.

Key Responsibilities

• Packaging Design & Execution: Develop creative, on-brand packaging and merchandising design solutions. Translate existing design systems, visual identity standards, and creative briefs into precise, production-ready packaging layouts across various SKUs, pack types, and formats, ensuring visual consistency and quality.
• Pre-Production & Print Readiness: Prepare packaging artwork compliant with print technical requirements. Guarantee accurate, organized, and thoroughly reviewed files ready for prepress and production handoff. Proactively address and resolve any technical or print-related issues in collaboration with prepress vendors and production partners, ensuring smooth workflow continuity.
• Workflow & Project Management: Efficiently manage a portfolio of up to approximately 10 concurrent projects. Collaborate closely with senior design management and traffic coordination to prioritize workloads, maintain rigorous version control, and uphold thorough file documentation to facilitate timely review and approval processes. Identify potential risks or obstacles related to project timing or inputs and escalate concerns as necessary to maintain productivity and delivery standards.
• Collaboration & Continuous Improvement: Engage with Design Managers and cross-functional stakeholders to guarantee alignment and consistency in brand visual strategies. Foster strong partnerships with internal teams and external suppliers to meet deadlines and project objectives. Actively contribute to refining design tools, templates, and workflows to enhance productivity and design quality consistently. Mentor and support the growth of the in-house design team by sharing best practices, insights, and innovative techniques.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Packaging Design, or a related discipline, or equivalent practical experience.
• 3 to 5 years of proven packaging design experience within the CPG industry, demonstrating expertise in fast-paced production environments.
• Advanced proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite, especially Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign, with a solid track record of producing precise, print-ready packaging artworks.
• Comprehensive understanding of pre-production workflows, print production processes, and packaging specifications.
• Strong project management capabilities with demonstrated ability to manage multiple overlapping projects efficiently and effectively.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a demonstrated ability to collaborate across disciplines and teams.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience operating within structured packaging workflows and digital asset management systems to streamline design processes and approvals.
• Familiarity with merchandising collateral such as point-of-sale displays, trays, shippers, and product labels, adding value to packaging design efforts.
• Experience supporting complex, high-SKU packaging programs in high-volume production settings.

Portfolio Requirement

Applicants must provide a comprehensive portfolio showcasing CPG packaging design projects that highlight exceptional print-ready execution, ability to adapt designs across multiple SKUs, and meticulous attention to detail. The portfolio should clearly demonstrate your proficiency in packaging design within a production context.

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The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.
 
The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans.  

You may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our online application process as a result of a disability.
You can request an accommodation via phone or email.  

To request an accommodation via phone, please call +1 877-804-1794 and leave a voicemail with your contact information.  You may also email a request for accommodation to ApplicationHelp@hersheys.com. Please be sure to include “Accommodation Needed” in the subject line. This will ensure that your email is routed to the appropriate contact who will handle your request.