Manager, Creative Operations – Packaging

Overview

We are seeking a highly organized and detail-oriented Manager, Creative Operations – Packaging to join our Global Creative Team. This critical role is responsible for the end-to-end management of global packaging projects for saleable products across both of our leading beauty brands.

As the go-to problem solver, you’ll be the organizational backbone for packaging initiatives, mastering every detail from high-level strategy to minute execution. The ideal candidate is a proactive self-starter with a deep understanding of project management fundamentals—timeline, scope, and budget—who thrives on facilitating smooth workflow and clear communication across various teams.

Please Note: While this is a temporary role for medical leave coverage, it is a demanding and essential position for the team.

Location and Schedule

• Preferred Location: Blaine, Minnesota. Candidate must be able to commute to the Blaine Office three days per week (typically Tuesday – Thursday).
• Alternate Location: New York City (NYC). Candidate must be able to work in the NYC office three days per week (typically Tuesday – Thursday).
• Schedule: Hybrid. 3 days per week in-office requirement (typically Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday).

Key Responsibilities

• Project Leadership: Lead the packaging concepting and development processes, defining the project scope (objectives, strategy, deliverables, schedule, and budget) from kick-off to completion.
• Workflow Management: Keep all projects on track by managing clear timelines in Wrike (or similar tool), providing status reports, tracking issues, and recording meeting notes.
• Resource Allocation: Allocate creative resources weekly and collaborate with other Creative Operations team members to prioritize projects effectively based on business needs and volume of work.
• Approval Management: Manage every phase of the internal and external approval process, including securing sign-offs for concepts, copy, layouts, final artwork, and comps.
• Communication & Meetings: Serve as the central communication hub between Creative, Marketing, Packaging Development, and other cross-functional teams. Lead meetings, set up conference calls, and effectively coordinate the presentation of creative work to stakeholders.
• Vendor Relations: Lead communication with comp houses and initiate new comping projects.
• Problem-Solving: Proactively communicate project issues and roadblocks to internal stakeholders and drive them toward a clear resolution.

Qualifications

• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of experience in project management for an in-house creative team or agency, specifically with prior experience managing Campaign and/or Packaging projects.
• Education: Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent.
• Technical Skills: Experience using Wrike or a similar Project Management tool (e.g., Asana, Jira) to develop detailed project plans.
• Leadership & Communication: A natural leader with excellent communication and negotiation skills. Must be comfortable running high-level meetings, presenting creative work to senior leadership, and serving as the key point person for internal/external clients.
• Mindset: A true partner to both Creative and Marketing. Must have a flexible attitude, thrive in ambiguous situations, and approach conflicts with a solutions-first mentality.
• A deep understanding of project management, workflow, and infrastructure is essential.

Why You’ll Love This Role

You are someone who loves solving problems and managing the complexity of technical/functional work. You enjoy working closely with creatives and marketers to bring a product to life, but you prefer being the architect of the process rather than the creator. You will play a crucial role in ensuring that our global packaging launches are on time, on budget, and of the highest quality.