Senior Manager, Packaging & Design – Hard & Soft Home

About the role

The Senior Manager, Packaging & Design – Hard & Soft Home role is part of American Exchange Group, a leader in fashion accessory products and brand management. This role oversees packaging for a diverse portfolio of home products, blending creativity with commercial viability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall packaging design strategy and creative direction across hard and soft home product categories.
• Manage, mentor, and provide creative direction to one Senior Packaging Designer, overseeing priorities, workload, quality, and professional development.
• Develop innovative, commercially viable packaging concepts that effectively communicate product benefits, features, quality, and value.
• Oversee the complete packaging process from initial concept and structural development through final production and delivery.
• Create and review package dielines, digital and physical mockups, print files, and 3D renderings.
• Ensure packaging is optimized for the off-price market, while maintaining a premium and compelling visual presentation.
• Partner with Product Development and Merchandising teams to translate product concepts and key selling points into effective packaging.
• Develop and maintain packaging technical specifications, ensuring accuracy, consistency, and compliance with production requirements.
• Review and approve final packaging artwork and factory-ready print files, ensuring all design, color, copy, dimensions, and production details are accurate.
• Collaborate directly with factories, printers, packaging vendors, and overseas partners to troubleshoot production issues and maintain design integrity.
• Research packaging, graphic, color, material, and consumer trends to continuously evolve the company's packaging aesthetic and approach.
• Establish and maintain packaging standards, templates, guidelines, and best practices across categories and brands.
• Ensure consistency in branding and visual communication across packaging, while tailoring design appropriately to each product and customer.
• Support the development of graphics and visual assets for marketing, catalogs, presentations, digital, social media, and e-commerce as needed.
• Manage multiple packaging projects and seasonal development calendars simultaneously, ensuring projects remain on schedule and within budget.
• Review work produced by internal designers and external partners, providing clear and constructive creative direction.
• Identify opportunities to improve packaging processes, efficiencies, cost, sustainability, and overall design quality.
• Present concepts and recommendations to senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
• Perform other related responsibilities as assigned by management.

Qualifications & Experience

• 7+ years of progressive packaging design experience, with experience leading projects and/or managing designers.
• Strong background designing packaging for home goods, with experience across both hard and soft home preferred.
• Experience with bedding, bath, rugs, window coverings, décor, tabletop, storage, or pet products is highly valued.
• Expert knowledge of packaging structures, components, dielines, print production, materials, and vendor/factory processes.
• Demonstrated experience developing packaging specifically for the off-price, mass, department store, or specialty retail markets.
• Expert proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, particularly Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign.
• Experience with 3D packaging/rendering programs is a plus.
• Strong portfolio demonstrating the ability to conceptualize, develop, and execute contemporary packaging from concept through production.
• Proven ability to lead, mentor, and manage creative talent while maintaining high design standards.
• Strong understanding of branding, typography, color, hierarchy, and visual storytelling.
• Excellent project management and organizational skills, with the ability to prioritize multiple projects and meet tight deadlines.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to clearly articulate creative concepts and recommendations to leadership and cross-functional partners.
• Highly collaborative, solutions-oriented, and comfortable working in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.
• Demonstrated ability to embrace change, identify opportunities, and make recommendations that improve products, processes, and packaging execution.
• Strong attention to detail with a high level of ownership and accountability from concept through final production.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive Health & Wellness Benefits, including medical, dental, vision, and supplemental insurance.
• 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan with company match.
• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid holidays.
• Half Day Fridays with shortened hours during both Summer and Winter seasons.
• Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA).
• Tax-free commuter benefits.
• Exclusive employee merchandise discounts.

Pay

The anticipated base salary is $110k - $125k annually. Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors including, but not limited to, experience, skills, education, internal equity, and location.