Manager - Packaging Design

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About the Company

We are India’s leading network of 110+ K‑12 schools. With large‑scale printing and distribution of textbooks, learning kits, uniforms/merchandise, and marketing collaterals, we are building a best‑in‑class packaging function to improve protection, sustainability, cost, and brand experience.

Role Summary

Own the end‑to‑end design and development of primary, secondary, and transit packaging for books, learning/STEM kits, school merchandise, and marketing materials. You will translate briefs into functional, cost‑effective, and brand‑aligned packaging—covering structure, materials, artwork readiness, prototyping, testing, vendor hand‑off, and quality control.

Key Responsibilities

Packaging Concept & Structure

• Convert business/brand briefs into structural designs, dielines, and CAD files (shipper boxes, rigid/folding cartons, mailers, sleeves, inserts).
• Balance usability, protection in transit, and shelf/unboxing experience.

Materials & Sustainability

• Select substrates (SBS/FBB, kraft/corrugated grades, duplex board, microflute, eco‑friendly plastics/paper alternatives, foams/inserts) and finishes (lamination, varnish, foiling, emboss/deboss).
• Drive recyclability, right‑weighting, and waste reduction.

Artwork & Pre‑Press Readiness

• Create/validate dielines, keylines, bleed/trapping, color specs (Pantone/CMYK), barcodes/QRs, and labeling compliance (as applicable).
• Collaborate with Brand/Content teams to adapt graphics to structural constraints.

Prototyping, Testing & Validation

• Build rapid mock‑ups; conduct transit/stack/compression tests and line trials with vendors.
• Maintain packaging specs/BOMs and approval records.

Vendor Collaboration & Costing

• Brief and evaluate converters/printers; compare quotations, optimize specifications for scale.
• Support Procurement in vendor audits, AMC/SLAs, and cost‑saving initiatives without quality loss.

Quality & Compliance

• Define QC checklists, AQL sampling, and incoming inspection standards; resolve NCRs/field issues with CAPA.
• Ensure safety standards for school environments; adhere to applicable Indian packaging/labeling norms.

Project & Stakeholder Management

• Plan timelines, manage change requests, and ensure on‑time launches for admission seasons and academic cycles.
• Partner with Supply Chain for pack‑out efficiency, palletisation, and warehouse ergonomics.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Degree/Diploma from the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) or equivalent in Packaging/Printing/Industrial Design.
• 5+ years hands‑on experience in structural/package design and development (cartons, corrugation, mailers, inserts).
• Proficiency with ArtiosCAD/Esko, Adobe Illustrator/InDesign/Photoshop; working knowledge of 3D visualization (nice to have).
• Strong knowledge of paper/board grades, corrugation, print processes (offset/digital/flexo), and finishing.
• Practical exposure to pre‑press, color management, dielines, and print QA.
• Data‑driven, detail‑oriented, with excellent vendor coordination and costing skills.