Manager - Packaging Design

As the Manager - Packaging Design at India's leading network of 110+ K12 schools, your role will involve owning the end-to-end design and development of primary, secondary, and transit packaging for various educational materials and marketing collaterals. You will be responsible for translating briefs into functional, cost-effective, and brand-aligned packaging solutions, covering aspects such as structure, materials, artwork readiness, prototyping, testing, vendor handoff, and quality control. **Key Responsibilities:** - **Packaging Concept & Structure** - Convert business/brand briefs into structural designs, dielines, and CAD files for various types of packaging. - Balance usability, protection in transit, and shelf/unboxing experience. - **Materials & Sustainability** - Select substrates and finishes while driving recyclability, rightweighting, and waste reduction. - **Artwork & PrePress Readiness** - Create/validate dielines, color specs, and ensure labeling compliance. - Collaborate with Brand/Content teams for adapting graphics to structural constraints. - **Prototyping, Testing & Validation** - Build rapid mockups, conduct tests, and maintain packaging specs and approval records. - **Vendor Collaboration & Costing** - Brief and evaluate converters/printers, optimize specifications, and support Procurement in cost-saving initiatives. - **Quality & Compliance** - Define QC checklists, resolve issues, and ensure safety standards and compliance with packaging norms. - **Project & Stakeholder Management** - Plan timelines, manage change requests, and ensure on-time launches for academic cycles. - Partner with Supply Chain for efficient packout and warehouse management. **Required Qualifications & Skills:** - Degree/Diploma from the Indian Institute of Packaging (IIP) or equivalent. - 5+ years hands-on experience in structural/package design and development. - Proficiency with ArtiosCAD/Esko, Adobe Illustrator/InDesign/Photoshop. - Strong knowledge of paper/board grades, print processes, and finishing. - Practical exposure to prepress, color management, and vendor coordination. In this role, you will play a crucial part in enhancing the packaging function of the organization by ensuring high-quality, sustainable, and cost-effective solutions for educational materials and marketing collaterals.,