SLD is seeking an experienced Senior Packaging Production Designer to join our Production team.
Great design doesn't end with the creative concept. It takes technical expertise, precision, and attention to detail to bring it successfully into production.
The ideal candidate will have a genuine passion for packaging, extensive experience in consumer-packaged goods (CPG), particularly food and beverages, and a thorough understanding of packaging production processes.
You will play a key role in transforming approved creative concepts into accurate, production-ready final artwork while maintaining design integrity, technical accuracy and compliance with Canadian and US packaging labelling requirements, including applicable CFIA, Health Canada and US FDA regulations.
We are looking for a highly motivated, detail-oriented individual who can work independently, solve complex production challenges, and collaborate effectively with our Account Management, Creative and Production teams.
Key Responsibilities
- Produce accurate, production-ready final mechanical artwork from approved creative concepts.
- Develop packaging mechanicals and execute design rollouts across multiple SKUs, sizes, formats, and packaging structures.
- Work with complex dielines, print specifications, substrates, and printing processes to ensure production accuracy.
- Apply knowledge of colour management, trapping, overprints, and colour separations when preparing final artwork.
- Incorporate Canadian and US packaging information, including bilingual labelling, Nutrition Facts tables and other regulatory requirements, in accordance with applicable CFIA, Health Canada and US FDA guidelines.
- Maintain creative integrity, brand consistency and technical accuracy across packaging adaptations and product lines.
- Collaborate closely with Account Management, Creative and Production teams to coordinate project requirements, identify potential challenges and develop effective production solutions.
- Review artwork thoroughly to ensure accuracy, consistency and compliance with project specifications.
- Independently manage multiple projects, prioritize tasks and meet demanding production deadlines.
Qualifications
- Experience: Ideally 10+ years of hands-on packaging production experience, preferably within a packaging design agency.
- Industry Knowledge: Extensive experience producing final mechanical artwork for consumer-packaged goods, particularly food and beverage packaging.
- Technical Skills: Expert proficiency in Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, with strong working knowledge of InDesign.
- Packaging Production: Thorough understanding of packaging structures, dielines, print specifications, substrates, colour management, and printing processes.
- Prepress Knowledge: Strong understanding of trapping, overprints, colour separations, and prepress principles.
- Regulatory Knowledge: Experience with Canadian and US packaging labelling requirements, including familiarity with CFIA, Health Canada and US FDA regulations, Nutrition Facts tables, bilingual labelling, and applicable front-of-package labelling requirements.
- Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail and the ability to identify and resolve technical production issues.
- Communication & Collaboration: Excellent communication skills, a collaborative attitude, and the ability to work effectively with Account Management, Creative and Production teams.
- Project Management: Strong organizational and time management skills, with the ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and consistently meet deadlines.
Ready to Join Our Team?
If you're passionate about packaging, take pride in getting every detail right and enjoy working with talented people who share your commitment to great design, we'd love to hear from you.
Apply today! Submit your resumé and portfolio showcasing your expertise in final mechanical artwork, packaging adaptations, multi-SKU design rollouts and complex packaging production projects, preferably within the food and beverage industry.
SLD is an equal-opportunity employer. We encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and experiences and are committed to fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment.
