Manager, Art Direction & Product Design
4 days ago
Minneapolis
Position Profile: The Manager, Art Direction & Product Design works closely with the Director, Product Design to support art direction and feedback and manage the Product Design team. The team is accountable for the developing products and packaging for the CURiO Brand portfolio that are innovative, beautiful, safe, and sellable to end consumers. This position provides expertise and guidance to the Product Design team in the creation and sourcing of custom vessels (glass, metal, and ceramic), and secondary packaging (paper boxes, tubes, bags, labels, hangtags). The position collaborates across CURiO’s departments, working closely with: Project Management, Brand, R&D, Engineering, Operations, Quality, and Marketing. The role has direct reports that may consist of any of the following positions: Sr. Product Designer, Product Designer, or other similarly assigned roles. Work Responsibilities: Design & Concept: Guides the Product Design team in translating creative requirements from concept through execution using a unique combination of creative and analytical talents. • Helps lead strategic thinking of CURiO creative work, ensuring design vision aligns with business objectives, brand aesthetics and costing goals., • Assigns and manages team workflow of projects, monitoring overall capacity of product designers., • Helps to identify and implement process improvement areas that result in simplified steps and gain efficiencies for the company., • Organizes and condenses design feedback into digestible, actionable tasks for product designers., • Leads design meetings as needed throughout the development process., • Participates in the approval of prototype samples for style details, construction, safety, and usability., • Communicates with domestic and international vendors to achieve design intent, construction, safety, and usability goals. Contributes problem-solving ideas throughout the development process., • Mentors and coaches on varying topics such as: design approach, vendor communication, file building and general best practices., • Collaborates with Director, Product Design, Product Design team and Brand to research and concept new product ideas., • Develops mood boards for new product collections and product formats., • Reviews creative presentations and presents concepts to internal brand team and external customers., • Demonstrates systematic approach in designs for varying structures, materials, sizes and product types. Brand steward, keen eye for detail, refines designs across selected product assortment., • Works closely with external vendors, helping to build strong partnerships., • Organizes and labels incoming samples and approved counters., • Attends weekly Design & Innovation status meetings and other meetings as needed., • Works closely with Brand, Project Management, Engineering, R&D, Purchasing, Quality, Production, Finance, and Sales to ensure development is on track to meet project goals, design intent and timeline., • Works closely with designers and print vendors as needed to develop structures, reviews proofs for color/ detail accuracy and attends press checks as needed. Color advocate for the brand standards., • Works closely with Project Management team and Cost Analyst on costing exercises. Contributes to product cost discussions, providing insights and ideas on how to cost engineer new developments to meet cost objectives., • Assists and supports design team in daily tasks as needed such as: mock-ups, structure development, file construction, quotes, 3D renderings, etc. Supervisory: Responsible for providing leadership to the team and ensuring that the team has the talent, resources, and readiness to meet team goals as well as ensuring maximum productivity and performance. Models CURiO Cornerstones and uses cornerstones framework in decision making. • Effectively manage a multi-locational team under a fast pace and constantly changing circumstances., • Hires, trains and develops team, ensuring that each employee has a clear and thorough understanding of their role and responsibilities., • Fosters a collaborative creative environment., • Effectively orient new hires to CURiO culture, structure and specific role and responsibilities, ensuring a positive and productive employee experience., • Utilize the company’s performance management program as designed to align individual performance to overall performance objectives. Provide ongoing performance feedback. Identify and work with manager and HR to take appropriate action for non-performance., • Ensure all CURiO communication is disseminated to the team in a positive and timely manner., • Administer all internal policies and procedures in accordance with company, human resources, budgetary, and finance guidelines. Ensure accuracy of staff data records. General Responsibilities: • Supports CURiO Cornerstones and strives for individual leadership by using cornerstone behaviors in the workplace and in daily decision making., • Follows all policies and procedures of the company. Works cooperatively with all departments, maintaining a positive work atmosphere by acting and communicating in a manner that promotes cooperation with co-workers, supervisors, and managers., • Actively seek individual development through taking advantage of opportunities for skill enhancement., • Keep up to date with the latest best practices, trends, concepts, and regulations in the specific job area., • Manage time effectively, meet personal goals and work effectively with other members of the team to meet CURiO goals., • Follows all safety guidelines and polices. Makes supervisor/manager immediately aware of any observed safety issue. Keeps work area clean, safe, and organized. Position requires extended work hours as necessary to meet seasonal deadlines. Performs other work as assigned. Minimum Qualifications: • Bachelor’s degree in graphic and design or equivalent work experience, • Four years’ experience in product and packaging development, • Intermediate level supervisory role Computer and/or software qualifications: • Intermediate level of proficiency in Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Word, Outlook, • Advanced level of proficiency in design software; Adobe CS (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator), • 3D printer experience preferred Core Competencies: • Ability to work collaboratively with team members and across multiple departments, managing a large volume of projects simultaneously, • Knowledge of design techniques, ability to think creatively, with an eye for color and design, • Excellent critical thinking and problem-solving skills, • Excellent attention to detail, well organized, and systematic in working, • Excellent leadership and communication skills, • Excellent presentation and writing skills, • Excellent initiative and follow-through, • Ability to build and maintain relationships with business partners, • Tolerance for moderate stress, • Self-Driven, able to work independently Travel Requirement: Less 5% Hybrid Working Environment and Physical Demands: • General office or home office environment: Works at a desk in a well-lit, air-conditioned cubicle/office/home office, with moderate noise levels., • Ability to sit for hours at a time, viewing computer monitor on a constant basis. Some walking and standing relative to interaction with other personnel., • Occasionally required to lift and/or move items weighing 10 – 15 pounds., • When in a facility, occasional exposure to dusty and fragrant conditions, varying temperature levels, work near moving mechanical parts, and high noise environments is possible., • Requires in-office visits weekly for such tasks as: sample unpacking/ review, organization needs, shipping, in-person meetings. Health & Welfare Benefits: Eligibility begins on the first day of the month following 30 days of employment unless noted otherwise: • Medical, Dental, Disability Insurance (cost shared), • Life/ AD&D Insurance (employer paid), • Additional voluntary benefit offerings (employee paid): Vision, Accident, Flexible Spending Account, Health Savings Account, Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account, Voluntary Term Life Insurance, AD&D, • 401(k) – After 6 months of employment on next quarterly entry date ** Note: This job description does not restrict CURiO’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise. It does not alter the "at will" employment relationship between the company and the employee.
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