Design Manager Jobs in Kent, OH (NOW HIRING)

Are you looking for a career that challenges you and gives you the opportunity to learn and grow every day?

Oliver Inc. is hiring! Our growing Company is looking for enthusiastic talents to partner with our customers for all their printing and packaging needs!

With more than 250 years of experience, multiple production facilities, and investment in state-of-the-art technology with an emphasis on sustainability, Oliver Inc. offers speed, consistency and nimbleness as a one-stop solution for all of your printing & packaging needs. At Oliver Inc, our core values are part of the framework of our organization. We're passionate and enjoy our work! We value respect and focus on servicing our customers' needs by providing them with creative solutions that help build their brands. When you partner with Oliver, you partner with success.

Are you a packaging design leader who thrives on innovation, customer collaboration, and developing high-performing teams? We're looking for an experienced Packaging Design Manager to lead our structural packaging design function and drive the development of creative, manufacturable, and cost-effective folding carton packaging solutions.

In this leadership role, you'll manage a team of talented Structural Designers while partnering closely with Sales, Manufacturing, Customer Service, and customers to bring packaging concepts from idea to production. If you're passionate about packaging design, continuous improvement, and delivering exceptional customer solutions, we'd love to hear from you.

As our Packaging Design Manager, you will

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, mentor, coach, and develop a team of Structural Designers.
• Prioritize workloads to ensure projects are completed on time and meet customer expectations.
• Establish department goals, performance metrics, and best practices.
• Conduct performance reviews and support employee development.
• Foster a collaborative, innovative, and customer-focused culture.

Structural Packaging Design

• Lead the design and development of folding carton packaging solutions from concept through production.
• Create innovative structural designs that balance functionality, manufacturability, sustainability, and cost.
• Develop prototypes and production-ready CAD files using ArtiosCAD.
• Review and approve structural designs before customer presentation and manufacturing.
• Recommend design improvements that enhance production efficiency and product performance.

Customer Collaboration

• Serve as the primary structural design resource for customers and internal stakeholders.
• Participate in customer meetings to understand packaging objectives and recommend solutions.
• Present design concepts and technical recommendations.
• Build strong customer relationships through responsiveness and technical expertise.

Project Management

• Manage multiple design projects simultaneously while meeting quality and delivery expectations.
• Coordinate closely with Sales, Estimating, Customer Service, Manufacturing, and Production.
• Identify and resolve project challenges before they impact timelines.

Continuous Improvement

• Research industry trends, emerging materials, and sustainable packaging innovations.
• Drive initiatives that improve manufacturing efficiency, reduce waste, and lower costs.
• Develop and maintain structural design standards and documentation.
• Evaluate new equipment, software, and manufacturing technologies.

You're a fit for our Packaging Design Manager if you have:

• 7-10 years of structural packaging design experience within folding cartons or paperboard packaging.
• 2-5 years of leadership or supervisory experience preferred.
• Strong customer-facing experience supporting packaging development projects.
• Advanced proficiency with ArtiosCAD and Esko software.
• Deep understanding of folding carton manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of packaging materials, printing, converting, and finishing processes.
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office.
• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Industrial Design, Engineering, Graphic Communications, or a related field preferred (equivalent experience will be considered).

You are a collaborative leader who enjoys solving complex packaging challenges while developing your team and building strong customer partnerships. You combine creativity with technical expertise to deliver innovative packaging solutions that improve manufacturing efficiency, reduce costs, and exceed customer expectations.

You'll thrive in this role if you are:

• A strategic and hands-on leader
• Customer-focused with outstanding communication skills
• Organized and capable of managing multiple priorities
• Passionate about innovation and continuous improvement
• A strong problem solver who enjoys working cross-functionally in a fast-paced manufacturing environment

At Oliver, you'll have the opportunity to work alongside talented professionals in a collaborative environment where innovation, quality, and customer satisfaction drive everything we do. We offer the chance to lead meaningful projects, develop your team, and help shape the future of sustainable packaging solutions.

Benefits include:

• Competitive salary
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid vacation and holidays
• Career growth and professional development opportunities
• Collaborative, team-oriented culture

If you're ready to lead innovative structural packaging design projects and make a lasting impact, we encourage you to apply today.

Oliver is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity and expression, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, citizenship status, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.