Design Director - Packaging

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Director - Packaging

Company: OLLY

Location: Remote, USA

Job Type: Full-Time

Category: Creative & Design Operations / Brand Management

Date Posted: 2026-08-20T21:42:50

Experience Level: 7-15+ Years

Remote Status: Fully Remote (with travel)

🚀 Role Summary

• Spearhead the creative vision and strategic direction for OLLY's packaging ecosystem, encompassing core business, innovation, and future growth initiatives.

• Establish and uphold rigorous creative standards, design principles, and systems to ensure cohesive and impactful packaging development across the entire product portfolio.

• Drive packaging innovation by identifying opportunities and translating consumer insights and brand strategy into compelling, consumer-centric design solutions.

• Foster a high-performing, collaborative team environment for packaging designers and creative contributors, nurturing talent and promoting continuous growth.

• Act as the primary creative decision-maker for all packaging-related workstreams, ensuring alignment with business objectives and brand equity.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the job title is "Design Director - Packaging," the emphasis on translating business objectives, consumer insights, brand strategy, and partnering with various departments (Brand, Product Development, Regulatory, Commercial, Insights, Packaging Engineering, Creative Operations) indicates a strong leaning towards GTM Operations and Brand Operations. The role requires strategic thinking, process definition, and cross-functional execution, aligning it with operations functions that support go-to-market strategies through product presentation.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Define and continuously evolve OLLY's overarching packaging vision, aligning it with core business objectives, new product innovation pipelines, and long-term growth strategies.

• Develop, implement, and maintain comprehensive creative standards, design principles, and scalable systems that guide all packaging development efforts across the OLLY portfolio.

• Provide clear, constructive, and actionable creative direction and feedback to elevate the quality, consistency, efficacy, and shelf-appeal of all packaging designs.

• Translate complex business goals, nuanced consumer insights, and overarching brand strategies into concrete, inspiring, and executable creative briefs and direction for packaging initiatives.

• Proactively identify and champion opportunities to enhance the packaging portfolio through strategic design thinking, innovative solutions, and a deep understanding of consumer needs and market trends.

• Strategically establish priorities for all packaging initiatives, guiding teams to focus on the most impactful opportunities that drive brand value and commercial success.

• Serve as the ultimate creative authority and decision-maker for packaging-related workstreams, recommendations, and approvals, ensuring strategic alignment and execution excellence.

• Drive clarity, foster alignment, and facilitate decisive decision-making across all packaging initiatives, ensuring teams remain focused on high-impact activities and are well-positioned for success.

• Collaborate closely with Creative Operations to ensure seamless alignment of resources, manage workloads effectively, and optimize priorities across the entire packaging portfolio.

• Lead, mentor, develop, and inspire a team of talented packaging designers and other creative contributors, fostering their professional growth and maximizing their potential.

• Cultivate and champion a dynamic culture of creativity, robust collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning and improvement within the packaging design function.

• Forge and maintain strong, productive partnerships with key cross-functional stakeholders, including Brand, Innovation, Product Development, Regulatory, Commercial, Insights, Packaging Engineering, and Operations teams.

• Represent the Packaging Design function and its strategic imperatives in critical organizational planning sessions, key business initiatives, and high-level leadership discussions.

• Effectively manage external agencies, freelance designers, and other creative partners, ensuring the delivery of exceptional creative work that meets OLLY's standards and objectives.

• Act as a primary champion for exceptional craft, consumer-centric design principles, and forward-thinking innovation across all packaging touchpoints and brand experiences.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative leadership and strategic operational oversight. The emphasis on defining standards, managing cross-functional alignment, resource allocation (via Creative Operations), and driving innovation aligns with a GTM operations focus where design directly impacts market readiness and brand perception.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Packaging Design, Fine Arts, or a related creative field is typically expected. A Master's degree or equivalent advanced study may be considered a plus. Experience:

• 7-15+ years of progressive experience in packaging design, brand design, creative direction, or a closely related creative leadership role, preferably within the CPG or VMS (Vitamins, Minerals, Supplements) industry.

• Demonstrated track record of leading creative teams and managing complex, multi-faceted packaging projects from concept through to execution. Required Skills:

• Portfolio: A compelling and comprehensive portfolio showcasing exceptional design thinking, deep expertise in packaging design, and a strong history of successful brand-building initiatives.

• Strategic Translation: Proven ability to effectively translate complex business objectives, nuanced consumer insights, and overarching brand strategies into clear, actionable, and inspiring creative direction for packaging.

• Design Systems & Standards: Expertise in developing and implementing robust design systems, visual identities, and comprehensive packaging standards that ensure consistency and brand integrity across a diverse product portfolio.

• Team Leadership & Development: Demonstrated experience in leading, mentoring, and developing high-performing creative teams, fostering a collaborative and growth-oriented environment.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Strong ability to build and maintain effective partnerships with diverse internal stakeholders (Brand, Product Development, Marketing, Regulatory, Engineering, Operations) and external partners (agencies, freelancers).

• Creative Judgment & Feedback: Exceptional creative discernment with the ability to provide constructive, thoughtful, and actionable feedback that elevates design quality and strategic impact.

• Presentation & Storytelling: Outstanding presentation, storytelling, and communication skills, capable of articulating creative vision, strategic rationale, and design impact to various audiences.

• Ambiguity Navigation: Proven ability to navigate ambiguity, make sound decisions, and establish clear priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic business environment.

• Agency/Vendor Management: Experience managing external agencies, freelancers, and creative partners to deliver high-quality work within scope, budget, and timelines.

• Consumer-Centricity: Deep understanding and passion for consumer trends, market dynamics, and the strategic role of packaging in building strong brand equity and consumer connection.

• Strategic & Business Acumen: A strategic mindset with the capacity to balance long-term creative vision with immediate business needs and commercial realities.

• Collaborative Leadership: Strong collaboration skills coupled with a low-ego, team-first approach to leadership and problem-solving.

Preferred Skills:

• Experience within the Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements (VMS) industry.

• Familiarity with packaging engineering principles and manufacturing processes.

• Understanding of regulatory requirements for packaging in the VMS or CPG sector.

• Proficiency in design software and project management tools relevant to creative workflows.

📝 Enhancement Note: The required years of experience are explicitly stated as 7-15+ years, which is a significant indicator of a senior leadership role requiring extensive experience and strategic oversight. The emphasis on a portfolio and specific skills like "translating business strategy" and "influencing cross-functional stakeholders" clearly positions this as a role with operational responsibilities beyond pure design execution.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Design Thinking & Strategy: Showcase a clear process for how strategic objectives, consumer insights, and business goals are translated into innovative packaging solutions.

• Packaging Expertise: Present a diverse range of packaging projects demonstrating expertise across different formats, materials, and consumer touchpoints within the CPG/VMS space.

• Brand Building Impact: Highlight case studies that illustrate how your packaging designs have directly contributed to brand equity, market differentiation, and business growth.

• Systemic Approach: Include examples of how you've established design standards, systems, or frameworks to ensure consistency and scalability across a product portfolio.

• Leadership & Collaboration: Demonstrate your ability to lead creative teams, manage external partners, and collaborate effectively with cross-functional stakeholders to achieve project goals.

Process Documentation:

• Creative Brief Development: Evidence of creating clear, concise, and actionable creative briefs that effectively align project objectives with design execution.

• Design Review & Feedback: Examples of structured design review processes and how thoughtful, constructive feedback is provided to elevate creative output.

• Innovation Pipeline Integration: Demonstrate how packaging design is integrated into the broader product innovation process, from ideation to market launch.

• Cross-Functional Workflow: Illustrate how packaging design processes are managed in collaboration with Brand, Product Development, Regulatory, and Operations teams to ensure seamless execution.

• Agile/Iterative Design: Showcase experience with iterative design processes, A/B testing of packaging concepts, and adapting designs based on market feedback or performance data.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Portfolio Essentials" and "Process Documentation" sections are critical for a Design Director role that bridges creative vision with operational execution. The emphasis on translating strategy, demonstrating impact, and managing processes highlights the need for candidates to showcase their ability to operationalize creative direction effectively.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range:

• Based on the experience level (7-15+ years), leadership responsibilities, and the "Remote, USA" location, a competitive salary range for a Design Director in the CPG/VMS sector would typically fall between $160,000 - $220,000 per year. This estimate considers the senior nature of the role, the demand for specialized packaging design leadership, and the cost of living across various regions in the United States. Benefits:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance: 100% of premiums paid for employee-only coverage, including orthodontics.

• Generous Paid Time Off (PTO): 4 weeks of PTO annually.

• Paid Holidays: Company-observed paid holidays.

• Mental Health Days: 12 paid Mental Health Days per year, underscoring a commitment to employee well-being.

• Paid Parental Leave: 100% paid parental leave.

• Fertility and Adoption Benefits: Support for family-building journeys.

• Annual Bonus: Potential for an annual performance-based bonus.

• 401(k) Plan: Retirement savings plan with an employer match.

• Stipends: Hybrid Work, Wellness, and Cell Phone stipends to support remote work and employee well-being.

• Free Product: Access to OLLY products.

• Engaging Work Environment: Opportunity to work with an intelligent, inspiring, and fun team. Working Hours:

• Full-time, exempt (salary) position. Standard full-time hours are expected, typically around 40 hours per week, with flexibility to manage workload and project demands.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary estimation is based on industry benchmarks for senior design leadership roles in the US, factoring in the specified experience level and the remote nature of the position. The benefits package is extensive and aligns with competitive offerings in the consumer goods sector, particularly for remote or hybrid roles.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Vitamins, Minerals, and Supplements (VMS) / Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG). OLLY is part of the VMS Co-Op, which includes SmartyPants and aims for future acquisitions, indicating a dynamic and growth-oriented environment within the health and wellness sector.

Company Size: The VMS Co-Op is expanding, suggesting a mid-to-large size organization with multiple brands under its umbrella. This size offers opportunities for impact while potentially maintaining a more agile and collaborative feel than a massive corporation.

Founded: OLLY was founded with a mission to make nutrition simple and fun, focusing on accessible, science-backed supplements with appealing branding. The VMS Co-Op structure implies a strategic consolidation of fast-growing companies.

Team Structure:

• Reporting: This role reports to the VP of Creative, placing it within the broader creative and marketing functions.

• Leadership: The Design Director leads a team of packaging designers and creative contributors, implying direct management responsibilities.

• Cross-functional Collaboration: The role necessitates close partnerships with Brand, Product Development, Regulatory, Commercial, Insights, Packaging Engineering, and Creative Operations teams, indicating a highly integrated, matrixed work environment.

Methodology:

• Creative Vision & Strategy: The core methodology involves defining and executing a clear creative vision for packaging, driven by business objectives and consumer insights.

• Design Systems & Standards: Emphasis on establishing systematic approaches to ensure consistency and scalability in design execution.

• Data-Informed Creativity: Consumer insights and market trends are key inputs for design direction, suggesting a data-informed creative process.

• Collaborative Decision-Making: The role requires fostering alignment and driving decisions through cross-functional partnerships.

Company Website: https://www.olly.com/

📝 Enhancement Note: The VMS Co-Op structure suggests a company that values growth, innovation, and brand synergy. The remote-first nature combined with required travel for offsites indicates a culture that balances flexibility with the need for in-person collaboration and strategic alignment.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This is a senior leadership position (Director level) within the creative and brand operations domain, focusing specifically on packaging. It demands strategic oversight, team management, and significant cross-functional influence.

Reporting Structure: Reporting to the VP of Creative, this role sits at a critical juncture, translating high-level creative strategy into tangible packaging execution and managing the operational aspects of that process.

Operations Impact: The Design Director's work directly impacts the consumer's perception of the brand at the point of purchase, influencing sales, market penetration, and brand loyalty. Effective packaging design is a key component of the go-to-market strategy, impacting product launch success and overall brand health.

Growth Opportunities:

• Strategic Influence: Potential to expand influence on broader brand strategy and innovation initiatives beyond packaging.

• Team Expansion: Opportunity to grow and shape the packaging design team and its capabilities as the VMS Co-Op expands.

• Leadership Development: Advancement to VP-level roles or broader creative leadership positions within the organization or its future acquisitions.

• Industry Expertise: Deepen expertise in the VMS and CPG sectors, becoming a recognized leader in packaging design strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The role offers significant growth potential, moving from a specialized design leadership role to a more strategic brand operations or creative leadership position, especially within a growing co-op structure.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: Fully Remote with required travel for company offsites (approximately 4 times per year). This indicates a distributed team model that prioritizes flexibility while acknowledging the importance of in-person collaboration for strategic alignment and team building.

Office Location(s): While the role is remote, the mention of company offsites implies physical hubs or meeting locations, likely in major metropolitan areas or company headquarters, for periodic team gatherings and strategic planning.

Workspace Context:

• Remote Collaboration: Expect a heavy reliance on digital collaboration tools for day-to-day work, team meetings, and project management.

• In-Person Strategy: Offsites will be crucial for high-level strategic discussions, team bonding, and intensive creative workshops.

• Tools & Technology: Access to necessary design software and project management platforms will be provided or expected.

Work Schedule: Full-time, exempt (salary) with expectations of approximately 40 hours per week. The role requires flexibility to manage project deadlines and collaborate across time zones if necessary, though the primary focus is within the USA.

📝 Enhancement Note: The remote-first approach with mandated travel points to a modern work philosophy that values employee autonomy while ensuring critical in-person interactions for team cohesion and strategic alignment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Video Screen: A preliminary conversation with the Talent team to assess basic qualifications and cultural fit.

• Round 1: In-depth conversations with the Hiring Manager (VP of Creative) and 1-2 other team members to evaluate strategic thinking, creative vision, and leadership potential.

• Round 2: Further discussions with 2-3 additional team members or cross-functional partners (e.g., from Brand, Product Development) to assess collaboration skills and stakeholder management capabilities.

• Final Round (Homework): Candidates are provided with 3 specific questions in advance to prepare a presentation. This "Homework" is presented to the interview panel members previously met. This format assesses strategic thinking, problem-solving, and presentation skills under a structured, pre-defined scenario.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Strategic Narrative: Clearly articulate the strategic thinking behind each project. Explain why certain design decisions were made, linking them to business objectives, consumer insights, or brand strategy.

• Process Demonstration: Showcase your design process, from initial brief interpretation to concept development, iteration, and final execution. Highlight your role in leading this process.

• Impact & Results: Quantify the impact of your work whenever possible. Use metrics related to sales, brand perception, market share, or campaign success, if available.

• Leadership Examples: Include projects where you led a team or managed external partners, demonstrating your ability to guide and inspire creative output.

• Conciseness & Clarity: Present your strongest work efficiently. Focus on quality over quantity, ensuring each case study tells a compelling story.

Challenge Preparation (Homework):

• Deconstruct the Questions: Thoroughly analyze each of the three "Homework" questions. Identify the core strategic, creative, or leadership challenge being posed.

• Align with OLLY's Brand: Research OLLY's brand, mission, target audience, and existing packaging. Tailor your responses to demonstrate an understanding of their unique position in the VMS market.

• Structure Your Presentation: Organize your thoughts logically for each question. Consider using a framework (e.g., Situation, Task, Action, Result) for problem-solving scenarios.

• Focus on Strategic & Operational Thinking: Given the Director level, expect questions that assess your ability to think strategically, manage operations, lead teams, and drive business impact through design.

• Practice Delivery: Rehearse your presentation to ensure clarity, confidence, and adherence to any time limits. Be prepared to answer follow-up questions from the panel.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Homework" final round is a significant differentiator. Candidates should prepare to present strategic insights and solutions, demonstrating their ability to think critically and apply their expertise to OLLY's specific challenges. This is a key operational assessment.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Design Software: Proficiency in industry-standard design software such as Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) is fundamental.

• Prototyping/3D Rendering Tools: Experience with tools for packaging mockups and 3D visualizations (e.g., Adobe Dimension, Keyshot, or similar) would be highly beneficial for presenting concepts.

• Project Management Software: Familiarity with project management tools like Asana, Trello, Monday.com, or similar platforms used for tracking creative projects and workflows.

• Collaboration Platforms: Expertise in using tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Workspace, and video conferencing software (Zoom, Google Meet) for remote team communication and collaboration.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Consumer Insights Platforms: Familiarity with tools or methods for accessing and interpreting consumer research, market trend reports, and competitive analysis.

• Performance Metrics: Understanding of how to track and analyze packaging performance metrics (e.g., shelf impact, conversion rates, brand perception studies), though direct reporting might be via other teams.

CRM & Automation:

• While not directly managing CRM, understanding how packaging design integrates with marketing campaigns and product information management systems would be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the role is creative, the emphasis on "systems," "standards," and "collaboration with Operations" implies a need for proficiency in tools that support structured workflows, project tracking, and cross-functional communication, beyond just design software.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Creativity & Innovation: A core value driving the pursuit of novel and impactful packaging solutions.

• Consumer-Centricity: Placing the consumer at the heart of all design decisions, ensuring relevance and connection.

• Collaboration & Teamwork: Fostering a supportive and integrated environment where diverse perspectives contribute to shared goals.

• Accountability & Ownership: Taking responsibility for outcomes and driving projects to successful completion.

• Growth & Development: A commitment to continuous learning, skill enhancement, and career progression for team members.

• Efficiency & Effectiveness: Striving for streamlined processes and impactful design outcomes that support business objectives.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: A highly collaborative approach, working closely with Brand, Product Development, Regulatory, Commercial, Insights, Packaging Engineering, and Creative Operations to ensure holistic GTM strategy.

• Open Communication: Encouraging open dialogue, feedback exchange, and transparent communication across all levels and departments.

• Shared Vision: A focus on aligning teams around a unified creative vision and strategic direction for packaging.

• Low-Ego Leadership: Emphasizing a team-first mentality, valuing contributions from all members, and fostering an environment where great ideas can emerge from anywhere.

📝 Enhancement Note: The cultural values emphasize a blend of creative excellence and operational rigor, crucial for a role that bridges artistic vision with business execution.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Brand Vision with Business Needs: Effectively harmonizing creative aspirations with commercial imperatives, regulatory constraints, and manufacturing realities.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Expectations: Navigating the needs and priorities of multiple departments to achieve consensus and alignment on packaging strategies.

• Driving Innovation in a Competitive Market: Continuously pushing creative boundaries to ensure OLLY's packaging stands out in a crowded VMS/CPG landscape.

• Leading a Distributed Team: Maintaining strong team cohesion, collaboration, and productivity within a remote work environment.

• Adapting to Evolving Consumer Trends: Staying ahead of consumer preferences, sustainability demands, and digital integration needs in packaging.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Strategic Brand Leadership: Opportunities to deepen strategic involvement in brand development and innovation beyond packaging.

• Team Building & Mentorship: Developing leadership skills by growing and mentoring a high-impact creative team.

• Industry Trends & Insights: Staying abreast of the latest in packaging materials, sustainability, consumer behavior, and design innovation through conferences, industry publications, and internal knowledge sharing.

• Cross-Functional Acumen: Gaining deeper understanding of product development, regulatory affairs, and commercial strategies through close collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges presented are typical for senior roles in dynamic consumer brands, requiring strategic thinking, strong interpersonal skills, and adaptability. Growth opportunities are geared towards expanding influence and leadership scope.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "How would you approach defining OLLY's packaging vision for the next three years, considering market trends, innovation pipeline, and brand evolution?" (Focus on strategic frameworks, foresight, and alignment with business goals.)

• "Describe a time you had to balance conflicting priorities or feedback from multiple stakeholders on a packaging project. How did you drive consensus and achieve a successful outcome?" (Focus on stakeholder management, negotiation, and decision-making.)

• "How do you foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement within a creative team, particularly in a remote setting?" (Focus on leadership style, team motivation, and process enhancement.) Company & Culture Questions:

• "Based on your understanding of OLLY, what do you see as the biggest opportunities and challenges for its packaging design in the current market?" (Demonstrate thorough research and strategic insight.)

• "How do you ensure a 'low-ego, team-first' approach permeates your leadership and interactions with colleagues?" (Discuss your leadership philosophy and collaborative practices.)

• "How would you measure the success of your packaging design initiatives, beyond aesthetic appeal?" (Focus on metrics, ROI, and impact on brand and business goals.) Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• The OLLY Lens: Frame your case studies through the lens of OLLY's brand and the VMS industry. Highlight projects that demonstrate understanding of their target audience and market positioning.

• Strategic Rationale First: For each project, begin by clearly stating the business problem or strategic objective it addressed.

• Process as a Story: Walk through your design process, emphasizing critical decision points, how you overcame challenges, and the role of collaboration.

• Quantify Impact: Wherever possible, present data or outcomes that illustrate the positive impact of your packaging designs on sales, brand perception, or consumer engagement.

• Leadership Demonstration: Clearly articulate your role in leading the project, managing the team, and influencing stakeholders.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Homework" assignment is a key component. Candidates should prepare to present solutions and strategies, not just past work, demonstrating their ability to think on their feet and apply their expertise to OLLY's specific challenges.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Director - Packaging position:

• Submit your application through the Greenhouse job portal.

• Curate your Portfolio: Select 3-5 of your most impactful packaging design projects that best demonstrate your strategic thinking, leadership, and ability to drive brand growth. Ensure each project tells a clear story with a focus on process and results.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight experience and achievements directly relevant to packaging design leadership, brand strategy, team management, and cross-functional collaboration, using keywords from the job description.

• Prepare for the "Homework": Once you advance, carefully review the 3 questions provided for the final round. Conduct thorough research on OLLY and the VMS market to inform your strategic responses and presentation.

• Research OLLY: Familiarize yourself with OLLY's brand identity, product offerings, existing packaging, target audience, and overall mission to articulate your vision and cultural fit effectively.

⚠️ Important Notice: This enhanced job description includes AI-generated insights and operations industry-standard assumptions. All details should be verified directly with the hiring organization before making application decisions.

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