Design Manager, Everyday Pantry Essentials

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager, Everyday Pantry Essentials

Company: Campbell's

Location: Camden, New Jersey, United States

Job Type: Full-time

Category: Creative Operations / Brand Design Management

Date Posted: October 2, 2026

Experience Level: 5-10 Years

Remote Status: Hybrid

🚀 Role Summary

• Leads design initiatives for the Everyday Pantry Essentials portfolio, ensuring brand strategy alignment and on-time delivery of creative assets.

• Manages and mentors a direct report, fostering team capability and delivering against business and brand priorities.

• Partners with cross-functional teams (Brand, Marketing, Innovation, Operations) and external agencies to translate design strategy into impactful consumer-centered solutions.

• Oversees packaging production, pre-press activities, and ensures adherence to brand standards and regulatory requirements.

• Drives process improvements within design workflows, tools, and team effectiveness to enhance efficiency and quality.

📝 Enhancement Note: This role is positioned within a large, established CPG company, suggesting a need for strong process adherence, stakeholder management, and ability to navigate complex organizational structures. The focus on "Everyday Pantry Essentials" implies a need for understanding mass-market consumer appeal and high-volume production demands.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Provide creative leadership and strategic direction for the Everyday Pantry Essentials portfolio, ensuring all design outputs align with brand guidelines, consumer needs, and overarching business objectives.

• Manage, mentor, and develop the design team member(s), offering clear direction, constructive feedback, and ongoing performance coaching to foster professional growth and high-quality output.

• Translate high-level design strategies into actionable creative briefs, detailed timelines, efficient workflows, and comprehensive deliverables that meet project scope.

• Direct both internal designers and external agency partners, ensuring all creative work is strategically sound, commercially viable, and meets the requirements outlined in the design brief.

• Collaborate closely with cross-functional stakeholders including Brand Management, Marketing, Product Innovation, Consumer Insights, Operations, and Manufacturing to ensure seamless design integration and successful project execution.

• Act as the primary point of contact for external design agencies, production partners, and vendors, managing day-to-day relationships and ensuring optimal performance and deliverables.

• Critically review, evaluate, and approve creative work to uphold design quality, maintain brand consistency, ensure accuracy, and guarantee adherence to all established brand standards.

• Supervise packaging production and pre-press activities, meticulously overseeing the process from initial concept through to final artwork delivery to ensure flawless execution.

• Support the management of design project budgets, conduct resource planning, assist in production planning, and optimize operational processes related to design initiatives.

• Proactively identify and implement opportunities for workflow optimization, tool enhancement, process refinement, and overall team effectiveness within the design function.

• Ensure all design assets and final deliverables comply with relevant regulatory requirements, precise production specifications, and established organizational standards.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative leadership, people management, and operational oversight. Emphasis on "translating design strategies into actionable creative direction," "overseeing packaging production and pre-press," and "budget management, resource planning, production planning, and operational processes" points to a role that requires not just creative vision but also a strong understanding of the end-to-end design production lifecycle and its operational implications.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Industrial Design, Visual Communications, or a closely related design discipline.

Experience: Minimum of 7+ years of experience in Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) design, with a strong preference for candidates with experience in the food industry.

Required Skills:

• Proven experience leading complex packaging and brand design initiatives from initial concept through final execution.

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (e.g., Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and demonstrated capabilities in concept development and execution.

• Strong leadership skills, with a proven ability to provide effective creative direction, make informed design recommendations, and influence senior stakeholders and cross-functional partners.

• Exceptional visual storytelling abilities coupled with a deep understanding of brand-building principles and consumer engagement.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, capable of clearly articulating and advocating for design strategy, creative rationale, and project outcomes.

• Comprehensive knowledge of graphic design principles, art production, photography, packaging design, and the intricacies of production processes.

• Solid understanding of packaging regulations and specific requirements prevalent within the CPG industry.

• Working knowledge of typography, photography, print production techniques, proofing procedures, color management, and color separations.

• Ability to operate autonomously while also collaborating effectively within a highly cross-functional organizational matrix to address and solve complex business challenges.

• Strong organizational and project management skills, with a demonstrated capacity to manage multiple competing priorities efficiently in a fast-paced environment. Preferred Skills:

• Prior people management experience, including direct supervision and development of design talent.

• Specific experience within the food and beverage industry, understanding its unique market dynamics and consumer preferences.

• Experience working with nationally recognized consumer brands, demonstrating an ability to manage and elevate established brand identities.

• Familiarity with packaging asset management systems and digital workflow tools to streamline design operations.

• Experience leading and managing external agency relationships and creative vendor partnerships to achieve project goals.

• Exposure to innovation, product launch, and commercialization processes, understanding the design role in bringing new products to market.

• Experience managing production budgets and forecasting project costs accurately.

• Familiarity with sustainability-focused packaging initiatives and an awareness of emerging packaging trends.

• Experience operating within a highly matrixed or global organizational structure.

• Knowledge of consumer insights and their strategic application to inform packaging and overall design strategy.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "Must Have" section emphasizes foundational design skills, CPG experience, and leadership. The "Nice to Have" section points towards candidates who can hit the ground running with management experience, specific industry knowledge, and familiarity with advanced operational tools and processes common in large CPG firms. This suggests the company values candidates who can contribute beyond basic design execution and bring operational efficiency.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate a strong portfolio showcasing a minimum of 7 years of CPG packaging design experience, with a focus on food products.

• Include detailed case studies of complex packaging and brand design initiatives, illustrating the entire lifecycle from concept ideation to final execution.

• Showcase projects that highlight strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and the ability to translate business objectives into compelling visual solutions.

• Present examples of successful collaboration with cross-functional teams and external agencies, demonstrating effective partnership and communication.

• Feature work that adheres to strict brand guidelines, regulatory requirements, and production specifications, with clear explanations of how these constraints were met.

• Highlight projects where budget management and production oversight were critical components, demonstrating an understanding of operational constraints. Process Documentation:

• Provide examples of how design strategies were translated into actionable creative direction, including brief development, timeline creation, and workflow mapping.

• Showcase experience in managing the end-to-end packaging production and pre-press process, illustrating attention to detail and quality control.

• Include documentation or descriptions of how design workflows, tools, or team effectiveness were improved or optimized in previous roles.

• Present evidence of managing relationships with external agencies and vendors, outlining communication protocols and performance management.

• Demonstrate an understanding of how consumer insights were integrated into the design process and influenced creative decision-making.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a Design Manager role in a CPG company, the portfolio should emphasize not just creative output but also strategic thinking, project management, and operational execution. Candidates should be prepared to showcase case studies that detail their involvement in the entire design-to-production pipeline, including process improvements and cross-functional collaboration.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: The target base salary range for this full-time, salaried position is between $105,200 - $144,700 USD annually.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance coverage, including medical and dental plans.

• Disability coverage, including short-term and long-term disability insurance.

• Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) and life insurance policies for individual, family, and domestic partner coverage.

• Competitive 401(k) retirement savings plan with immediate vesting upon enrollment.

• Generous time-off policies, including unlimited sick time, paid time off, and holiday pay.

• On-site fitness center access (for employees at the Camden WHQ).

• Access to on-site day care services, operated by Bright Horizons.

• Employee discount at the company store.

• "Campbell's Cares" program, matching employee donations and volunteer activities up to $1,500 annually.

• Participation in various Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to support employee networks and professional development.

Working Hours: This is a full-time position, typically requiring 40 hours per week. The role is hybrid, with expectations for in-office presence in Camden, NJ, and flexibility for remote work.

📝 Enhancement Note: The salary range provided is within the expected band for a Design Manager with 7+ years of experience in a major CPG company in the Northeast US. The benefits package is extensive and aligns with large corporate offerings, emphasizing employee well-being and financial security. The "unlimited sick time" is a notable perk.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Food & Beverage (Consumer Packaged Goods - CPG)

Company Size: Campbell's is a large, established corporation with a significant global presence, indicating a structured environment with ample resources and opportunities for career development.

Founded: Founded in 1869, Campbell's has a long-standing history and heritage in the food industry, known for iconic brands and a commitment to connecting people through food. This legacy suggests a culture that values tradition, quality, and innovation.

Team Structure:

• The Design Manager reports to the Associate Design Director, Italian, Frozen, & Everyday Pantry Essentials, indicating a hierarchical structure within the broader Enterprise Design Team.

• This role manages one direct report, suggesting a hands-on leadership approach with direct team development responsibilities.

• Collaboration is expected across numerous departments, including Brand, Marketing, Innovation, Product Development, Insights, Operations, and Manufacturing, highlighting a highly cross-functional working environment. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Emphasis on translating consumer insights and business objectives into design solutions, suggesting a data-informed approach to creative strategy.

• Process Optimization: A stated goal to "improve design workflows, tools, processes, and team effectiveness" indicates a focus on operational efficiency and continuous improvement within the design function.

• Brand Stewardship: A core methodology is ensuring design excellence, consistency, and adherence to brand standards across a diverse portfolio of well-known consumer brands.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: Campbell's established nature means the culture likely balances a respect for heritage with a drive for modern innovation. For operations-minded candidates, the emphasis on cross-functional collaboration, process improvement, and data-driven decision-making within a large CPG framework is key.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is a mid-to-senior level management position within the design function, bridging creative execution with strategic oversight and operational management. It requires leadership experience and the ability to manage complex projects and direct reports.

Reporting Structure: The Design Manager reports to an Associate Design Director, indicating a clear line of progression within the design department's hierarchy. This structure allows for mentorship and guidance from a more senior leader while empowering the manager to lead their specific portfolio segment.

Operations Impact: The Design Manager has a significant impact on the commercial success of the Everyday Pantry Essentials portfolio by ensuring that packaging and brand designs are not only aesthetically compelling but also strategically aligned with business objectives, consumer needs, and production realities. Effective design directly influences consumer perception, purchase decisions, and ultimately, revenue generation. The role also impacts operational efficiency through process improvements in design workflows and production oversight.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Advancement: Potential to advance to Associate Design Director or Director roles within specific brand categories or the broader Enterprise Design Team.

• Specialization: Opportunities to deepen expertise in specific CPG categories (e.g., pantry staples, frozen foods) or expand into broader brand management or marketing leadership roles.

• Process Improvement Leadership: Potential to lead broader initiatives focused on optimizing design operations, digital asset management, or cross-functional workflow integration across the organization.

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Experience gained in managing complex product launches and collaborating across departments can open doors to roles in Brand Management, Innovation, or Product Development.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning opportunities through internal training, external workshops, and exposure to various brand challenges, enhancing skills in creative direction, project management, and operational efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The growth path suggests a focus on deepening design leadership and operational management within the CPG sector. Candidates with strong project management and process optimization skills will be well-positioned for advancement.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This is a hybrid role based at Campbell's headquarters in Camden, NJ. The office environment is likely a corporate setting designed for collaboration among various departments.

Office Location(s): The primary location is Camden, NJ, which serves as Campbell's World Headquarters (WHQ). This location offers access to on-site amenities like a fitness center and daycare, indicating a supportive corporate campus environment.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The hybrid model encourages in-office collaboration with Brand, Marketing, Innovation, and Operations teams, facilitating real-time feedback and joint problem-solving.

• Tool & Technology Access: Employees will have access to industry-standard design software (Adobe Creative Suite) and potentially digital workflow and asset management tools, crucial for efficient design operations.

• Team Interaction: Regular interaction with the direct report, Associate Design Director, and cross-functional partners is expected, fostering a dynamic and communicative work atmosphere.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is likely 40 hours per week, with flexibility for hybrid work. However, given the nature of design project deadlines and production cycles, there may be periods requiring extended hours to meet critical project milestones or ensure flawless execution.

📝 Enhancement Note: The hybrid nature and in-office amenities suggest a structured yet accommodating work environment, typical of large CPG companies. The emphasis on collaboration within the office is crucial for design roles that involve constant feedback loops and cross-functional alignment.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: A review of applications and portfolios to assess qualifications, experience, and creative capabilities relevant to CPG design management.

• Hiring Manager Interview: Discussion with the Associate Design Director to evaluate leadership style, creative vision, operational understanding, and cultural fit. Preparation should include examples of leading design projects and managing teams.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Meetings with key stakeholders from Brand Marketing, Innovation, and Operations to gauge collaboration skills, ability to translate business needs into design, and understanding of production realities. Be ready to discuss how design supports business objectives and operational constraints.

• Presentation/Portfolio Review: A dedicated session where candidates present their portfolio, showcasing key CPG packaging design projects. Focus on articulating the strategic rationale, creative process, challenges, solutions, and impact. Be prepared to discuss workflow optimization and production oversight.

• Final Interview: Potentially with a more senior leader to discuss overall strategic alignment and long-term fit within the organization.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 3-5 of your most impactful CPG packaging design projects, emphasizing those within the food industry and illustrating your leadership capabilities.

• Showcase Process & Strategy: For each project, clearly outline the business challenge, target audience, design objectives, your strategic approach, creative development process, and final execution.

• Quantify Impact: Where possible, include metrics on sales lift, market share improvement, brand perception changes, or efficiency gains achieved through your design work.

• Highlight Operations: Detail your involvement in production, pre-press, budget management, and cross-functional collaboration. Explain how you ensured quality and efficiency from concept to shelf.

• Tell a Story: Structure your presentation to tell a compelling narrative about each project, demonstrating your problem-solving skills and ability to influence outcomes.

Challenge Preparation:

• Design Brief Exercise: Be prepared for a hypothetical design brief that requires you to outline your strategic approach, creative direction, and project plan within a given timeframe.

• Creative Problem-Solving: Anticipate questions about how you would handle design challenges, conflicting stakeholder feedback, or production issues.

• Process Improvement Scenario: You may be asked to identify potential areas for improvement in a given design workflow or propose solutions for enhancing team collaboration and efficiency.

📝 Enhancement Note: The interview process emphasizes not only creative talent but also strategic thinking, operational acumen, and collaborative skills. A strong portfolio presentation that highlights process, strategy, and impact, especially in CPG packaging and production, will be crucial.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Advanced proficiency is mandatory, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign, for all aspects of graphic design, layout, and asset creation.

• Presentation Software: Tools like PowerPoint or Google Slides will be essential for presenting design strategies, creative rationales, and project updates to stakeholders.

• Project Management Software: Experience with tools such as Asana, Trello, Jira, or Monday.com is likely expected for managing project timelines, tasks, and team workflows.

Analytics & Reporting:

• Consumer Insights Platforms: Familiarity with accessing and interpreting consumer research, market data, and performance analytics to inform design strategy.

• Reporting Dashboards: Ability to review and understand performance reports related to brand health, sales, and market trends that may influence design direction.

CRM & Automation:

• Digital Asset Management (DAM) Systems: Preferred skills include knowledge of DAM systems for organizing, storing, and distributing design assets efficiently.

• Workflow Automation Tools: Experience with tools that streamline design review processes, approvals, or production hand-offs would be beneficial.

• Collaboration Platforms: Proficiency in tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, or similar platforms for day-to-day communication and cross-functional collaboration.

📝 Enhancement Note: The core technical requirement is mastery of the Adobe Creative Suite. Beyond that, familiarity with project management, digital asset management, and collaboration tools is key for effective operations within a large CPG organization.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Excellence in Execution: A commitment to delivering high-quality, on-brand creative assets that meet rigorous production standards and business objectives.

• Collaboration & Partnership: Valuing strong working relationships with Brand, Marketing, Innovation, and Operations teams to achieve shared goals.

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

• Efficiency & Optimization: Continuously seeking ways to improve design workflows, processes, and tool utilization to enhance productivity and reduce costs.

• Brand Stewardship: Acting as a guardian of Campbell's iconic brands, ensuring consistency, integrity, and strategic evolution of visual identities.

Collaboration Style:

• Cross-Functional Integration: The role requires a highly collaborative style, working closely with diverse teams to align on strategy, gather input, and ensure design solutions are integrated across all touchpoints.

• Feedback-Oriented: An open approach to receiving and providing constructive feedback is essential for refining creative work and fostering team development.

• Proactive Communication: Maintaining transparent and regular communication with stakeholders, direct reports, and leadership to manage expectations, share progress, and address challenges promptly.

• Strategic Alignment: Ensuring that design initiatives are always aligned with broader marketing and business strategies, demonstrating an understanding of the commercial context.

📝 Enhancement Note: The culture emphasizes a balance between creative excellence and operational rigor, with a strong focus on collaboration and consumer needs within the CPG landscape.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creative Vision with Business Constraints: Navigating the need for innovative design while adhering to strict brand guidelines, regulatory requirements, production limitations, and budget constraints inherent in a large CPG company.

• Managing Diverse Stakeholder Needs: Effectively aligning the expectations and requirements of multiple cross-functional departments (e.g., Marketing, Sales, Legal, Operations) on design projects.

• Driving Process Innovation: Implementing new workflows, tools, or methodologies within an established corporate structure can present cultural and technical hurdles.

• Maintaining Brand Consistency Across a Large Portfolio: Ensuring a cohesive visual identity across numerous products within the Everyday Pantry Essentials segment, each with its own nuances and market positioning.

• Adapting to Evolving Consumer Trends and Market Dynamics: Staying ahead of changing consumer preferences, competitive landscapes, and sustainability demands in the fast-paced food industry.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Leadership Training: Opportunities to hone skills in creative direction, team management, and strategic brand building.

• CPG Industry Best Practices: Exposure to leading trends, innovations, and operational strategies within the food and beverage sector through internal resources and industry events.

• Process Improvement Methodologies: Potential to gain experience in Lean, Six Sigma, or other operational efficiency frameworks applied to design and production workflows.

• Cross-Functional Exposure: Gaining deeper understanding of marketing, product development, innovation, and supply chain operations to broaden business acumen.

• Mentorship Programs: Access to mentorship from senior leaders within Campbell's to guide career development and strategic thinking.

📝 Enhancement Note: The challenges highlight the need for strong problem-solving, negotiation, and adaptability skills, coupled with a deep understanding of CPG operations. Growth opportunities focus on expanding leadership capabilities and operational expertise within the food industry.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you successfully translated a complex business objective into a clear and effective design strategy for a CPG product. What was your process, and what was the outcome?"

• "How do you approach managing and mentoring a direct report, particularly in a creative environment? Provide an example of how you've helped a team member grow."

• "Walk us through your process for managing packaging production and pre-press activities. What are the critical checkpoints to ensure flawless execution?"

• "How do you balance creative innovation with strict brand guidelines and regulatory requirements in the CPG space?"

• "Imagine you have conflicting feedback from Marketing and Operations on a key design project. How would you navigate this situation to reach a resolution?" Company & Culture Questions:

• "What do you know about Campbell's brands, particularly within the Everyday Pantry Essentials portfolio, and how would your design approach enhance them?"

• "How do you see your role contributing to Campbell's mission of connecting people through food they love?"

• "Describe your ideal collaborative environment and how you foster strong relationships with cross-functional partners."

• "How do you stay current with CPG design trends, consumer insights, and packaging innovations?" Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure for Impact: Begin with an executive summary of your key strengths and relevance to the role. Then, for each selected project, clearly articulate the "Problem," "Solution," and "Result."

• Emphasize Operations: For each case study, dedicate specific time to detailing your role in production, pre-press, budget oversight, and cross-functional alignment. Showcase your understanding of the entire design-to-shelf process.

• Quantify Success: Whenever possible, use data and metrics (e.g., sales impact, efficiency gains, market share improvements) to demonstrate the tangible results of your design work.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals of your work, but ensure they are integrated into a narrative that explains the strategic thinking and decision-making behind them.

• Prepare for Q&A: Anticipate questions about your design philosophy, leadership style, and how you handle challenges. Be ready to discuss specific processes and tools you've utilized.

📝 Enhancement Note: Interview preparation should focus on demonstrating strategic design thinking, robust project and operational management skills, and strong collaborative capabilities within the CPG context. The portfolio presentation is a critical opportunity to showcase these competencies.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Manager position at Campbell's:

• Submit your application through the provided link on the Campbell's careers portal.

• Portfolio Customization: Curate your portfolio to prominently feature 3-5 of your most relevant CPG packaging design projects, emphasizing food industry experience and showcasing your leadership in managing the end-to-end design process, including production and operational aspects.

• Resume Optimization: Tailor your resume to highlight keywords from the job description, such as "CPG design," "packaging design," "brand strategy," "creative direction," "project management," "Adobe Creative Suite," "print production," and "cross-functional collaboration." Quantify achievements and responsibilities where possible.

• Interview Preparation: Practice articulating your experience using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for behavioral questions. Prepare to discuss your approach to design strategy, team management, operational processes, and stakeholder collaboration. Rehearse your portfolio presentation, focusing on strategic rationale and operational impact.

• Company Research: Familiarize yourself with Campbell's brands, their market position, and recent news. Understand their commitment to quality and innovation in the food industry. Consider how your design philosophy aligns with their values and mission.

⚠️ 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.