Design Manager, Nutrition;设计经理，营养

📍 Job Overview

Job Title: Design Manager, Nutrition (设计经理，营养)

Company: PepsiCo

Location: Shanghai, China

Job Type: FULL_TIME

Category: Brand Design / Marketing Operations

Date Posted: 2026-08-06

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the end-to-end development and execution of brand strategies specifically for PepsiCo's Nutrition portfolio, driving brand growth through strategic planning, innovation, and communication.

• Oversee the entire design process from concept ideation and sketching to final artwork and production-ready files, ensuring alignment with evolving brand standards and consumer needs.

• Champion brand consistency across packaging and portfolio systems, creating essential brand playbook assets, guidelines, and toolkits to empower cross-functional teams.

• Utilize strong storytelling and visualization skills to present design concepts clearly to stakeholders, translating consumer insights into impactful brand expressions that strengthen brand equity and deliver measurable business results.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title specifies "Nutrition," the responsibilities and skills detailed in the raw input lean heavily into broader brand and graphic design management within the food category, with a specific mention of the "Snacks portfolio" in the overview. The "Nutrition" aspect may refer to a specific business unit or product focus within PepsiCo's broader food offerings. The role requires a blend of creative execution, strategic brand thinking, and project management within a large CPG organization.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Conceptualize and sketch innovative Food brand concepts, packaging experiences, and activation ideas, iterating on designs to enhance brand equity and meet consumer demands.

• Develop and meticulously revise Food brand design projects from initial concept through to final artwork, visualization, prototyping, and production-ready files.

• Ensure all design outputs are in strict alignment with evolving Food brand standards, maintaining visual consistency across all packaging and portfolio systems.

• Produce comprehensive Food brand playbook assets, including detailed guidelines, essential visual identity elements, and practical toolkits for internal use.

• Clearly and compellingly present design concepts to cross-functional partners using strong, insight-led storytelling that articulates the strategic rationale behind creative decisions.

• Rapidly sketch ideas to effectively communicate packaging concepts, product transformations, and key brand experience moments to diverse audiences.

• Manage Food brand design projects holistically from start to finish, ensuring strict adherence to timelines, quality deliverables, and flawless execution across packaging, innovation, and activation initiatives.

• Collaborate extensively with Marketing, R&D, Insights, and Commercialization teams to support and integrate Food brand design initiatives seamlessly into broader business objectives.

• Actively participate in team brainstorms, contributing innovative ideas and insights for innovation, renovation, and visual system development within the Food brand portfolio.

• Maintain high-quality output and meet all deadlines while effectively managing multiple Food brand design projects concurrently in a dynamic environment.

• Apply creativity, foresight, and strong design judgment informed by current marketplace and category trends during brainstorms and ideation sessions.

• Execute high-quality Food brand design solutions by performing direct design work and strategically leveraging internal and external creative resources.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities emphasize a hands-on approach to design execution, from initial sketching to final production files, alongside strategic brand management and cross-functional leadership. This indicates a role that requires both creative talent and the ability to manage complex projects within a corporate structure.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Design, or a closely related field; equivalent practical experience may be considered.

Experience: 8–10 years of dedicated brand design experience, gained within either a corporate in-house design team or a reputable design agency.

Required Skills:

• Exceptional design taste and craft, with a proven ability for strong project ownership and successful delivery of creative outcomes.

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and other relevant design software.

• Demonstrated ability to perform effectively under pressure within a fast-paced, dynamic, and evolving business environment.

• Clear, concise, and effective communication skills, with a working proficiency in English for professional interactions.

• Strong capability in developing and visualizing concepts, supported by robust sketching or direct execution skills.

• High levels of curiosity and a genuine passion for design, emerging trends, and creative innovation within the consumer goods sector.

• Proven experience as a team leader or an emerging people manager, with the ability to effectively coach, mentor, and support team member growth.

• Highly collaborative and team-oriented mindset, comfortable and effective contributing to group brainstorms and formal presentations.

• Ability to articulate a clear and grounded design point of view, informed by thorough brand and consumer understanding.

• Open-minded, proactive, and solution-oriented approach to challenges, coupled with a strong personal sense of ownership and accountability. Preferred Skills:

• Experience with packaging design software and 3D rendering tools.

• Familiarity with design thinking methodologies and user-centered design principles.

• Understanding of print production processes and materials for packaging.

• Experience managing external design agencies or freelance creatives.

• Knowledge of sustainability principles in packaging design.

📝 Enhancement Note: The "10+ years" experience derived from the input "8-10 years" and "emerging people manager" suggests a senior-level individual contributor or a first-time manager role. The emphasis on Adobe Creative Suite and sketching points to a hands-on creative role, while the leadership and cross-functional responsibilities highlight the need for strong interpersonal and management skills.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• Demonstrate end-to-end project ownership, showcasing a range of brand design work from initial concept to final execution, with a focus on the food and beverage sector.

• Highlight projects that clearly illustrate the development and application of visual identity systems and brand guidelines across multiple touchpoints.

• Include examples of packaging design solutions that show an understanding of consumer needs, brand equity enhancement, and market trends.

• Present case studies that effectively communicate your role in innovation and renovation projects, detailing the ideation process and creative problem-solving.

• Showcase your ability to translate consumer insights into compelling design strategies and creative outputs, with clear articulation of the "why" behind your design choices. Process Documentation:

• Include examples or descriptions of how you manage project timelines, deliverables, and quality assurance in design projects.

• Detail your approach to cross-functional collaboration, illustrating how you work with Marketing, R&D, Insights, and Commercialization teams.

• Showcase your storytelling and presentation skills by describing how you present design concepts and gain buy-in from stakeholders.

• Provide evidence of your ability to create and maintain brand consistency through toolkits, guidelines, or playbooks.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a design-focused role like this, the portfolio is paramount. The requirements focus on demonstrating a full lifecycle of brand design management, from strategic ideation to practical execution and cross-functional integration, with an emphasis on concrete examples of packaging and brand system development within the food industry.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Based on industry benchmarks for Design Managers with 8-10 years of experience in Shanghai, China, the estimated annual salary range is ¥300,000 - ¥550,000 CNY. This range accounts for the cost of living in Shanghai and the typical compensation for senior creative roles in multinational corporations within the FMCG sector.

Benefits:

• Comprehensive health insurance package, including medical, dental, and vision coverage.

• Retirement savings plan with company matching contributions.

• Paid time off, including vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Opportunities for professional development, including training programs, workshops, and attendance at design conferences.

• Employee assistance programs offering confidential counseling and support services.

• Potential for performance-based bonuses and annual salary reviews.

• Access to employee discounts on PepsiCo products.

Working Hours: This is a full-time, on-site position typically requiring 40 hours per week. While standard office hours apply, occasional flexibility may be needed to manage project deadlines, cross-functional meetings, and urgent requests, especially when working with global teams or during critical launch periods.

📝 Enhancement Note: The raw salary data indicated $0, necessitating an estimate. This estimate is based on typical Design Manager salaries in Shanghai for a candidate with 8-10 years of experience in a large CPG company. The benefits are standard for multinational corporations in China.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Food & Beverage (Fast-Moving Consumer Goods - FMCG). PepsiCo is a global leader in the food and beverage industry, with a diverse portfolio spanning snacks, beverages, dairy, and more. This industry context means a focus on consumer trends, rapid product cycles, and strong brand management.

Company Size: PepsiCo is a large, multinational corporation with tens of thousands of employees globally. This scale implies a structured environment with established processes, extensive resources, and opportunities for career advancement within a vast organization.

Founded: PepsiCo was founded in 1965 through the merger of Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay, bringing together iconic brands and deep market expertise. Its long history provides a stable foundation and a wealth of brand heritage to draw upon.

Team Structure:

• The role likely sits within a broader Brand Design or Marketing department, potentially organized by product category (e.g., Snacks, Nutrition). The team may include other designers, brand managers, and project coordinators.

• Reporting structure is likely to a Design Lead or Director of Design, with direct reports potentially being junior designers or design interns, depending on the team's specific composition and the candidate's experience in people management.

• Cross-functional collaboration is a cornerstone, with significant interaction expected with Marketing, R&D, Insights (Consumer Research), Commercialization, and potentially Supply Chain teams to ensure design feasibility and market readiness. Methodology:

• Data analysis and insights are crucial, with design decisions informed by consumer research, market trends, and performance data from previous campaigns and product launches.

• Workflow planning and optimization involve managing complex project pipelines, balancing multiple brand priorities, and adhering to established brand guidelines