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 & Strategy (with a focus on Nutrition/Food)

Date Posted: 2026-08-06

Experience Level: 10+ years

Remote Status: On-site

🚀 Role Summary

• Lead the development and execution of brand strategies specifically for PepsiCo's Nutrition portfolio, driving brand growth and consumer engagement.

• Manage end-to-end design projects, from conceptualization and visualization to final artwork and production-ready files, ensuring alignment with brand standards.

• Translate consumer insights and market trends into powerful, consumer-centric brand expressions and packaging solutions that strengthen brand equity.

• Foster strong cross-functional collaboration with Design, R&D, Insights, and Commercialization teams to ensure seamless integration and flawless execution of brand initiatives.

• Provide creative direction and leadership, mentoring a team and contributing to innovation, renovation, and visual system development within the Food brand design context.

📝 Enhancement Note: While the title mentions "Nutrition," the description and responsibilities heavily lean into broader "Food brand design" and "Snacks portfolio." This role appears to be a Brand Design Manager with a focus on the nutrition aspects within PepsiCo's food offerings, rather than a pure nutrition science role. The emphasis is on visual branding, packaging, and strategic communication for food products.

📈 Primary Responsibilities

• Ideate and sketch Food brand concepts, packaging experiences, and activation ideas, translating direction from the Food Design lead into tangible design directions.

• Iterate on designs to ensure solutions effectively strengthen brand equity and directly meet evolving consumer needs and preferences within the nutrition-focused food space.

• Develop and revise Food brand design projects from initial concept through final artwork, visualization, prototyping, and the creation of production-ready files for market launch.

• Design and maintain Food brand identity systems, ensuring strict alignment with evolving brand standards and consistency across the entire packaging and product portfolio.

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

• Present design concepts and strategies clearly and compellingly to cross-functional partners, utilizing strong, insight-led storytelling to convey the strategic rationale and creative vision.

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

• Manage Food brand design projects end-to-end, meticulously ensuring adherence to timelines, successful delivery of all required deliverables, and uncompromising execution quality across packaging, innovation, and activation initiatives.

• Collaborate closely with Marketing, R&D, Insights, and Commercialization teams to provide design support and drive Food brand design initiatives across the organization.

• Contribute actively to ideation and the building of Food brand ideas within a dynamic team environment, playing a key role in innovation, renovation, and the development of robust visual systems.

• Consistently meet project deadlines and maintain the highest standards of output quality while effectively managing multiple Food brand design projects concurrently.

• Participate enthusiastically in brainstorms, applying creativity, foresight, and strong design judgment informed by deep understanding of marketplace dynamics and category trends.

• Create high-quality Food brand design solutions through direct execution and by effectively leveraging internal and external design resources.

📝 Enhancement Note: The responsibilities highlight a blend of creative execution and strategic project management within the design function. The emphasis on "end-to-end" management, "production-ready files," and "cross-functional collaboration" points to a role that requires not just creative talent but also strong operational understanding of the product development lifecycle in the food and beverage industry.

🎓 Skills & Qualifications

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

Experience: 8–10 years of progressive brand design experience, ideally within an in-house design studio or a reputable agency environment, with a demonstrated track record of success in the food and beverage sector.

Required Skills:

• Proficient in Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and other relevant design software for concept development, visualization, and final artwork.

• Strong design taste and exceptional craft, with a proven ability for solid project ownership and consistent, high-quality delivery.

• Demonstrated ability to develop and visualize concepts effectively, supported by strong sketching abilities or equivalent visual execution skills.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to articulate design rationale, process, and outcomes clearly and persuasively to diverse stakeholders.

• Ability to work effectively under pressure in a fast-paced, dynamic, and evolving business environment.

• Working proficiency in English, both written and verbal, for effective collaboration within a global organization.

• Strong curiosity, passion for design, and a keen interest in emerging trends and creative innovation within the food and beverage industry.

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

• Demonstrates a clear, well-grounded design point of view, informed by a deep understanding of brand strategy and consumer needs.

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

• Experience specifically within the nutrition or health-focused food and beverage categories.

• Proven experience in managing and mentoring junior designers or leading small project teams.

• Familiarity with global brand standards and the ability to ensure consistency across diverse markets.

• Experience in developing brand playbooks, visual identity systems, and comprehensive design guidelines.

• Understanding of packaging production processes and print technologies.

📝 Enhancement Note: The requirement for "8-10 years" and the mention of "emerging people manager" or "experienced team leader" suggests this role is for a senior individual contributor or a first-time manager with strong leadership potential. The emphasis on "brand design experience" clearly positions this role within a creative and strategic function, not a traditional operations or supply chain management role, though it requires close collaboration with those functions.

📊 Process & Systems Portfolio Requirements

Portfolio Essentials:

• A comprehensive portfolio showcasing a minimum of 8-10 years of professional brand design work, with a significant portion dedicated to the food and beverage industry.

• Clear examples of end-to-end project management, demonstrating the ability to take designs from initial concept through to final production-ready artwork.

• Case studies that highlight specific contributions to strengthening brand equity and meeting consumer needs through innovative design solutions.

• Visualizations of packaging design concepts, activation ideas, and brand experience moments, showcasing creative thinking and problem-solving.

• Examples of developed brand identity systems, visual guidelines, or brand playbooks, illustrating attention to detail and consistency. Process Documentation:

• Demonstrations of how design concepts are translated into actionable, production-ready files, highlighting process efficiency and accuracy.

• Examples of cross-functional collaboration within the design process, illustrating how insights from R&D, Insights, and Commercialization were integrated.

• Presentation materials or case studies that clearly articulate the strategic rationale behind design choices, emphasizing insight-led storytelling.

• Documentation or visual evidence of managing multiple design projects concurrently, showcasing organizational skills and adherence to timelines.

📝 Enhancement Note: For a design role, the "portfolio" is the primary demonstration of process and system application. The enhancement focuses on what specific elements within a design portfolio would showcase the required skills and experience related to process management, cross-functional integration, and strategic thinking.

💵 Compensation & Benefits

Salary Range: Given the location (Shanghai, China), experience level (8-10+ years), and the company (PepsiCo), a competitive salary range for a Design Manager role is estimated between ¥400,000 - ¥700,000 CNY per year (approximately $55,000 - $97,000 USD, subject to exchange rates). This range is based on industry benchmarks for senior design roles in multinational corporations in major Chinese cities, considering cost of living and demand for specialized design talent.

Benefits:

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

• Generous paid time off (PTO), including vacation days, sick leave, and public holidays.

• Retirement savings plan or local equivalent (e.g., enterprise annuity).

• Performance-based bonuses and potential for annual salary reviews.

• Opportunities for professional development, including training programs, workshops, and conference attendance.

• Employee assistance programs (EAP) offering confidential counseling and support services.

• Potential for international assignments or exposure within PepsiCo's global network.

• Employee discounts on PepsiCo products.

Working Hours: Standard full-time hours are typically 40 hours per week. However, given the demanding nature of design project management and the fast-paced environment, flexibility may be required to meet project deadlines, which could include occasional extended hours or weekend work during critical project phases.

📝 Enhancement Note: Salary is estimated based on regional benchmarks for similar roles in Shanghai, China, and the specified experience level. The benefits listed are standard for large multinational corporations like PepsiCo. The working hours reflect typical corporate expectations with potential for overtime due to project demands.

🎯 Team & Company Context

🏢 Company Culture

Industry: Food & Beverage Manufacturing. PepsiCo is a global leader in convenient foods and beverages, with a diverse portfolio including brands like Lay's, Doritos, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker Oats, and Tropicana. The company operates within a highly competitive market, emphasizing innovation, consumer connection, and operational efficiency.

Company Size: PepsiCo is a Fortune 500 company, employing over 300,000 people worldwide, indicating a large, complex, and globally integrated organization. This size offers significant opportunities for career growth, exposure to diverse business functions, and access to extensive resources.

Founded: PepsiCo was founded in 1965 through the merger of Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay. This long history signifies stability, established processes, and a deep understanding of the consumer goods market.

Team Structure:

• The Design team likely operates within the broader Marketing or Brand Management function, potentially structured by product portfolio (e.g., Snacks, Beverages, Nutrition).

• This role reports to a Food Design Lead or Director, overseeing a specific segment like Nutrition.

• The team is highly cross-functional, requiring close daily collaboration with Marketing Brand Managers, R&D Scientists, Consumer Insights Analysts, Packaging Engineers, and Commercialization Specialists. Methodology:

• Data-Driven Design: Decisions are informed by consumer insights, market trend analysis, and performance data from previous campaigns and product launches.

• Agile Project Management: Projects are managed with an emphasis on iterative development, rapid prototyping, and flexible adaptation to feedback and market changes.

• Consumer-Centric Innovation: A core methodology involves deeply understanding consumer needs and translating those into innovative product and packaging solutions that resonate with target audiences.

• Brand Stewardship: Maintaining brand consistency and equity across all touchpoints is paramount, requiring rigorous adherence to brand guidelines and a holistic view of the brand experience.

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

📝 Enhancement Note: The company context emphasizes PepsiCo's scale and its position in the F&B industry. This is crucial for operations candidates to understand the environment they would be working in – one that values efficiency, scale, and data-driven decision-making, even within a creative function.

📈 Career & Growth Analysis

Operations Career Level: This role is positioned at a senior individual contributor or early-stage management level within the brand design function. It represents a significant step up from a junior designer, requiring strategic thinking, project leadership, and the ability to influence brand direction. It is not a direct "operations" role in the traditional sense (e.g., Sales Ops, Rev Ops), but it requires strong operational understanding of the product development and go-to-market processes.

Reporting Structure: The Design Manager typically reports to a Design Lead or Director, who may oversee a larger category or a broader design function. They will work closely with various Directors and VPs in Marketing, R&D, and Commercialization.

Operations Impact: While not a direct revenue-generating role, the Design Manager's impact is critical for driving brand perception, consumer appeal, and ultimately, sales performance. Effective brand design influences purchasing decisions, builds brand loyalty, and supports new product launches, all of which directly contribute to business results and market share.

Growth Opportunities:

• Leadership Progression: Potential to advance to Design Lead, Senior Design Manager, or Director roles, managing larger teams and portfolios.

• Specialization: Deepen expertise in specific product categories (e.g., healthy snacks, plant-based foods) or design disciplines (e.g., packaging innovation, digital design).

• Cross-Functional Mobility: Opportunities to move into Brand Management, Marketing, or Product Development roles, leveraging design expertise.

• Global Exposure: Potential for international assignments or leading global design initiatives within PepsiCo's vast network.

• Skill Development: Continuous learning in design trends, consumer behavior, and marketing strategy through internal training, external workshops, and industry conferences.

📝 Enhancement Note: This analysis clarifies that while the title isn't a typical "operations" role, the strategic impact and need for understanding business processes are significant. It frames the career path in a way that resonates with operations professionals who might be seeking roles with business impact or considering lateral moves.

🌐 Work Environment

Office Type: This role is based in Shanghai, China, and is described as "On-site," indicating a traditional office environment within one of PepsiCo's facilities in the city.

Office Location(s): The job listing specifies the Gopher Center, No. 757, Meng Zi Road, Shanghai (Postal Code: 200023). This is a professional business district, likely offering good accessibility via public transportation.

Workspace Context:

• Collaborative Hub: The office environment is expected to foster collaboration, with open-plan areas, meeting rooms, and creative studios designed for teamwork and brainstorming sessions.

• Tools & Technology: Access to industry-standard design software, hardware (e.g., high-performance workstations), visualization tools, and potentially prototyping equipment.

• Team Interaction: Frequent opportunities for direct interaction with design peers, brand managers, R&D, and other cross-functional teams, facilitating rapid feedback loops and idea exchange.

Work Schedule: The standard work schedule is 40 hours per week, Monday to Friday. However, the dynamic nature of the food and beverage industry and the demands of project-based work may require flexibility, including occasional overtime or weekend work to meet critical deadlines for product launches or campaign rollouts.

📝 Enhancement Note: The description of the work environment emphasizes collaboration and the use of specific tools, which are important considerations for candidates evaluating the day-to-day experience and operational support they can expect.

📄 Application & Portfolio Review Process

Interview Process:

• Initial Screening: HR or Talent Acquisition will review applications and resumes to assess basic qualifications and experience.

• Portfolio Review: Candidates will be asked to submit their portfolio for review by the hiring manager and potentially senior design team members. This is a critical stage.

• Hiring Manager Interview: A detailed discussion focusing on experience, design philosophy, project management approach, and leadership capabilities.

• Cross-Functional Interviews: Interviews with key stakeholders from Marketing, R&D, and Commercialization to assess collaboration skills, communication effectiveness, and understanding of business needs.

• Design Challenge/Presentation: Candidates may be asked to present a case study from their portfolio or complete a short design exercise to demonstrate their creative process, problem-solving skills, and ability to articulate strategic design thinking.

• Final Interview/Offer: Typically with a senior leader, focusing on cultural fit, strategic alignment, and final offer discussion.

Portfolio Review Tips:

• Curate Strategically: Select 4-6 of your strongest projects that best showcase your experience in brand strategy, packaging design, and project management within the food/beverage sector. Prioritize work that aligns with PepsiCo's brands and the Nutrition category.

• Tell a Story: For each project, clearly articulate the challenge, your role, the strategic insights that guided your decisions, your creative process, the solutions you developed, and the tangible results or impact achieved. Use visuals effectively.

• Highlight Process: Show your workflow – from initial concepts and sketches to final artwork and production considerations. Demonstrate how you translated insights into impactful design.

• Showcase Collaboration: If possible, include examples or anecdotes that illustrate your ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams and incorporate feedback.

• Professional Presentation: Ensure your portfolio is well-organized, visually appealing, and easy to navigate, whether it's a digital link (e.g., Behance, personal website) or a PDF.

Challenge Preparation:

• Understand PepsiCo: Research PepsiCo's brands, particularly those in the nutrition and snacks categories. Understand their current market position, target audiences, and recent innovations.

• Design Thinking: Be prepared to discuss your design thinking process and how you approach problem-solving for brand challenges.

• Strategic Rationale: For any presented work, be ready to defend your design choices with clear, insight-led strategic reasoning. Focus on how the design drives business objectives and consumer engagement.

• Communication: Practice articulating your ideas concisely and persuasively. Anticipate questions about your approach, challenges encountered, and how you overcame them.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides actionable advice tailored to a design role's application process, emphasizing the portfolio's importance and typical interview stages. It bridges the gap between creative expectations and business acumen.

🛠 Tools & Technology Stack

Primary Tools:

• Adobe Creative Suite: Proficiency is mandatory for graphic design, illustration, photo editing, and layout. This includes Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign.

• Prototyping & Visualization Tools: Software for creating 3D mockups, renderings, and interactive prototypes (e.g., Adobe Dimension, Keyshot, Cinema 4D, or similar).

• Presentation Software: Tools like PowerPoint, Keynote, or Google Slides for preparing and delivering design presentations to stakeholders.

Analytics & Reporting:

• While not a primary analytics role, understanding how design impacts key metrics is crucial. Familiarity with tools used for tracking brand performance, consumer engagement, and sales data (e.g., Nielsen, IRI, internal dashboards) would be beneficial. CRM & Automation:

• Not directly applicable to the core design function, but understanding how design assets are managed and deployed within marketing automation platforms or digital asset management (DAM) systems could be advantageous.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section focuses on the essential software and tools a design manager would use daily. It highlights the core creative suite and mentions related tools for visualization and presentation, acknowledging that direct analytics tool proficiency isn't the primary requirement but understanding their outputs is.

👥 Team Culture & Values

Operations Values:

• Consumer Obsession: A deep commitment to understanding and serving the consumer, ensuring all design decisions are rooted in consumer insights and needs.

• Innovation & Agility: Encouraging creative risk-taking, embracing new ideas, and adapting quickly to market changes and evolving trends in the food and beverage industry.

• Collaboration & Inclusion: Fostering a team environment where diverse perspectives are valued, and cross-functional partners work together seamlessly towards common goals.

• Excellence & Accountability: Striving for the highest quality in all creative output and taking ownership of projects from concept to execution.

• Data-Informed Creativity: Balancing creative intuition with data analysis to ensure designs are not only aesthetically pleasing but also strategically effective and commercially viable.

Collaboration Style:

• Partnership-Oriented: Working closely with Marketing, R&D, Insights, and Commercialization as true partners, integrating their expertise into the design process.

• Transparent Communication: Maintaining open and honest communication channels, proactively sharing progress, challenges, and seeking feedback.

• Constructive Feedback Culture: Encouraging an environment where feedback is given and received constructively, leading to continuous improvement of designs and processes.

• Shared Ownership: Promoting a sense of shared responsibility for brand success, where the design team plays a vital role in achieving broader business objectives.

📝 Enhancement Note: The emphasis here is on how a design manager's values and collaboration style would align with PepsiCo's likely corporate culture, focusing on consumer centricity, innovation, and teamwork – essential for effective cross-functional operations.

⚡ Challenges & Growth Opportunities

Challenges:

• Balancing Creativity with Commercial Demands: Effectively translating creative vision into designs that meet strict brand guidelines, production constraints, and commercial objectives within tight deadlines.

• Navigating Complex Stakeholder Needs: Managing diverse opinions and requirements from multiple cross-functional departments (Marketing, R&D, Sales) to arrive at cohesive design solutions.

• Staying Ahead of Trends: Continuously monitoring and integrating evolving consumer preferences, design trends, and competitive landscape shifts within the dynamic food and beverage market.

• Global Brand Consistency: Ensuring brand integrity and visual consistency across a wide range of products and markets, adapting global strategies to local nuances.

Learning & Development Opportunities:

• Advanced Design Workshops: Access to training on new design software, techniques, and emerging creative technologies.

• Industry Conferences: Opportunities to attend leading design and food/beverage industry events to gain insights and network.

• Cross-Functional Rotations/Shadowing: Potential to gain exposure to other departments like Brand Management or R&D to deepen understanding of the broader business context.

• Leadership Development Programs: For individuals showing management potential, PepsiCo offers programs to enhance leadership, coaching, and strategic planning skills.

• Mentorship: Access to senior design leaders or brand strategists within PepsiCo for guidance and career advice.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section frames potential job challenges as opportunities for skill development, aligning with a growth mindset and providing candidates with insights into how to approach potential difficulties and leverage them for career advancement.

💡 Interview Preparation

Strategy Questions:

• "Describe a time you had to balance a strong creative vision with significant commercial or production constraints. How did you navigate this, and what was the outcome?" (Focus on problem-solving, negotiation, and strategic compromise).

• "Walk us through a brand design project where you translated complex consumer insights into a compelling visual strategy. What was your process, and how did you ensure the design resonated with the target audience?" (Focus on insight-led design, strategic thinking, and storytelling).

• "How do you approach managing multiple, competing design projects simultaneously? Describe your prioritization and time management strategies." (Focus on organizational skills, project management, and efficiency). Company & Culture Questions:

• "What excites you about PepsiCo's brands, particularly in the nutrition space, and how do you see your design expertise contributing to our growth?" (Focus on research, passion for the brand, and strategic alignment).

• "Describe your experience working with cross-functional teams. How do you ensure effective collaboration and communication with stakeholders outside of the design department?" (Focus on teamwork, communication, and stakeholder management).

• "How do you stay current with design trends, and how do you incorporate them into your work while respecting established brand guidelines?" (Focus on continuous learning, trend awareness, and brand stewardship). Portfolio Presentation Strategy:

• Structure Your Narrative: For each selected project, clearly define the problem, your role, the strategic objectives, your creative process, the proposed solution, and the measurable impact or success metrics.

• Visual Storytelling: Use high-quality visuals that clearly illustrate your design concepts and execution. Annotate key design elements and explain their strategic purpose.

• Focus on Impact: Quantify results where possible (e.g., "increased shelf appeal," "supported a successful product launch," "improved brand recognition"). If direct metrics are unavailable, articulate the intended business impact.

• Be Prepared for Questions: Anticipate questions about your choices, challenges, and alternative approaches. Demonstrate a deep understanding of your work and the strategic rationale behind it.

• Enthusiasm and Confidence: Present your work with passion and confidence, showcasing your expertise and your genuine interest in the role and PepsiCo.

📝 Enhancement Note: This section provides concrete examples of interview questions and presentation strategies tailored to a Design Manager role, helping candidates prepare for the specific types of evaluations they will face.

📌 Application Steps

To apply for this Design Manager position:

• Submit your application through the PepsiCo Jobs portal via the provided URL.

• Curate Your Portfolio: Select 4-6 of your most relevant and impactful brand design projects, focusing on food/beverage and nutrition categories. Ensure your portfolio clearly demonstrates your end-to-end design process, strategic thinking, and ability to drive brand equity.

• Tailor Your Resume: Highlight your 8-10+ years of brand design experience, proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, project management skills, and any leadership experience. Use keywords from the job description naturally.

• Prepare Your Presentation: Practice walking through 1-2 key portfolio projects, focusing on the strategic rationale, consumer insights, creative process, and business impact. Be ready to articulate your design point of view and collaboration style.

• Research PepsiCo: Familiarize yourself with PepsiCo's brands, its mission, and its presence in the nutrition and snacks market. Understand the company's values and recent marketing initiatives.

⚠️ 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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