Senior Project Manager

About the team

This Marks Packaging Design team is a talented agency-within-an-agency. Constructed to service an exclusive retail client engagement – this group lives and breathes packaging craft across a versatile collection of brands and categories – from food & beverages to household essentials. A multidisciplinary group of problem-solvers, you’ll work alongside client service, creatives, copywriters, CGI artists, photographers, and production artists alike, to bring new packaging designs, extensions, adaptations, and updates to life.

This role is onsite at the client’s office 3 days per week.

Job Summary

The Onsite Project Manager will serve as the primary liaison between the client and our internal project management team, ensuring seamless communication and execution of all packaging design projects. This individual will be embedded onsite with the client, providing real-time updates on project statuses, facilitating strategic discussions, and ensuring alignment between brand objectives and project deliverables.

We are looking for a highly organized and proactive professional with extensive experience in Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) packaging, a strong strategic mindset, and a proven ability to manage high-volume projects in a fast-paced environment.

Key Responsibilities

1.Client Liaison & Project Oversight

• Act as the primary point of contact onsite, providing clients with real-time project updates and status reports.
• Ensure clear, proactive communication between the client and internal project teams to align expectations and deliverables.
• Guide and support project managers in driving projects forward efficiently.

2. Brand Strategy & Collaboration

• Participate in wall walks and collaborate with Brand teams to ensure creative alignment with strategic goals.
• Provide insights on packaging trends, brand consistency, and market positioning to enhance project outcomes.
• Act as a strategic partner, offering recommendations to optimize packaging and creative executions.

3.Project Planning & Execution

• Develop and maintain detailed project plans, including scope, schedules, budgets, and resource allocation.
• Oversee the effective delivery of projects while onsite with the client.
• Own all project gates, risk management, and commercial controls to ensure optimal workflows and delivery.
• Track and report on project performance, ensuring adherence to timelines, budgets, and margin targets.

4.Cross-Functional Team Coordination

• Work closely with the internal project management team and the retainer team to ensure seamless execution of packaging projects.
• Manage projects through the retainer team, ensuring that work is efficiently allocated and executed.
• Identify and address roadblocks, ensuring efficient project workflows.
• Serve as the operational backbone, ensuring adherence to best practices.

5.Risk Management & Problem Solving

• Identify potential project risks and develop contingency plans to mitigate them.
• Troubleshoot challenges and implement effective solutions to ensure timely and high-quality deliverables.
• Ensure all projects comply with agency and client quality standards.

6.Process Improvement & Leadership

• Continuously evaluate and refine project management processes to improve efficiency and scalability in line with client needs.
• Help guide project managers by instilling best practices and workflow optimizations.

Qualifications & Experience

• Extensive experience in CPG packaging project management.
• Proven ability to manage high-volume projects efficiently and effectively.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Experience working with cross-functional teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication and relationship management skills.
• Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., Workfront or similar).
• Understanding of print processes and requirements

Education

• Associates or better in Graphic Communications, Marketing or related field.
• 5 years proven experience within project management role in a design agency environment, or similar role on client side

This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a client-facing, fast-moving environment and has a keen ability to balance strategic brand objectives with the operational realities of high-volume packaging design projects.

This role sits onsite with the client.

Our compensation reflects the cost of labor across several U.S. geographic markets, and we pay differently based on those defined markets. The U.S. pay range for this position is $68,412.5 - $78,412.5 annually. Ultimately, in determining pay, we will consider the successful candidate’s location, experience, and other job-related factors.

Group benefits currently include a selection of health care plans with prescription drug coverage, dental plan, vision plan, basic and supplemental life insurance, a flexible spending account for medical and dependent care expenses or a health savings account based on plan selection, short/long term disability and 401(k) Savings Plan.