Design Manager - Packaging

TESCO UK; Welwyn Garden City; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Tesco is seeking a Design Manager to join our Packaging team in Welwyn Garden City. You will lead packaging design from concept to shelf, ensuring it aligns with brand strategy and commercial objectives to stand out in a competitive market.

You will collaborate with cross-functional teams and agencies to translate insights into creative briefs, driving excellence while maintaining consistency across brands. You will also oversee budgets, timelines, and print production readiness.

Qualifications

• 3+ years leading design projects in FMCG, agency or retail.
• Ability to translate business needs into design strategy.
• Knowledge of translating design into print processes (Flexo, Litho, Gravure).

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end packaging design from concept to shelf.
• Establish project plans and budgets, manage risk.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams and agencies.
• Ensure consistency across brands and optimize for print readiness.
• Direct photography shoots and manage artwork approvals.

Skills

Design leadership

Brand strategy

Cross-functional collaboration

Print knowledge

Education

Degree in Graphic Design or related

Job description

We're looking for a Design Manager to join our Packaging team at Tesco. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in shaping and protecting our Own Label brands, leading the delivery of impactful packaging design from concept through to shelf. As a trusted design expert and brand custodian, you'll ensure every project aligns with both our brand strategy and commercial objectives, creating packaging that resonates with customers and stands out in a competitive market.

Working closely with cross-functional stakeholders and agency partners, you'll transform customer and commercial insights into inspiring creative briefs and deliver best-in-class design solutions. You'll lead the end-to-end design process, driving creative excellence while ensuring consistency across our brands and helping bring engaging, customer-focused products to life.

• Establish clear project plans and budgets to ensure successful delivery (pro-actively managing risk).
• Manage cross functional working sessions to identify and deliver project objectives.
• Actively lead design agencies from briefings through to delivery, developing the design strategy and ensuring creative excellence at all times.
• Ensure projects follow Tesco design process and Milestone process.
• Collaborate with Tesco print experts to ensure design can be reproduced across all substrates.
• Art Directing photography shoots.
• Manage and prioritize workflow.
• Collaborate with our artwork partner to ensure artwork is approved in a timely manner.
• Manage project budgets and financial risk as required.

• A passion for design, with a degree or equivalent in Graphic Design or related subject.
• 3+ years experience of leading design projects within ideally a FMCG, Agency or Retail environment.
• Experience of translating business need into design strategy (awareness of design as a strategic partner).
• Demonstrated knowledge of translating design into print (Flexo, Litho, Gravure).

You might know us as a supermarket, technology company or even for our award-winning mobile network. Truth is, we’re all of those things, and much more. Our colleagues work with one goal in mind, helping to make every day a little better for our customers, colleagues and communities all over the world. No two customers are the same, neither are our colleagues.

At Tesco, we champion a balance that lets you thrive both in and out of work. Spend 60% of your week collaborating with colleagues at our office locations or local sites and the rest remotely. Whether you're just kicking off your career, juggling passions, or navigating big life events, we're here to support you. We always welcome a conversation about flexible working, so talk to us throughout your application about how we can support.

We're proud to be an accredited Disability Confident Leader, where everyone’s welcome. That’s why we commit to providing a fully inclusive and accessible recruitment process.

When you join us in this role, you'll be employed by Tesco Stores Limited, the Tesco legal entity responsible for your employment.