Director, Packaging Design

E.L.F. BEAUTY; Oakland (CA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical/Dental/Vision

Equity

Bonus eligibility up to 200%

Unlimited PTO

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

e.l.f. Beauty is hiring a Design Director to conceptualize and design disruptive packaging across multiple brands in a fast-paced setting.

You’ll oversee 3–4 brands, collaborate with Innovation, Digital, Brand, and Packaging teams, and drive premium packaging from concept through production. You will lead a design team, apply beauty trend insights for product launches, and steer collaborations with external partners while prioritizing sustainability and cost efficiency.

Qualifications

• Conceptual thinker with strong brand-building capabilities.
• Excellent typographic and graphic design skills.
• Packaging development knowledge, preferably within the beauty industry.
• Highly detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Agile problem solver able to pivot quickly in a fast-paced environment.
• Superior communication skills with clear, compelling presentation abilities.
• Experience collaborating with designers, packaging developers, engineers, and vendors.
• Understanding of prestige beauty manufacturing, materials, carton development, and decoration.
• Knowledge of sustainability best practices across components, cartons, and decoration.

Responsibilities

• Create standout packaging designs across all brands that reflect the company ethos: e.l.f. is for everyone!
• Lead and mentor the design team, fostering creativity and collaboration
• Apply knowledge of beauty trends and Gen Z/Alpha insights to create thumb-stopping designs for launches
• Ensure timely development of high-quality packaging meeting briefs, manufacturability and shelf impact
• Build cross-functional partnerships with Innovation, Design, Packaging Development, Marketing, NPD, and Operations
• Drive continual cost reduction through end-to-end packaging process optimization
• Lead environmental initiatives reducing material usage and promoting sustainability
• Oversee day-to-day collaboration with China-based development teams and sample follow-ups

Skills

Conceptual thinker

Typography

Brand-building

Packaging development

Detail-oriented

Agile problem solving

Cross-functional collaboration

Sustainability knowledge

Vendor coordination

Job description

About The Company

e.l.f. Beauty's purpose is to make the world a better place for every eye, lip, and face. e.l.f. Beauty's purpose is to make the world a better place for every eye, lip, and face. Our deep commitment to clean, cruelty free beauty at an incredible value has fueled the success of our flagship brand e.l.f. Cosmetics since 2004 and driven our portfolio expansion. Today, our multi-brand portfolio includes e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. SKIN, e.l.f. Hair, Well People, Naturium and rhode. In our Fiscal year 26, we had net sales of $1.6 Billion and our business performance has been nothing short of extraordinary with 7 consecutive years of net sales growth. This consistent, category-leading growth is a testimony to the strength of our team, strategy, and portfolio of brands. Our total compensation philosophy offers every full-time new hire competitive pay and benefits, bonus eligibility (200% of target over the last seven fiscal years), equity, flexible time off, year-round half-day Fridays, and a hybrid 3 day in office, 2 day at home work environment. We believe the combination of our unique culture, total compensation, workplace flexibility and care for the team is unmatched across not just beauty but any industry. Visit our Career Page to learn more about our team: https://www.elfbeauty.com/work-with-us

Job Summary

As the Design Director, you will be responsible for conceptualizing and designing disruptive, “only e.l.f. can do” packaging in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. You will be a strategic and creative thinker who delivers against innovation briefs that align with brand vision and product promise. You will oversee multiple projects across 3-4 brands, working closely with Innovation, Digital, Brand, Project Management, Packaging Development, Production, and R&D teams. This role also leads exciting collaborations with like-minded brands and designs disruptive, unique PR kits for new product launches. You will supervise all aspects of the design process, navigating pivots and accelerated timelines while identifying cost-effective solutions to achieve premium packaging designs.

Responsibilities

• Create standout packaging designs across all brands that reflect the company ethos: e.l.f. is for everyone!
• Lead and mentor the design team, fostering an environment of creativity, collaboration, adaptability, growth, and problem-solving excellence
• Apply strong knowledge of beauty trends and Gen Z/Alpha insights to create thumb-stopping designs for new product launches, PR kits, social media, swag, and collaborations
• Ensure timely development of high-quality, innovative packaging that meets brief requirements, customer needs, manufacturability, shelf impact, and 360-degree objectives
• Build strong cross-functional partnerships with Innovation, Design, Packaging Development, Marketing, NPD, and Operations teams
• Spearhead productivity initiatives to drive continual cost reduction through optimization of the end-to-end packaging process
• Lead company-wide environmental initiatives, including material reduction, post-consumer recycled resin usage, lightweighting, and other sustainability targets
• Oversee day-to-day collaboration with Packaging Development and China-based development teams, including sample follow-ups and modifications

Requirements

• Conceptual thinker with strong brand-building capabilities
• Excellent typographic and graphic design skills
• Packaging development knowledge, preferably within the beauty industry
• Highly detail-oriented with the ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Agile problem solver able to pivot quickly in a fast-paced, real-time environment
• Superior communication skills with clear, compelling presentation abilities
• Experience collaborating with designers, packaging developers, engineers, and vendors
• Understanding of prestige beauty manufacturing, materials, carton development, and decoration
• Knowledge of sustainability best practices across components, cartons, and decoration

The base salary range for this role is listed above. Total compensation includes base salary, annual company-based performance bonus, and equity. Under e.l.f.’s annual bonus program, employees are eligible to earn up to 200% of their target bonus when company performance exceeds defined goals. In addition, e.l.f. provides a variety of other benefits to employees, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a retirement savings plan, gender neutral parental leave, and unlimited paid time off. The amount of total compensation (including base salary) offered will be based on a wide range of factors, including geographic location, experience, specific skills, and qualifications.

Compensation components are subject to change at the company’s discretion

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this position. It also reflects the general details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job identified, and shall not be considered, as detailed description of all the work required inherent in the job. It is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities, and it is subject to changes and exceptions at the supervisors’ discretion.

e.l.f. Beauty respects your privacy. Please see our Job Applicant Privacy Notice (www.elfbeauty.com/us-job-applicant-privacy-notice) for how your personal information is used and shared.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.