Packaging Production Designer (Contractor) — Fast-Paced CPG

Central Garden & Pet; Georgia; Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Central Garden & Pet is seeking a detail-oriented Packaging Production Designer - Contractor to support production-ready packaging assets across multiple brands. You will prepare print-ready files, ensure brand consistency, manage revisions, and coordinate with marketing, sourcing, regulatory, and external print vendors.

The ideal candidate has strong production design expertise, in-depth knowledge of packaging workflows, prepress standards, and meticulous file management in a fast-paced, hybrid

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years of packaging production or production design experience.
• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Production Design, Packaging Design, or related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Experience in consumer packaged goods (CPG), retail, pet, lawn & garden, or consumer products industries.
• Familiarity with regulatory packaging requirements and barcode management.
• Knowledge of packaging materials and printing methods including flexographic, offset, digital, and gravure printing.
• Experience using project management or DAM systems.
• Include link to portfolio when submitting the application.

Responsibilities

• Create, update, and maintain packaging production files for a wide range of products and formats, including cartons, labels, shrink sleeves, corrugate, displays, inserts, and manuals.
• Prepare accurate print-ready mechanicals and production artwork in compliance with vendor and printer specifications.
• Ensure packaging files meet brand standards, regulatory requirements, and production timelines.
• Manage version control, routing, revisions, and asset organization across multiple concurrent projects.
• Collaborate with Brand, Marketing, Regulatory, Product Development, and Sourcing teams to execute packaging updates and launches.
• Work closely with external agencies, printers, and suppliers to troubleshoot artwork and production issues.
• Review proofs and color separations to ensure accuracy prior to production.
• Support packaging optimization and process improvement initiatives.
• Maintain packaging archives, templates, dielines, and production documentation.
• Assist with image retouching, typography adjustments, and layout refinements as needed.
• Ensure all deliverables are completed accurately and on schedule.

Skills

Adobe Creative Suite

Illustrator

Photoshop

InDesign

Prepress knowledge

Color management

Packaging dielines

Vendor coordination

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or related field

Tools

DAM systems

Project management tools

Job description

Central Garden & Pet is seeking a detail-oriented Packaging Production Designer - Contractor to support production-ready packaging assets across multiple brands. You will prepare print-ready files, ensure brand consistency, manage revisions, and coordinate with marketing, sourcing, regulatory, and external print vendors.

The ideal candidate has strong production design expertise, in-depth knowledge of packaging workflows, prepress standards, and meticulous file management in a fast-paced, hybrid