Packaging Program Manager

Kendo Brands, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 108,300 - 135,500; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Medical, dental, vision insurance

Comprehensive benefits package

Job summary

Kendo Holdings, Inc. in San Francisco seeks an experienced Packaging Program Manager to lead the creative development of packaging artwork for two Kendo brands.

You will own on-time delivery from concept through final execution, coordinating with design, regulatory, and production teams. The role requires strong project management, exceptional communication, and the ability to manage complex schedules in Asana and Workfront Proof within a fast-paced beauty environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience required.
• 5+ years of project management experience in retail or agency environment.
• Proficient knowledge of Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Asana, Workfront Proof, SmartSheets.

Responsibilities

• Own and facilitate bi-weekly status meetings, keep team leads informed and discuss status for each project while establishing clear next steps resolving blocks that impede progress.
• Upload and monitor individual project timelines through Asana.
• Actively monitor schedules and follow-up on internal copy/layout/mechanical due dates to ensure teams meet deadlines throughout lifespan of each artwork piece.
• Follow up with team leads for missing packaging information (e.g., dielines, ingredient lists, copy, translations, UPCs, fill weight, etc.). Add dielines, ingredient lists, fill weights, UPCs to server.
• Work directly with Regulatory & Compliance team to track and confirm EU artwork approval.
• Communicate projects to Production Artists and outline daily priorities.
• Identify and drive design initiatives forward that have multiple stakeholders, competing deadlines, and many moving parts.
• Proactively assess risk, raise flags, and resolve issues before they become problems for the larger teams.
• Collaborate with Production Artist to confirm artwork releases and approvals of samples.
• Actively participate in weekly Product Development and Operation meetings.
• Track comp requests for photo shoots, Market Week, etc.
• Drive new processes to ensure success within the packaging department.
• Upload and route artwork in Workfront Proof: ensure all questions are resolved and Production Artists are clear on changes.
• Review/Check-in artwork from Production Artists

Skills

Project management

Communication

Organizational skills

Time management

Relationship-building

Education

Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Excel

Word

PowerPoint

Asana

Workfront Proof

SmartSheets

Job description

Kendo Holdings, Inc. is a San Francisco-based beauty brand developer and wholesaler owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy - Louis Vuitton, the world’s largest luxury group. A play on the words “can do”, Kendo has become the hub of creativity and next generation beauty product development for global Sephora channels and selective retailers outside of Sephora.

Through original development, collaborations and acquisitions the Kendo stable of brands will always be creative, inspiring and innovative. A dynamic engine of speed, expertise and market-savvy, the Kendo team continues to redefine the beauty industry through great product, great storytelling, great retail and direct-to-consumer partnerships. This shows up in everything we do and in what we stand for:

• “Can Do” Spirit: We work together to make our wildest dreams a reality: As entrepreneurs, we embrace optimism and find creative ways to reach our goals
• Advocacy, Diversity, and Inclusion: We recognize and celebrate the full spectrum of personal identities. We create safe spaces so everyone’s voice is heard. We listen with humility and act with courage.
• Storytelling: We tell authentic stories like no, one else. It’s our key to inspire trust and build relationships, rallying, our people, partners, and consumers around our brands.
• Resilience: We embrace challenges as opportunities. Change is ever- constant, and agility is our strength.
• Product Excellence: We put the consumers first: We constantly raise the bar to create products of the highest quality that everyone just has to have.

The salary range for this position is $108,300 - $135,500 per year. Offered salary is dependent upon experience and San Francisco location. This is a hybrid role based in our downtown San Francisco office – Tues through Thursday in-office, with Monday and Friday remote.

Kendo Total Rewards offerings also include an annual bonus and a comprehensive benefits package including: medical, dental and vision insurance, flex paid time off program, parental leave, employee discount/perks, a retirement plan with employer contributions, Summer Fridays, opportunity to work from anywhere for two weeks during the calendar year and December wellness/shutdown week for applicable positions.

The Kendo house of brands currently includes: Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin, Fenty Eau de Parfum, Fenty Hair, Ole Henriksen, Lip Lab.

SUMMARY

The ideal Packaging Program Manager is an independent self-starter responsible for managing the creative development of packaging artwork for two Kendo brands. Responsible for ensuring on-time delivery of packaging artwork & deliverables throughout the creative process, from concept development through final execution.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Manage packaging creation and delivery process (70%)

• Own and facilitate bi-weekly status meeting, keep team leads informed and discuss status for each project while establishing clear next steps resolving blocks that impede progress
• Upload and monitor individual project timelines through Asana
• Actively monitor schedules and follow-up on internal copy/layout/mechanical due dates to ensure teams meet deadlines throughout lifespan of each artwork piece
• Follow up with team leads for missing packaging information (e.g., dielines, ingredient lists, copy, translations, UPCs, fill weight, etc.). Add dielines, ingredient lists, fill weights, UPCs to server.
• Work directly with Regulatory & Compliance team to track and confirm EU artwork approval
• Communicate projects to Production Artists and outline daily priorities
• Identify and drive design initiatives forward that have multiple stakeholders, competing deadlines, and many moving parts
• Proactively assess risk, raise flags, and resolve issues before they become problems for the larger teams
• Collaborate with Production Artist to confirm artwork releases and approvals of samples
• Actively participate in weekly Product Development and Operation meetings
• Track comp requests for photo shoots, Market Week, etc.
• Drive new processes to ensure success within the packaging department

Manage artwork routing process (30%)

• Upload and route artwork in Workfront Proof: ensure all questions are resolved and Production Artists are clear on changes
• Review/Check-in artwork from Production Artists

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of project management experience in retail or agency environment
• Proficient knowledge of computer programs: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Asana, Workfront Proof, SmartSheets
• Retail or beauty experience preferred
• Exceptional communication skills, both written and verbal
• Solid organizational skills, detail-oriented; time management skills, ability to juggle priorities
• Strong relationship-building skills; ability to work with a variety of people in various disciplines
• Ability to work in a very fast paced environment and meet very tight deadlines
• The drive to excel and succeed; self-motivated