Senior Designer

Packaging Corporation of America; Burlington (WI); On-site; USD 78,400 - 117,600; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Paid vacation

Paid holidays

Medical/dental/vision coverage

401(k) with company match

Life Insurance and Disability

Job summary

Packaging Corporation of America in Wisconsin seeks a senior packaging designer to lead the design of packaging and point-of-purchase displays, ensuring safety and brand standards.

You will translate customer needs into drawings and prototypes, coordinate graphics and dies, and manage multiple projects across plant facilities, while collaborating with sales and operations.

The role offers a competitive salary, bonus, and comprehensive benefits as PCA supports career development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design, Packaging or Structural Engineering required.
• Minimum of seven (7) years' experience with packaging and point-of-purchase display creation and design.
• Strong working knowledge of production methods, printing methods, materials, styles, and standard design forms for packaging and displays.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook; CAD software experience.

Responsibilities

• Apply advanced design skills for packaging/POP displays in line with PCA standards.
• Translate customer needs into drawings, designs and prototypes within plant capabilities.
• Coordinate graphics, prototypes and samples including vendor negotiations, dies, material availability, testing and feedback-based redirection.
• Manage multiple design projects by leveraging resources and external sources as needed.
• Communicate project status, design feasibility, and scheduling with plant departments.

Skills

Graphic design

Packaging design

P.O.P. displays

CAD software

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Graphic Design/Packaging/Structural Engineering

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

Outlook

CAD software

Job description

As a Fortune 500 company, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an ideas and solutions company. Our corrugated packaging business seeks to be the leader in helping our customers – large and small – package, transport and display products of all kinds. Our white paper business delivers Paper With Purpose by providing the highest level of customer service and operational excellence. We have approximately 15,000 team members in more than 100 locations in the United States that strive to meet the local needs of our customers. Our mission is to serve the needs of our customers, today and tomorrow, with products and services that exceed expectations for performance and environmental responsibility.

People * Customers * Trust

PRINCIPLE ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Apply advanced design skills in the creation of designs for packaging and/or point of service displays for new and existing products in accordance with PCA design and safety standards.
• Evaluate customer needs and expectations and translate them into drawings, designs, and prototypes within the manufacturing capabilities of the plant.
• Coordinate activities related to developing graphics, prototypes and samples, including vendor negotiations, designing dies, material availability, direction, troubleshooting, reviewing samples, testing, and redirection based on feedback and results.
• Coordinate multiple design projects to successful completion by effectively managing existing resources and procuring external sources as needed.
• Liaise with appropriate plant departments to ensure regular communication regarding project status, resource availability, design feasibility, and scheduling.
• Develop designs and recommend materials and production methods that will meet customer requirements and most efficiently utilize existing plant facilities and equipment.
• Create or secure samples of designs for customer inspection, production orders and/or division operation.
• Perform packaging and component testing, evaluate results, and advise sales, manufacturing, and customers of findings.
• Evaluate existing customer or prospective customer packaging for possible improvement in style, function, appearance, cost and/or ease of packaging as directed by supervisor.
• Conduct design reviews with customers.
• Generate product cost data, including estimation of run speeds, packaging costs, material usages, and scrap factors.
• Provide advance technical assistance to the Sales Representatives and customer service representative regarding layouts, estimating, die making, order specifications, customer packaging procedures, and material handling techniques; approve printing press and die cut set‑ups for initial order of new designs.
• Provide training, guidance and support to designers.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

• Education equivalent to a bachelor's degree in graphic design, structural engineering, or packaging required.
• Minimum of seven (7) years' previous experience with packaging and point of purchase display creation and design.
• Strong working knowledge of production methods, printing methods, materials, styles, and standard design forms and retail usage of packaging and point of purchase displays required.
• Strong working knowledge of computer systems including experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, and Outlook; Computer Assisted Design (CAD) software.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS

• Previous experience in project management.
• Experience in corrugated industry with a technical understanding of corrugated packaging design, cutting dies, converting machinery and printing.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Strong organizational skills with the ability to handle numerous details, deadlines, and requests.
• Able to work in a fast‑paced, deadline‑oriented environment, prioritize assignments, and handle multiple tasks concurrently.
• Strong listening, evaluating, and problem‑solving skills; ability to create alternative solutions and meet deadlines.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to effectively communicate with multiple audiences on procedures, policies, practices, and requests for information.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to network and build relationships with individuals of various experience and corporate levels both within and outside of the company.
• Solid financial and business operations analysis skills with the ability to identify opportunities for improvements.
• Strong negotiation and persuasion skills with the ability to create new business opportunities.
• Ability to quickly grasp the customer's current situation and needs based on the current market environment and cross‑business objectives; based on customer understanding, able to visualize and develop compelling design possibilities.
• Ability to engage in rapid experimentation of multiple design ideas and learn from failed design concepts.
• Ability to be accessible, available, and responsive to the customer and understand the customer's point of view; ability to advocate for customer needs to others and create mutual agreement on project scope.

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Starting salary range: $78,400 – $117,600.
• Bonus: Annual – based upon individual contribution and overall company performance.
• Paid Vacation: Three (3) weeks per calendar year; pro‑rata vacation during the initial year of hire based upon start date within the calendar year.
• Paid Holidays.
• Within the first 30 days of employment, an employee (and their dependents) is eligible to enroll in certain benefit coverages – medical, dental, and vision – and is automatically enrolled in life, AD&D, and disability coverage.
• Upon hire, an employee is automatically enrolled in the 401(k) plan. The plan offers both pre‑tax and Roth contribution options along with employer‑provided matching contributions.
• Disclaimer: The Compensation and Benefits information in this posting represents PCA's good faith and reasonable estimate of what it may pay for this position. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.

PCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer