Creative Manager - Packaging

Clicks Group Limited; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in Cape Town is seeking a Packaging Creative Manager to drive innovative packaging design aligned with business growth objectives. This role involves leading a talented design team, ensuring brand consistency, and collaborating with external agencies on high-quality packaging solutions. The ideal candidate will have over 10 years of packaging and brand design experience, strong management capabilities, and proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite. Competitive package offered.

Qualifications

• At least 10 years packaging and brand design experience.
• Minimum 7 years management experience in leading design teams.
• Outstanding working knowledge of concept and finished artwork.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor the Clicks packaging design team.
• Develop brand objectives and manage resources.
• Ensure alignment with brand corporate identities.
• Collaborate with industry leaders for inspiration and trends.
• Manage budgets and maintain client relationships.

Skills

Strategic and creative design thinking

Strong knowledge of packaging construction

Excellent knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite CC

Strong understanding of design management systems

Strong market and trend-related knowledge

Excellent multi-tasking skills

Strong verbal and communication skills

Budget management skills

Strong influencing and presentation skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design & Art or equivalent

Packaging Diploma

Tools

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe Photoshop

Adobe InDesign

Job description

Packaging Creative Manager

Job Purpose

To deliver packaging designs through the development, conceptualisation and time‑to‑roll‑out aligned to the 18‑month, Christmas and Unicorn plans to ensure that innovation and powerful design solutions land within our business in support of sales and operating margin growth across the brands. To build and manage a sustainable, internal design studio and hub, with top talent to deliver the very best in branding and packaging design for the business and South African market.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Lead, manage and mentor the Clicks packaging design team, including senior and junior creative designers, finished artists, illustrators, photographers and freelance designers.
• Develop and communicate our brand objectives, planning, resource sourcing and multitasking workload across the internal staff and external agencies to deliver plans.
• Ensure all work delivered is aligned to the brand CI’s as well as brand tiering and brand architecture.
• Maintain brand consistency in‑line with relevant marketing strategies and corporate identity guidelines, ensuring accurate implementation across all sub‑brands.
• Collaborate with industry leaders to foster inspiration & learnings and keep up with international trends, continually bringing an edge to Private Label design.
• Recruit, retain and develop the best design talent to deliver best‑in‑class design and invest in the future of Clicks Private Label.
• Lead brainstorming sessions to promote design thinking and achieve the highest standard in creativity, ensuring briefs are met.
• Manage budgets and costings across all resources to remain within budget constraints.
• Work closely with traffic, client services and the Creative Executive to ensure smooth workflow and delivery of work, with clear brief understanding and deadlines.
• Maintain good client relationships and create strong partnerships with marketing teams to co‑create content and campaigns that complement brand equities.
• Handle all freelance hiring, rate negotiation and management, ensuring the internal design team works efficiently.
• Source and direct outside resources such as production agencies, photographers, make‑up artists, stylists, illustrators and models, building and maintaining a professional network.
• Provide strong support to the Creative Executive to create the best sustainable design agency & design hub with top South African talent.

Desired Experience & Qualification – Essential Skills

• Strategic and creative design thinking.
• Strong knowledge of packaging construction, holistic design solutions, brand CI’s and implementation.
• Strong market and trend‑related knowledge.
• Excellent knowledge of Adobe Creative Suite CC: Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign.
• Strong understanding of design management systems and studio workflow to drive efficiencies.
• Strong understanding of all printing processes.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing best practices relating to quality checks and high standards of consistency.
• Strong understanding of the various brand CI’s as well as brand tiering and brand architecture.
• Excellent multi‑tasking skills.
• Resilience under pressure.
• Strong verbal and communication skills.
• Budget management skills.
• Excellent working knowledge of language and copy.
• Strong influencing and presentation skills.
• Delivering against demanding deadlines.
• Excellent knowledge of all packaging design principles, brand development, creative processes.
• Excellent conceptualisation and packaging design skills.
• High‑pressure solution‑solving ability.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design & Art or equivalent Graph Design qualification.
• Packaging Diploma.
• At least 10 years packaging and brand design experience with an outstanding working knowledge of concept artwork, finished artwork and all print & packaging processes.
• Minimum 7 years management experience in leading teams, conducting performance reviews & measurements.
• Experience of developing high‑performing design team competencies.

All positions will be filled in accordance with our Employment Equity plan.
We also encourage people with disabilities to apply.