Artwork Production Specialist

Position Summary 

The primary purpose of this position is to lead the pack across the physical and digital world. This includes the management of the adaptive design process using agencies from the adaptive design roster. Working with the print management agency, leading the creation and approval of packaging artwork, including separations which are handed over to the printer in a timely manner. With the agency partners, lead the creation of CGI pack images, and orchestration of product content for the omnichannel environment using Unilever’s product management workflow system. 

This person will be responsible for initiating and managing projects using the artwork management system and is responsible to oversee the production, storage and availability of artwork and pack images for usage through the digital channels. The Artwork production specialist will interact with internal teams (Marketing, R&D, Supply Chain, E-commerce) who provide master design files and pack content, and external partners (print management agencies, design agencies, printers) who deliver the work in the form of mechanical artwork, pack image albums and printed packaging. The role will orchestrate data making it available for usage downstream in E-commerce environment and other channels.

As technical experts, the Artwork Production Specialist will provide expertise in the end to end management of the pack to marketing and E-commerce teams by taking responsibility for the creation of artwork and digital pack images to be used in various channels and touchpoints internally and externally in an ever more digital and connected world. 

Position Responsibilities (Expected Work)

• Lead the pack for the end to end process from adaptive design/artwork/separation/digital images. 
• Understand the Category and Brands you are working on, Brand DNA & guidelines and plans 
• Work with adaptive design agencies from the agency roster, ensuring that marketing brief to these agencies are clear. Previews from the adaptive agency to ensure that this meets the expectations of marketing. 
• Collaborate with marketing and design agencies at the design phase, providing expert guidance and technical inputs to ensure that the design is technically printable before the artwork phase. 
• Lead the adaptive design process, including SKU matrix development, technical printability assessment and toolbox creation by the strategic agency. 
• Understand the artwork process, roles and responsibilities and how to fit this into the innovation project management process to deliver projects on time and in full. Work on the artwork management system to deliver this. 
• Provide forecasts for artwork and pack image priorities to the PMA using tools provided. 
• Ensure that the print management agency follows the approved rate cards and service level agreements, and that marketing has visibility on costs 
• Lead the actions with the PMA that artwork is optimized for cost e.g. print process, number of colours, Design for value. 
• Understand the digital and connected word program in Unilever, and artwork Excellence role to manage the delivery of digital pack images following Artwork Excellence process, to the right quality and on time 
• Understanding of CGI technology and the creation of FOP, BOP and Hero images, how this is used in a connected and omnichannel world. 
• Executes purpose on pack from a brand and technology perspective. 

Challenges 

• Coordinating multiple projects simultaneously; working with various cross-functional team members as well as multiple external stakeholders at the same time. 
• Work through multi-cultural environment and people / partners in many different countries. 
• Managing artwork in a continuously changing environment, where timelines are always tight and artwork is always on the critical path for delivery. Delivering this on time and efficiently. 
• Working with a process and online system that requires discipline from others. 
• Managing the external vendor’s compliance within agreed lead time and quality of delivery, compliance to rate card and processes, particularly when they are not co-located in the same country. 
• Influencing the improvement to artwork management efficiency through project management, process compliance, visibility of artwork KPI’s and ways of working within the team. 
• Functioning as a technical expert and business partner to Marketing and other functional teams from design to artwork to print phase of the process. 
• Skills and expertise in the end to end process of design to digital.
• Design skills to brief, assess and communicate with adaptive agencies 
• Pack image technical and creative skills to approve images in an omnichannel connected world environment 

Scope

• The scope of the role covers adaptive design, artwork, print management and digital image creation responsibilities and the orchestration of product data. 
• This position can be responsible for several brands and categories at the same time. This may be across market clusters or countries. 
• There is no central time zone and therefore the position may have to work in several different environments. 
• The individual must also coordinate multiple external vendors, also possibly within other time zones. 
• This will require interaction with many departments to manage all projects as per the artwork process. 

Skills (what) & Competencies (how) Key Competencies:

• Strong communication skills 
• Ability to build collaborative relationships 
• Hold people accountable
• Good organizational awareness
• Strong at influencing 
• Negotiating skills 
• Business Partner mindset (not Customer Service)

Key Professional Skills: 

• 1 - 3 Years’ experience in artwork management or a similar role, which may include: print production, print management, graphic design, packaging development, CGI image production 

Key General Skills:

• Project Management 
• Highly computer-literate 
• Fluent English 
• Intercultural Awareness 
• Business acumen