Manager, Production and Packaging

OXO International•New York, NY

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Our Home & Outdoor division is united by thoughtful design and lasting quality. From kitchens to campsites, we provide consumers with premium, innovative products for life -- in and out of the home. This business unit includes our OXO , Osprey, and Hydro Flask brands, and this role may support one or more of these brands. Look around your home, and you'll find us everywhere, in your kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom. We are already making your everyday lives better. We are powered by knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and forward-thinking people committed to developing a culture of inclusion. Whether you are just starting your career or in need of a challenge, we recognize, develop, and empower talent! Position: Manager, Production & Packaging Department: Marketing – Home & Outdoor Work Location: New York, NY, Hybrid (work 3 days onsite) Hybrid Schedule: At Helen of Troy, we embrace a flexible hybrid work model designed to support collaboration and productivity. For roles eligible for hybrid work, our standard schedule includes in-office collaboration from Tuesday through Thursday, with the option to work remotely on Mondays and Fridays. Any updates to this model will be communicated in advance. Please note that hybrid eligibility and schedules may vary based on business needs and manager expectations. What you will be doing: The Manager, Production & Packaging leads all packaging production efforts for approximately 5,000 SKUs across the OXO and Hydro Flask brands. Reporting to the Creative Director, this role manages a 2–3 person production team (full‑time and/or freelance) and ensures excellence in print‑ready mechanicals, workflow optimization, and tool efficiency. This leader owns the end‑to‑end packaging production process—from templating and mechanical execution to file release and archival—while partnering closely with Design, Project Management, Photography, Retouching, and our Asia Pacific Office (APO). The role is responsible for delivering speed, accuracy, consistency, and strong operational systems that support high‑volume packaging output.

Requirements

Strong communication, organization, and project management skills
Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with competing priorities
Experience working within shared server/network environments
Bachelor’s degree in print production, graphic design, or a related field
3+ years of experience in packaging production for consumer goods, including leading or supervising a production team
Deep knowledge of prepress, offset printing, typography, dieline construction, and mechanical best practices
Expert-level skills in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat; proficiency with Microsoft Office and Teams
Authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis

Responsibilities

Lead, mentor, and develop a 2–3 person production team; ensure high standards, training, and balanced workloads.
Provide calm, steady leadership during high‑volume periods, tight deadlines, and last‑minute changes.
Manage and prioritize a workflow of 20–30 active projects, ensuring timely and accurate delivery.
Optimize task distribution so designers can focus on creative work.
Produce and oversee print-ready mechanicals for 5,000+ packaging SKUs, ensuring accuracy in type, layout, color, and technical specs.
Own and maintain all production tools, systems, templates, and processes—driving continuous improvement in speed and efficiency.
Maintain and evolve packaging templates, dielines, and mechanical standards in partnership with APO packaging engineers.
Ensure all mechanicals meet brand standards, regulatory requirements, and print specifications.
Conduct thorough preflight checks and quality-control reviews.
Partner with the Creative Director and Senior Manager, Package Design to define standards, resource needs, and operational priorities.
Serve as the primary New York–based contact for APO throughout the production and manufacturing cycle.
Release mechanical files to APO and manage communication through artwork handoff and factory production.
Work closely with Project Management to align on timelines, clarify needs, and communicate updates proactively.
Create and manage processes for updating packaging renders and maintaining an accurate library.
Manage the rendering backlog to ensure timely asset availability.
Partner with the Packaging Engineer to produce retail renderings as need
Maintain organization and server structure for all packaging and marketing assets.
Produce print-ready materials for marketing needs, including retail signage, trade show collateral, and sales tools.
Create clean mockups, comps, and preproduction samples.
Oversee in-house printer (Epson): troubleshooting, maintenance, and supplies.
Coordinate with IT to ensure production software remains current.