Packaging Artwork Coordinator

HomeTown Food Company • Chicago, IL

11d • $60,000 - $80,000

About The Position

Hometown Food Company is looking for a Packaging Artwork Coordinator to act as the critical project hub and traffic controller for our 500+ SKU product portfolio. This individual is responsible for driving packaging graphics from the initial creative concept through cross-functional internal approvals, final technical prepress validation, and successful printer delivery. By bridging the gap between design agencies, internal teams (Marketing, QA/Regulatory and Operations), and commercial print vendors, this role ensures all product packaging is legally compliant, brand-accurate, and structurally production-ready.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of dedicated experience in packaging coordination, traffic management, or prepress production, explicitly within the Food & Beverage or Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) spaces.
• Demonstrable knowledge of industrial printing processes (flexographic, digital, litho-lamination), corrugated and flexible film structures, dieline interpretation, and standard finishing techniques.
• General understanding of FDA packaging guidelines, including placement and formatting requirements for Nutrition Facts Panels (NFPs), ingredient declarations, net weight statements, and allergen warnings.
• Comfort navigating Adobe Creative Cloud software (principally Illustrator and Acrobat) for asset verification and proofing.
• Working knowledge of Canva for quick-turn internal mockups or ad hoc creative requests.
• PDF markup/annotation tools (MediaBox or similar proofing platforms) for redlines and approval routing.
• Self-motivated, should be adaptable and willing to learn new processes and tackle new challenges.
• Focused on operational efficiency & driving business growth.
• Impeccable attention to detail, highly organized, and possess strong diplomatic communication skills required to manage competing priorities between creative desire and operational/regulatory constraint.

Nice To Haves

• Hands-on experience utilizing Photoshop for light image retouching (color correction, background cleanup, minor graphic edits) a plus.
• Experience with Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems and project management/workflow tools strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary point of contact for external design agencies and internal creative teams to ingest new graphics and packaging concepts.
• Manage the end-to-end routing process for all artwork modifications, ensuring systematic review and formal sign-off from Marketing, QA/Regulatory, and Plant Operations.
• Build, update, and maintain a centralized artwork archive and Digital Asset Management (DAM) system to enforce absolute version control, preventing obsolete graphics from reaching production lines.
• Interface directly with printers and separator/prepress vendors to ensure creative files strictly align with manufacturing and machine specifications (dielines, color profiles, coatings, and specific print processes like flexography or digital).
• Review digital and physical printer proofs—including color drawdowns and press proofs—for color target compliance, copy legibility, and barcode scannability prior to issuing final print authorization.
• Troubleshoot basic file configuration issues (e.g., layers, fonts, links, trapping) alongside external prepress partners.
• Perform light graphic touch-ups and file corrections (e.g., color adjustments, text updates, minor image edits) on an ad hoc basis to support fast-turn packaging or marketing requests.
• Own and maintain the master packaging change calendar, tracking critical milestones against product launch targets and production deadlines.
• Proactively identify potential bottlenecks in the routing process and negotiate timelines across internal departments to mitigate risk to launch windows.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed