Senior Graphics Design Specialist

SCHAEFER PLASTICS NA LLC•Charlotte, NC

About The Position

At Schaefer Plastics, we manufacture industry-leading solutions and drive responsible practices towards a sustainable future for generations to come. As a family-owned company since 1937, we are deeply committed to delivering exceptional customer care through high-quality, innovative waste and packaging solutions. Our customers and their satisfaction are paramount to our business; we strive to understand their needs and exceed their expectations at every turn. We are a global injection molding manufacturer, producing durable waste and recycling carts, and pioneering reusable packaging systems that reduce carbon footprints. Our dynamic and inclusive culture fosters personal and professional growth, making us an ideal employer for career advancement. The Senior Graphic Design Specialist is responsible for creating and managing customer renderings, press-ready hot-stamp artwork, and, primarily, IML artwork that supports customer needs, sales efforts, and production execution. Although aligned under Marketing, this role is highly cross-functional and will spend most of its time supporting Customer Service/Sales and Production. This position works closely with internal teams to develop artwork that meets customer requirements, supports manufacturability, and helps reduce scrap while maintaining quality and brand standards. Reporting Structure This role will report through Marketing and work closely with Ashley’s team, Kelly in Marketing, Customer Service/Sales, and Manufacturing. Why This Role Matters This role is critical to bridging the gap between customer expectations, brand presentation, and manufacturing execution. The Senior Graphic Design Specialist helps ensure artwork is not only visually strong, but also technically sound and production-ready. By working across Marketing, Customer Service/Sales, and Production, this person will directly impact on customer satisfaction, product quality, and operational efficiency.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design, Visual Communications, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience may be considered
Several years of professional graphic design experience, preferably in a manufacturing, packaging, printing, or industrial environment
Strong experience creating production-ready artwork, not just conceptual design
Experience with hot stamp artwork, label artwork, packaging artwork, or IML artwork strongly preferred
Proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite, especially Illustrator and Photoshop
Strong understanding of print production, file setup, color accuracy, and artwork specifications
Ability to balance customer expectations, branding needs, and manufacturing limitations
Strong attention to detail and ability to work accurately in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment
Effective communication skills and the ability to work cross-functionally with sales, customer service, marketing, and production teams
Strong problem-solving skills and a continuous improvement mindset

Nice To Haves

Experience supporting manufacturing operations through artwork optimization
Understanding of how artwork impacts scrap, efficiency, and production quality
Experience working with larger format dies or customer-specific branding requirements
Ability to interpret technical requirements and translate them into practical design solutions

Responsibilities

Create customer-facing renderings and visual concepts to support sales and customer approval processes
Develop press-ready hot stamp artwork and IML artwork, with a primary focus on production-ready deliverables
Partner closely with Ashley’s team to support customer, sales, and production artwork needs
Collaborate with Customer Service and Sales to translate customer requirements into accurate, usable artwork files
Work with Manufacturing to improve artwork quality, consistency, and functionality in order to reduce scrap rates and improve production outcomes
Support the development of artwork solutions that maintain the larger die sizes required by customers while improving manufacturability
Ensure all artwork meets technical specifications, brand standards, print requirements, and production capabilities
Troubleshoot and revise artwork as needed based on customer feedback, production performance, and quality issues
Partner with Kelly and the Marketing team on broader brand, design, and marketing-related initiatives as needed
Maintain organized artwork files, version control, and documentation for repeatability and consistency
Contribute ideas for continuous improvement in artwork creation, workflows, and communication between departments