Structural Packaging Designer

PCA • Miami Gardens, FL

18d • $75,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is seeking a Structural Packaging Designer for its Miami Gardens, Florida facility. Under limited supervision, this role collaborates with customers and sales representatives to design packaging for new products, redesign existing packaging, and develop new uses for existing packages to secure new business and expand current business. The Designer is an integral part of the customer service team and uses PCA design software and techniques to create packaging and point-of-purchase (POP) displays that help customers succeed in the marketplace.

The Designer develops designs and recommendations that meet customer needs while aligning with plant manufacturing capabilities, production methods, materials, equipment, and PCA design and safety standards. The role also supports customers and internal teams with samples, testing, cost data, graphics and prototype development, technical assistance, and guidance for junior designers.

Requirements

• Education equivalent to a bachelor's degree in graphic design, structural design, art, engineering, or packaging.
• Strong working knowledge of production and printing methods, materials, packaging styles, standard design forms, and retail use of packaging and point-of-purchase displays.
• At least four years of experience creating and designing packaging and point-of-purchase displays.
• Strong working knowledge of computer systems, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and computer-aided design (CAD) software.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage details, deadlines, and requests.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment, prioritize assignments, and manage multiple tasks concurrently.
• Financial and business operations analysis skills, including the ability to identify improvement opportunities.
• Ability to understand customer circumstances and needs, visualize design possibilities, and account for market conditions and cross-business objectives.
• Strong listening, evaluation, and problem-solving skills, including the ability to develop alternative solutions and meet deadlines.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for communicating with multiple audiences.
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships across experience levels and within and outside the company.
• Strong negotiation and persuasion skills and ability to create new business opportunities.
• Ability to rapidly experiment with multiple design ideas and learn from unsuccessful concepts.
• Ability to be accessible and responsive to customers, understand their perspectives, advocate for their needs, and build agreement on project scope.
• Previous experience as a team member, or a strong understanding of the importance of open communication and information sharing with coworkers.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in the corrugated industry and technical understanding of corrugated packaging design, cutting dies, converting machinery, and printing.

Responsibilities

• Create designs for packaging and point-of-purchase displays for new and existing products in accordance with PCA design and safety standards.
• Evaluate customer needs and translate them into drawings, designs, and prototypes that fit plant manufacturing capabilities.
• Develop, design, and recommend materials and production methods that meet customer requirements and efficiently use plant facilities and equipment.
• Create or obtain design samples for customer inspection, production orders, or division operations.
• Conduct packaging and component testing, evaluate results, and communicate findings to sales, manufacturing, and customers.
• Evaluate customer or prospective customer packaging for potential improvements in style, function, appearance, cost, or ease of packaging as directed by a supervisor.
• Conduct design reviews with customers.
• Generate product cost data, including estimates of run speeds, packaging costs, material usage, and scrap factors.
• Coordinate graphics, prototypes, and samples, including vendor negotiations, die design, material availability, direction, troubleshooting, sample reviews, testing, and revisions based on feedback and results.
• Provide technical assistance to Sales Representatives and Customer Service Representatives on layouts, estimating, die making, order specifications, customer packaging procedures, material handling, artwork, printing dies, and initial-order printing press and die-cut setups.
• Provide training, guidance, and support to junior designers.

Benefits

• Annual bonus based on individual contribution and overall company performance.
• Three weeks of paid vacation per calendar year, prorated during the initial year based on start date.
• Paid holidays.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage available for employees and dependents, with enrollment eligibility within the first 30 days of employment.
• Life, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), and disability coverage, with automatic enrollment.
• 401(k) plan with pre-tax and Roth contribution options and employer matching contributions.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level