Packaging Design Manager-Emerging Brands; Bedminster, NJ

PACKAGING DESIGN MANAGER - EMERGING BRANDS (BEDMINSTER, NJ)

To save time applying, Applegate Farms does not offer sponsorship of job applicants for employment-based visas for this position at this time.

Founded in 1987, Applegate Farms, LLC produces high-quality natural and organic hot dogs, bacon, sausages, deli meats, cheese and frozen products. Our products are made without GMO ingredients, and we source from farms where animals are treated with care and respect and are allowed to grow at their natural rate, all part of our mission – Changing The Meat We Eat®.

Natural can mean many things, but to Applegate natural means our food is:

• From animals Applegate humanely raised without antibiotics, added hormones or growth promotants
• From animals fed a vegetarian or pasture-centered diet (our beef is 100 percent grass-fed)
• Free of added chemical nitrites, nitrates or phosphates
• Free of artificial ingredients or preservatives

Applegate became a stand-alone subsidiary of Hormel Foods in July 2015.

The Packaging Design Manager is a hands‑on packaging design role within the Emerging Brands Creative Team, supporting Applegate and Columbus Craft Meats. This position owns the full packaging design and commercialization process for an assigned portfolio—from early concept through final production and print execution.

This role includes significant hands‑on design work and is ideal for a packaging expert who enjoys designing, problem‑solving, and leading projects end to end. The Packaging Design Manager serves as the subject matter expert (SME) for packaging design and production for their SKUs and is expected to contribute meaningful, practical guidance in cross‑functional meetings while partnering respectfully with stakeholders to deliver best‑in‑class work.

This role does not function as vendor‑only oversight.

Hands‑On Packaging Design & Ownership

• Design and manage packaging layouts and mechanicals from concept through final production for an assigned Emerging Brands portfolio.
• Own end‑to‑end project execution for a high‑volume workload, managing multiple SKUs and packaging components simultaneously.
• Act as the packaging design and production SME for assigned SKUs, ensuring accuracy, consistency, feasibility, and production readiness.
• Apply and maintain packaging systems and standards across brands to ensure cohesive execution and brand alignment.

Cross‑Functional Leadership

• Serve as the primary packaging design partner to Brand, R&D, Regulatory, Quality, Procurement, and Operations teams.
• Participate in innovation and commercialization meetings, providing informed input on design feasibility, timelines, materials, and production considerations.
• Communicate clearly and confidently with internal teams and external vendors, balancing creative goals with technical, regulatory, and operational requirements.

Production, Prepress & Print Oversight

• Partner with prepress and print vendors to review dielines, substrates, color accuracy, and production constraints.
• Support press checks and resolve production issues as needed to ensure final output aligns with approved artwork and brand standards.
• Manage routing, proofing, version control, and approvals using established governance processes and tools.

Systems, Tools & Workflow

• Use Asana (or similar project management tools) to manage timelines, approvals, risks, and project status.
• Review and approve packaging mechanicals using CP3X (or similar proofing systems).
• Maintain organized documentation, SKU‑level records, and digital archives within Box, shared drives, and approved asset management systems.
• Identify opportunities to improve packaging workflows, tools, and documentation to support efficiency and quality.

Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Design or related field.
• 5+ years of hands‑on packaging design and commercialization experience within a CPG environment.
• Food packaging experience strongly preferred due to regulatory and technical requirements.
• Proven ability to manage multiple packaging projects from concept through final print production.
• Deep understanding of packaging design, print production, materials, and…