Senior Print Designer, Manager
Liquid I.V. · El Segundo, CA · hybrid
About Liquid I.V.
Liquid I.V. is a 360-degree wellness company based in El Segundo, CA, created to fuel life’s adventures. Our product line features great-tasting, non-GMO electrolyte drink mixes utilizing Cellular Transport Technology (CTT)® to enhance rapid absorption of water and other key ingredients into the bloodstream—helping consumers feel better, faster.
Our products are stocked in over 30,000 doors across the country, including the world’s leading specialty, big box, and online retailers such as Costco, Walmart, Target, Amazon, and many more. In just a few short years, our growth has been exponential. With this in mind, we are looking for world-class team members to help us continue disrupting the wellness industry and hydrating people in need around the globe.
One last thing (or two): We recently joined our friends over at Unilever to help us grow Liquid I.V. into a global brand. As a mission-based organization, giveback is one of the core pillars built into our DNA. Since 2015, we have donated over 22 million servings of Liquid I.V. to those in need around the world through our one-to-one giveback pledge. In 2021 alone we donated over 12 million servings to individuals and organizations making an impact globally, nationally, and locally. As we move into 2022 and beyond, we will expand our impact, and create durable, positive change in vulnerable and underserved communities. As part of our mission, we are committed to upholding environmentally responsible business practices and championing an ethos of health and wellness for all.
About our Team:
We are a world-class team of innovators and passionate change-makers, looking to develop transformative hydration solutions and make a meaningful impact on the world around us.
At Liquid I.V., we are committed to building an inclusive culture of belonging that not only embraces the diversity of our people but also reflects the diversity of the communities in which we work and the customers we serve.
Our team members enjoy a flexible and inclusive working environment, a highly collaborative and innovation-forward culture, generous benefits and perks that empower employees to champion their wellbeing every day, as well as an infinite supply of Liquid I.V. for extraordinary hydration.
About the Role:
As Senior Print Designer (Manager), you will report directly to the Senior Digital Designer (Manager) and lead the print design team, owning the design and execution of high-quality print, packaging, and retail solutions from concept through production. This role pairs a strong creative point of view with deep technical production knowledge and leadership to guide the print design team. You will partner closely design stakeholders to keep retail and print work visually cohesive with brand campaigns, and manage agency and vendor relationships to ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to brand standards.
Functions and duties of this role include, but not limited to:
- Lead design efforts for print, packaging, and retail, partnering with cross-functional partners to create innovative designs that align with brand strategy, owning projects from concept through production.
- Directly manage the print design team, providing mentorship, feedback, and career development to foster growth and ensure high performance.
- Serve as the technical authority on print production, color management, print processes, and technical specifications, setting production standards for the print design team.
- Oversee proofing and press checks, reviewing physical samples and making corrections as needed to maintain quality.
- Serve as the primary contact for external agencies and vendors, setting expectations and ensuring alignment with brand standards.
- Oversee vendor and agency workstreams, including timeline management, asset approvals, and budget tracking, and conduct regular evaluations to ensure partnerships meet quality and efficiency expectations.
- Oversee multiple design projects at once, ensuring deadlines are met and deliverables meet or exceed quality expectations.
- Partner with project managers to coordinate timelines, budgets, capacity, and resources across all stages of the design process.
- Set clear objectives and roles within the print design team, delegate effectively, and ensure accountability, with regular check-ins and performance reviews that give constructive feedback and identify growth opportunities.
- Present design concepts and rationale clearly to senior leadership and cross-functional partners, and incorporate feedback effectively.
- Guide the print design team in creating prototypes, mockups, and renderings to bring concepts to life for internal reviews and approvals.
- Organize and maintain artwork, dielines, and production files so assets are version-controlled, easy to find, and ready for vendor handoff.
- Contribute actively to brainstorms and ideation, and research industry trends, competitor packaging, and consumer insights to inform and elevate design decisions.
- Ensure all work adheres to brand guidelines while pushing creative boundaries within those frameworks.
- Contribute to evolving the brand design system across packaging and retail.
- Develop innovative and sustainable design solutions, actively seeking ways to minimize environmental impact, and stay current on design techniques, materials, and production technologies.
Qualifications:
The successful candidate will have the following qualifications:
- 5-7+ years of design experience required, including packaging and retail design (CPG in-house or agency experience preferred), with a track record of leading projects from concept through production.
- Proven experience managing design teams, including full-time and contract designers, providing constructive feedback, and mentoring junior designers for growth.
- Portfolio (PDF or online) required, showcasing both strong creative and conceptual work and production-ready execution across packaging, retail, and print.
- Proficient understanding of print, artwork, and production processes, with expertise in proofing, press checks, and quality control.
- Expert proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator; Figma experience for presentations is a plus.
- Ability to work independently with minimal direction: you solve problems proactively, own projects end to end, and know when to flag issues.
- Demonstrated success managing agency and vendor relationships, including oversight of deliverables, timelines, budgets, and quality standards.
- Confident, articulate presenter who can explain creative rationale to leadership and cross-functional partners.
- Ability to meet tight deadlines while maintaining high quality across multiple projects at once.
- Proficiency in project management and file-sharing tools such as Dropbox, Asana, Wrike, and Microsoft Suite.
- Excellent typography, color, and composition skills, great attention to detail, and a positive can-do attitude.
What We Give:
- 100% company-paid medical, dental and vision insurance for employees (PPO, HMO and Kaiser options).
- A 401k plan with company match, short and long-term disability coverage.
- A generous PTO and sick policy that includes 13+ paid annual holidays.
- Wellness classes (fitness, mental health, nutrition, finance, etc.).
- An Employee Assistance Program, including membership for guided meditation for all employees.
- Monthly tech and wellness reimbursement.
- An infinite supply of Liquid I.V. for endless hydration!
Work Environment & Expectations:
- This role is HYBRID and will require up to 3 days in our El Segundo, CA office. The working hours for this position are Monday - Friday from 9am - 6pm.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
Compensation:
The compensation band for this position is $103,100 - $130,000 annually. The exact salary is determined by various factors including experi