PPG Project Manager I

Make a Difference in YOUR Career!

Our vision is both simple and ambitious: to put our drinks on every table.  

We are the leading global independent beverage solutions provider. We serve a broad range of national and international retailers as well as Global, National and Emerging (GNE) brands. Our products are distributed worldwide from our production sites in Europe, North America, and Australia. Although our own branding may not appear on the labels of the beverages we produce, there is a good chance you are reading this while sipping one of our drinks.

Our ambition is to continually improve and it’s what keeps us at the top of our game. We are solutions-based. We are innovative.  We seek out new challenges and conquer them.  This is our company ethos, but it’s our people’s too: Refresco is at the cutting edge of a fast-moving industry because we have passionate people pushing the boundaries of what’s best.

Stop and think: how would YOU put our drinks on every table?  

Position Description

Reporting to the Process Execution Manager with a dotted line to the Senior Manager Print Production, the Design & PPG Project Manager 1 manages efficient processes within both the Design and Print Production workflows. This individual collaborates with multiple cross functional teams and our customers to, first, manage the complete design approval process and, secondly, propelling the artwork through the separation and prepress stages with our preferred print vendors. The Design project management responsibilities require regular interaction with legal, regulatory, print production (PPG), commercialization and external design teams. The PPG project management includes interaction with external customer packaging teams, external design firms, separation and print vendors, commercialization managers, account managers and design team members.

Print Production Group, (PPG), is the category expert for maintaining high quality, regulatory compliant, on time execution of all printed product packaging for Refresco North America. PPG is the conductor guiding each packaging component through the stages of print production within the commercialization process, providing technical expertise and project management services throughout, resulting in the highest quality packaging in the beverage industry. PPG embraces Refresco’s five core values: entrepreneurial, agile, passionate, responsible and excellence.

Essential Functions:

• Supports Commercialization and Procurement Teams so each project initiative is efficiently prioritized within the Design & PPG workflows, based on Top Refresco Accounts and priority projects. Appropriately challenges new project assignments and works fairly independently without manager intervention for setting and maintaining priorities and meeting deadlines. Works with a sense of urgency and focus on the company’s top priorities and initiatives.
• Account Responsibilities: The Design & PPG PM1 is responsible for about 5 Design accounts and up to 10 active PPG accounts including primary ownership of their assigned Top Refresco Accounts (2 to 3 at the lower end of the tier) with more senior (level 2) project managers as secondary support on each account as needed. These top accounts will consume the most time, utmost financial responsibility and management expectations in order to satisfy our most important customers. The Design & PPG PM1 learns to manage their Top Refresco Accounts to understand the full Design & PPG workflow process, learning the most efficient techniques to prioritize and manage the uniqueness within each account while achieving project goals and commercialization deadlines, relying on the level 2 PMs for additional mentoring.
• The Design & PPG PM1, with guidance, manages the review workflow process of new printed packaging components as they are being developed and concepted by our retail customers within the North American Commercialization team. They direct internal/external art reviews, coordinate execution of revisions, secure and document all required approvals.
• The Design & PPG PM1’s knowledge of key fundamentals for food packaging design will be developed as they work in tandem on projects with a DPM2 - understanding of dieline principles, basic regulatory guidelines and their applications along with general printing specification knowledge to help review all projects and provide guidance / feedback to cross functional teams and outside vendors are amongst the necessary competencies of this role.
• Excellent proofreading techniques along with accurate and comprehensive tracking of all artwork files and other required resources, to ensure accuracy and on-time delivery at every stage in the process is required.
• Utilize established workflows and project management tools (BLUE, ACE) to actively manage concept artwork through the proofreading and review process.
• Maintains project status and updates throughout the life of the project.
• Upon full artwork approval they will continue the workflow of the packaging files to the next stage – separations and prepress where they will initiate by inputting all pertinent, project information into the
  PPG Database.
• Initiates PPG Artwork setups from ACE assignments and creates new project tasks in PPG Database. Initiate work orders, audit artwork proofs, coordinate internal/external art reviews, coordinate execution of revisions, secure all required approvals, facilitate transfer of art files to vendors. Maintains project status and updates throughout the life of the project. With guidance from PM2, as needed, proactively seeks out information gaps with responsible stakeholders to maintain project momentum.
• Performs ACE tasks for PPG Reviews and adds Prepress Costs for their assigned accounts in a timely manner. Responsible for creating POs in SAP and with, guidance from level 2 PMs, secures additional vendor quotes for ACE prepress task as needed.
• Key participant in ongoing development of relationships with customers, vendors and makes thoughtful contributions to the project discussions as knowledge of industry and vendor capabilities increase. Communicates project timing and deadline expectations with existing vendors for assigned accounts and ACE projects.
• Travel is required, up to 10%.
• Duties as assigned by management.

Education and Experience:

• An Associate’s degree is necessary, a Bachelor degree is favored, preferably in Business, marketing, design, graphic arts and/or Commercial studies with a sound understanding of business processes.
• 0-3 Years Print Production and/or Project Management experience is preferred.
• Private Label/Consumer Package Goods Industry experience and/or knowledge is preferred.
• Experience in manufacturing/procurement/supply chain environment is preferred.

Position-specific skills:

• Some basic knowledge of packaging requirements for food/beverage products, print production, design, proofreading, print terminology and/or prepress is a plus but not required.
• Experience in project management and familiarization with project planning tools is plus.
• Excellent verbal and written communication required.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, must be able to effectively present information and respond to questions from senior management. Strong people and collaboration skills.
• Good organizational and time management skills. Thrives in a high volume, face paced environment.
• Comfortable with constantly changing priorities and working independently as well as within teams.
• Basic working knowledge of both Macintosh and PC computers. Must be fluent in Microsoft Word and Excel.  Basic understanding of Photoshop and Illustrator an asset.
• SAP experience a plus.

A Career with Refresco  

Refresco offers a competitive salary and comprehensive benefits, which include:  

• Medical/dental/vision insurance  
• Life insurance  
• 401(k) savings plan with company match  
• Paid holidays and vacation  
• Well-being benefits  
• Discount programs  

Join Refresco TODAY and enjoy a rewarding CAREER!  

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