Senior Artwork Production Specialist

Job Title: Senior Artwork Production Specialist

Work Location: Mumbai HO

Department: Global Marketing Services

ROLE CONTEXT:

The Senior APS role (also sometimes known as the assistant artwork production manager) requires an individual who has exceptional executional and leadership skills to manage their portfolio within their BU/BG, acting as a talent catalyst for their immediate teams' APS counterparts and coaching newcomers on the team. The role will play an integral part in countries where line management is not co-located and will be expected to proactively drive in-market and lead global squad improvements where applicable and relevant.  This role requires extensive Stakeholder management (lateral and vertical), interfacing with Functional heads, BG leaders, and external vendors. The portfolio encompasses responsibilities which can include presenting and influencing (using data & analytics) in BG operational meetings and/or other leadership forums, leading business changes & subsequent change management, improvement in ways of working, inventing new business models and optimizing processes, upskilling and capability building. The individual will act as the single point of contact for the Artwork Production Manager within their area of expertise.  

You will play a vital role in the areas of Design, Mechanical artwork development, AI/Automation, Colour management, and implement Processes to drive simplication in your projects. Your delivery will be measured through your rigorous engagement with brands and your ability to plan portfolio forecasts based on brand activity levels through management of various types of projects such as innovations, promotions, SKU rationalization, complexity reduction, range standardization, cost saving, and other projects.  The technical mastery of this role is to seamlessly manage the development & approval of packaging artwork via involvement in design through to commercially reproducible mechanical artwork and separations, which are handed over to the printer. Your responsibilities will include initiating and creating projects using the online artwork management system, while also working in a multifunctional environment to deliver projects on time in full (OTIF).

You will interface with internal teams such as Marketing, R&D, Supply Chain, Quality, dCommerce, eCommerce, and others who will provide information through global toolkits, master designs, and pack content wherever these apply in scope. Your expertise will be crucial during the design, artwork, and print phases, where your creative & technical input in design, artwork, and print will ensure that the brand integrity, quality, and consistency are maintained throughout the artwork and supplier processes. You will delegate and coordinate with external partners (print management agencies, design partners, printers, etc) to deliver projects in the form of creative designs, mechanical artworks, digital image creation, and printed packaging materials. You will also have significant responsibility to oversee the creation of digital pack images and mobile-ready hero images (MRHIs) for various channels.

Position Responsibilities (Expected Work)

• Own the artwork process, roles, and responsibilities to deliver projects on time and in full.
• Work with GMS Digital Solutions to identify improvements to the overall artwork process.
• Lead the Brand and category portfolio by understanding the Brand DNA/Guidelines to effectively plan and prioritize volume.
• Present business updates (using data & analytics) to influence at leadership meetings as and when required, and proactively taking necessary actions from these meetings.
• Collaborate with marketing and design agencies at the design phase, providing expert guidance and technical inputs to ensure that the design is technically printable before the artwork is routed for internal approval.
• Schedule and run pre-production meetings by bringing together design agencies, print management agencies, printers, and internal stakeholders to ensure that the quality and consistency is maintained from artwork to print.
• Ensure that master design files are created according to prescribed toolbox specifications and handed over accurately to the print management agencies, and that the printed artwork matches the design requirements.
• Work with marketing to ensure visibility of artwork spend, and that the printed packaging is optimized for cost, e.g., print process, number of colours, change of substrate, etc.
• Take accountability for the delivery of mechanical artwork and separation files to printers, proactively manage issues/as they arise. Work with the agencies to drive improvements to quality and efficiency for their portfolios and locations.
• Act as the gatekeeper for project deadlines and timelines, clearly communicating during meetings when timings are not feasible.
• Routing creation and management of projects using the BLUE online artwork management system and adhering to Unilever’s defined artwork processes to manage digital image creation to the right specification and expected quality output on time.
• Manage internal/external stakeholder expectations for your project tasks relating to the status, timing, and expected output.
• Ensure that the print management agency follows the approved rate cards and service level agreements (SLAs) are maintained for all purchase requisitions in line with Unilever code and company policy.
• Sourcing of printer specifications/fingerprinting and calibrating to the defined processes and ways of working (relevant only in the absence of a print production manager).  
• Approve color standards (1st press pass) and distribute to the relevant parties where required (relevant only in the absence of a print production manager).  
• Work in close collaboration with Business Units (BU) & Business groups (BG) to drive continuous improvement in ways of working.
• Mentoring and coaching to empower APS counterparts where applicable.
• Single point of contact for Artwork on behalf of the Artwork manager, if required, and wherever relevant.
  

Challenges

• Coordinating multiple projects simultaneously, working with various cross-functional team members as well as multiple external stakeholders at the same time, will require the highest degree of self-discipline and personal mastery.
• Work through multi-cultural environments with people and partners based in different countries and time zones.
• Managing artwork in a dynamic environment where rules and regulations are constantly changing, and timelines are always on the critical path.
• Managing an online method and procedure that requires self-discipline, people-persuasion, and holding people accountable.
• Overseeing the quality and compliance of external vendors, keeping them responsible for timely delivery and rate cards, especially when they are not co-located in the same country.
• Encouraging improvements through project management, compliance, and making sure that the right procedures are followed.
  

Scope

• Strategic & Adaptive packaging design, pack artwork, print management, and digital image creation responsibilities.
• Can be responsible for several brands and categories simultaneously, encompassing various markets & brand segments.
• No central time zone, and therefore, the position may have to work in several different environments.
• Coordination with multiple external vendors, also possibly varying across time zones and working days.
• Interaction with multiple functions as advisor, influencer, and negotiator when necessary.  
• Supporting the Artwork Production Manager by overseeing leadership of team tasks and business activities.
  

Skills/Key Competencies:

• Strong communication (written & verbal)
• Intercultural People Skills.
• IT Automation, Digital Awareness & understanding of AI.
• Able to build collaborative partnerships.
• Proactive & can hold people accountable.
• Multi-tasking & Attention to detail.
• Strong at influencing & negotiating.
• Business Partner mindset.
• Ability to embrace and manage change.
• Consumer & Customer Love
• Passion for High Performance
• Able to act with agility.

Direct Reports: None (however, the candidate must act as a strong talent catalyst to mentor, coach, and upskill the capability of peers within his/her team)

Key Professional Skills: Three to five years’ experience in Pack artwork management, Graphic design, Print production, Pre-press, Design or Pack engineering, R&D, Digital marketing, Brand management, CGI production, agency relations or similar within the FMCG environment.

Key General Skills:

• Creative thinking.
• Expressing concepts clearly.
• Proficiency in Project Management.
• MS Office is mandatory.
• Basic understanding of Adobe Creator/Illustrator/Photoshop.
• Budgeting & Scheduling.
• Data Analysis
• Fluent English (and any other language/s applicable by market)
• Can-do/Will-do mindset.  
• Embracing Diversity & Inclusion.