Senior Production Designer - Packaging

Dixon Ticonderoga Company (formerly known as Pacon Corporation) is seeking an experienced Senior Production Designer – Packaging to support the execution, extension, and accuracy of packaging artwork across a portfolio of iconic brands, including Ticonderoga®, Prang®, Tru-Ray®, and ArtKraft®.

Our mission is to engage, inspire and empower teachers, students and artists to be at their best by providing them superior educational and art products. The Dixon Ticonderoga Company portfolio includes trusted brands across art and education products, including the iconic Ticonderoga #2 pencil, and serves both School and Retail Markets. The Dixon Ticonderoga Company is headquartered in Appleton, Wisconsin.

Position Summary:

The Senior Production Designer operates with a high degree of autonomy and is a key owner of production accuracy and packaging execution. The role is execution-focused and responsible for applying existing brand systems to a wide range of products and packaging structures, ensuring production accuracy, regulatory compliance, and print readiness. The ideal candidate brings deep production knowledge, strong attention to detail, and a calm, methodical approach to managing high-volume packaging work.

Key Responsibilities:

Packaging Production & Execution

• Extend existing packaging designs across multiple package sizes, formats, and structures
• Apply established brand architecture consistently across SKUs without redesigning or reinterpreting creative intent
• Prepare, manage, and maintain print-ready production files for manufacturing
• Support controlled versioning and SKU proliferation with strong file discipline

Proofing, Accuracy & Risk Management

• Proof, review, and provide approval or escalation recommendations for first-run and pre-production items for accuracy, completeness, and compliance
• Evaluate packaging changes with an understanding of downstream production, inventory, and compliance impacts
• Use structured review and checklist-based approaches to minimize production errors

Print & Production Expertise

• Support packaging across a variety of print processes, including offset, flexographic, gravure, digital, and screen printing
• Apply working knowledge of:
  • Spot colors and ink systems
  • Overprints, trapping, and print specifications
  • Barcodes and scan-ability
  • Dielines and structural packaging files

Regulatory & Compliance Awareness

• Ensure packaging artwork meets retail and regulatory requirements, including:
  • Country of origin
  • Required disclosures and markings
  • Claims and product descriptors
  • Language considerations
• Collaborate with internal legal, QA, and sourcing teams as needed

Vendor & Cross-Functional Communication

• Communicate clearly and concisely with overseas vendors and suppliers, many of whom are non-native English speakers
• Provide unambiguous production instructions and visual markups
• Partner closely with internal design, marketing, sourcing, and manufacturing teams

Process Awareness & Continuous Improvement

• Identify opportunities to improve production efficiency, accuracy, and clarity
• Contribute to documentation, templates, and best practices that support scalable production workflows

Qualifications:

• 7 years of experience in production design, with significant packaging experience
• Demonstrated success extending designs across multiple SKUs and packaging structures
• Strong understanding of commercial print processes and production workflows
• Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to accuracy
• Proven experience proofing and approving production files and first-run samples
• Experience working with global or overseas manufacturing partners
• Clear, professional written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to remain focused and effective in deadline-driven environments
• Working knowledge of regulatory requirements related to products in retail commerce
• Proficiency in Adobe Creative Cloud (Illustrator required; Photoshop and InDesign strongly preferred) as well as familiarity with project management programs (e.g. monday.com, Trello, Asana, Robohead)

Candidates located within approximately 2.5 hours of Appleton, WI are strongly preferred to support onboarding and collaboration. Exceptional remote candidates with demonstrated packaging production expertise will also be considered.

Note: The statements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the employee and are not be construed as an exhaustive list of responsibilities, duties, abilities and skills required of personnel so classified.

BENEFITS:

We offer a comprehensive benefits package including health, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, paid time off, and opportunities for professional development.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:

Dixon Ticonderoga Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state or local protected class.