Associate Manager, Creative Operations

SC Johnson has been leading with purpose for 140 years, building high-quality products and iconic brands found in homes, schools and businesses in virtually every country worldwide - including OFF!, Raid, Glade, Windex, Scrubbing Bubbles, Ziploc, Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day, method, Autan, Baygon, Mr Muscle, Duck, Lysoform and more.

The 13,000 people of our global, fifth-generation family company are committed to making the world a better place today and for future generations.

ABOUT THE ROLE

Bring your passion for design, storytelling, and seamless execution to a role where your impact is visible on every shelf. As the Associate Manager, Creative Operations, you will own the end-to-end creative workflow for packaging and brand graphics across a dynamic consumer products portfolio. You'll be the connector who keeps everything moving-partnering with design, marketing, legal, and production to turn bold ideas into beautifully executed realities. In this role, you won't just manage projects-you'll shape how creativity happens. You'll streamline processes, champion design systems, and build scalable workflows that empower teams to do their best work. Your ability to balance creative excellence with speed, accuracy, and efficiency will ensure every project lands on time, on budget, and at the highest standard-driving both brand impact and business results.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Creative Workflow Management: Lead planning and execution of creative workflows from concept through production for packaging and brand design projects. Create design timelines, track milestones, and ensure seamless handoffs between creative and production teams
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Serve as a strategic partner and liaison between Design, Graphics (GRSS), Marketing, Legal, R&D, and external vendors. Facilitate clear communication, manage feedback loops, and ensure creative objectives are aligned with business goals
• Production & Executional Support: Collaborate closely with Pre-Media, Artwork, and Design Teams to translate creative intent into production-ready assets, ensuring high fidelity to brand standards and feasibility across substrates and formats
• Process Optimization: Build, refine, and document best practices, SOPs, and toolkits to increase efficiency and scalability. Establish KPIs and lead post-mortem reviews to identify opportunities for continuous improvement
• Vendor & Resource Coordination: Manage external agency and vendor relationships, including briefing, deliverables, timing, and budget oversight. Monitor resource allocation and escalate capacity needs
• Quality Assurance: Conduct technical quality reviews of design files to validate accuracy in dieline layouts, brand color application, typography, legal, and print specs. Flag and resolve potential issues early in the workflow
• Digital Asset Management: Ensure design files are consistently organized, version-controlled, archived, and compliant with internal DAM protocols and brand governance

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE YOU'LL BRING

• Bachelor's degree in graphic design, design management, marketing, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in creative operations, production design, or project/studio management within consumer products or similar industry
• Qualified candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without current or future sponsorship

PREFERRED EXPERIENCES AND SKILLS

• Strong knowledge of packaging design, pre-press, artwork development, and print production processes
• Demonstrated experience working with creative agencies, pre-media vendors, and cross-functional teams
• Technical Proficiency: Skilled in Adobe Creative Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, InDesign), prepress/print tools, project management systems (Workfront, Asana, etc.), and DAM platforms.
• Detail-Oriented: Excellent at identifying design discrepancies, enforcing brand consistency, and maintaining design integrity across packaging formats.
• Organizational Skills: Capable of managing multiple complex projects with competing deadlines.
• Collaborative Communication: Effective communicator among creative and business stakeholders; skilled at translating creative terminology into actionable tasks.
• Print & Substrate Knowledge: Knowledgeable about print technologies (flexo, gravure, litho) and substrates (paperboard, flexible film, rigid plastics, etc.).
• Solution-Oriented Mindset: Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities for identifying inefficiencies and implementing process improvements.

JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Full-time, standard business hours (M-F, 1st shift)
• Occasional travel to SCJ headquarters, Chicago Office or print vendors as required.
• Office work environment - remote work available once a week for eligible employees after 90 - day onboarding period
• This role is not eligible for relocation

BENEFITS AND PERKS

SC Johnson's total compensation packages are at or above industry levels. In addition to salary, total packages may include bonuses, long-term incentives, matching 401(k) contributions and profit sharing based on company profitability, job level and years of service. As a family company, we're committed to providing benefits such as subsidized health care plans, maternity/paternity/adoption leave, flexible work arrangements, vacation purchase options, recreation and fitness centers, childcare, counseling services and more.

Inclusion & Diversity

We're a global business, with people from every culture, ethnicity, race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation, age and ability. We recognize the breadth of human experience, and we work to celebrate it. It is our goal to build a diverse, inclusive and supportive work environment where all people can thrive.

We're committed to ongoing efforts that help us attract, hire, and retain diverse talent who want to build a positive, inclusive environment. Read more about our ongoing initiatives at https://jobs.scjohnson.com/inclusion.

Better Together

At SC Johnson, we believe people achieve their best when they collaborate and work together in person. We value connection to strengthen teamwork, accelerate problem solving, and drive innovation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

The policy of the Company is to ensure equal opportunity for all qualified applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, age, gender identity, gender expression, disability, citizenship, pregnancy, veteran status, membership in any active or reserve component of the U.S. or state military forces, genetic history or information or any other category protected by law.

Accommodation Requests

If you are an individual with a disability and you need an accommodation or other assistance during the application process, please call our Human Resources department at 262-260-3343 or email your request to SCJHR@scj.com. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply. Download the EEO Know Your Rights poster for more information.