Packaging Project Manager

At Vanguard, we offer a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, 401k / match, PTO, and eligibility for bonuses based on performance.

Preference to local residences. Relocation assistance provided for out of area residence.

We have an opening in our Kansas City, MO headquarters for an experienced Corrugated Packaging Project Manager to provide excellent internal support between our sales, design and production teams.

JOB SUMMARY

Support the company's internal client services activities through estimation of new orders and requests for quotes. Process and manage customer orders, including inventory management, through invoicing.

Organize and lead programs using key data points and communicate status of programs using key performance indicators. Lead an internal team of project managers.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Strong understanding of manufacturing equipment including limitations and production processes as they relate to estimating.
• Knowledge of substrates, other packaging materials, and costing variables.
• Knowledge in reading specifications and technical documents to be able to estimate in the most economical manner.
• Source various materials such as corrugate sheets, labels, foam, plastic parts, films, tape, wood, etc. used in-conjunction with the corrugated package or display.
• Recommending cost-cutting methods to increase profitability.
• Discuss design projects with others and be able to select the appropriate designs needed.
• Record keeping and filing of estimates and opportunities in an orderly manner to be easily accessible in the future.
• Assign pricing on estimates and submit quotations to sales representatives.
• Receive customer orders either directly from customers or the sales representative and initiate order processing.
• Issue Purchase Order Acknowledgements, as necessary.
• Establish, initiate, and monitor timelines for full programs.
• Organize preproduction meeting to finalize specification requirements and preferred production routing.
• Enter and process production and buyout orders into ERP system creating a production hard card / ticket.
• Issue purchase orders on a timely basis for purchases of materials and supplies to be used in production.
• Monitor all outside purchases made to ensure all required items will meet due date.
• Process customer artwork with necessary internal departments, managing artwork proofing approval process.
• Monitor and manage all orders through production and monitor items will meet completion due date.
• Keep all necessary personnel informed of problems and situations that may affect the performance of sales service, scheduling, and shipping.
• Manage assembly & fulfillment working with internal and external customers. This could include managing product receipts, timelines, and processing retailer specific documentation.
• Manage outbound logistics working with internal and external customers.
• Record and distribute customer order changes.
• Approve invoices against purchase order.
• Maintain customer files.
• Train, guide, and mentor new hires as necessary.
• Manage daily and monthly inventory, along with adjustments based on production, shipping and / or invoicing.
• Handle customer complaints, questions, and follow-up with appropriate internal personnel as required. Conduct investigation on client service-related issues.

Submit necessary paperwork to support nonconformance investigation in an organized manner.

• Assist quality and finance departments, along with department manager, to ensure customer credits are issued correctly.
• Assist sales personnel as appropriate and assist in generating supplemental sales.
• If warehousing required, track warehouse items to ensure availability and that agreed upon minimum / maximum levels are followed.

Analyze monthly usages and re-stocking per customer.

• Primary business single point of contact for the management of specialized projects
• Review Sales requests and ensure that all assigned projects are scheduled and managed according to customers' expectations.
• Manage program to ensure all active participants are on target for all requests, including requests outside the Client Services Department.
• Work with other departments to ensure all aspects of a program's success are discussed and communicate appropriately.
• Heavy and consistent customer interfacing.
• If multi-vendor program, manage product purchase programs with suppliers from concept through billing.
• If senior level department support, create and issue reports relative to department activity.
• Demonstrate ability to lead an internal team of Project Managers specific to a region or sales representative as necessary.
• Meet daily, weekly, and monthly reporting KPI's including monitoring a variety of management reporting : backlog, nonconformance, late quotes, open PO's, daily bookings, exceptions, and inventory reports.
• Meet time schedules on projects with possible overtime involved.
• Communicate with other departments, designers, and project managers to resolve issues.
• Process all required paperwork on a timely basis.
• Attendance is an essential duty of the role.
• Comply with company policies and procedures.
• Additional duties as assigned by management.
• Ability to meet these job expectations without close supervision or training.

Minimum Qualifications

• Combined education and experience of high school diploma / GED
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in a manufacturing, print, warehousing, distribution, fulfillment, logistics experience or relatable experience
• Intermediate Excel skills must include basic formula and formatting requirements.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide in all units of measure.
• Ability to compute rates, ratios, and percentages and work with fractions.
• Ability to work in windows, word, outlook and excel.
• Ability to write reports and correspondences in a professional manner.
• Ability to read and interpret documents such as specifications and training / operating instructions.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with focus on packaging or graphics
• Experience in the corrugated / packaging industry
• HRMS ERP software experience
• Multi-Vendor experience preferred
• Salesforce software experience

Vanguard Companies is one of the industry's leading corrugated merchandising solution partners. Our expertise in point-of-purchase displays, signage, retail-ready packaging, industrial packaging, and e-commerce packaging is demonstrated across every retail sector.

These products are amplified by our creativity, high-end graphics, digital printing, fulfillment services, and program management capabilities.

We combine the latest shopper intelligence, award-winning design innovation, and technology to provide the most effective omnichannel display and packaging solutions.

We are committed and focused on helping companies reduce program costs, create brand value, sell more products, and improve their bottom line.

Our family of companies includes Vanguard Packaging, which specializes in point-of-purchase displays, retail-ready graphic packaging, and industrial packaging.

BoxGenie provides eCommerce packaging solutions, Advanced Logistics and Fulfillment (ALF) offers fulfillment and 3PL services, and Great Plains Packaging offers Flexo Label Printing, Paper Tubes, Cores, and V-Tough Edge Guards.

We believe in the power of strong partnerships and thought leadership. We use the latest shopper intelligence, award-winning design innovation, and state-of-the-art manufacturing to provide the most cost-effective pop display and packaging solutions.

Our focus is to help companies reduce program costs, drive brand equity, increase market share, and sell more products.

We are committed to sustainability and use sustainable business practices. We are recognized as the most sustainable packaging company in North America.

Vanguard Companies believes in creating a diverse environment that embraces differences and fosters inclusion. This collective sum of unique capabilities and talent has earned us our reputation and achievements.

To learn more about what we do visit,

Application Assistance If you require alternative methods of application or screening, contact Vanguard Packaging Human Resources at 816.455.4000.

Equal Opportunity Employer Vanguard Packaging, LLC is an equal opportunity employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws.

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