The production & packaging specialist acts as both a production coordinator and a hands-on mechanical designer. Working under the production lead and alongside the senior studio designer, this role handles project estimating, vendor tracking, packaging database management, preflight file formatting and mechanical production. Whether reviewing vendor proofs, checking packaging files for accuracy or formatting mechanical artwork according to art director specs, this position ensures every project is technically flawless and ready for press or digital release. 

This person could be located in the Kansas City, MO or Columbia, MO, office area. 

Duties and Responsibilities:

Packaging and Print Production Coordination

• Assist Production Lead managing the agency packaging database for ongoing line extensions and technical changes. 
• Obtain 2-3 competitive quotes from qualified commercial printers and packaging vendors.
• Maintain organized reference files detailing vendor capabilities, pricing, turnaround times and quality standards.
• Review incoming vendor deliverables, sign off on shipments and manage distribution schedules with project management 
• Review vendor invoices for accuracy, assign proper job numbers and work with account service to process purchase orders.
• Maintain open communication across studio, creative, account service and vendor teams to keep deliverables moving without friction.
• Reviews and approves packaging art files alongside the Production Lead, ensuring all artwork is thoroughly proofread, layout templates are accurate and designs are set up with correct color separations and technical printability to maintain brand consistency across projects.

Studio Print Design Support

• Work in direct support of the senior studio designer to build mechanical artwork for print, packaging, point-of-purchase displays and digital assets.
• Execute preflight formatting, collect packaging assets, check layers and prep final files for digital, offset and flexographic press runs.
• Produce artwork strictly according to art director specifications, implementing requested copy and layout revisions promptly and accurately.
• Build, check and verify packaging dielines, ensuring designs are printable, color separations are set up correctly, trap and bleeds are accurate and brand consistency is maintained across substrates.
• Order physical mock-ups, generate internal/client proofs and conduct thorough prepress checks before final file handoff.

Knowledge/Skills:

• High level of proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop) with a focus on preflight formatting, electronic layout and packaging templates. 
• Strong typographic control, layout sensibilities and precise attention to detail. 
• Solid technical understanding of offset, digital and flexographic printing processes, ink setups, color separation and CPG packaging constraints. 
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to manage file archives, track project timelines and balance multiple deliverables under tight deadlines.
• Clear, proactive communication style with radical personal accountability and a continuous drive to learn new prepress tools and industry trends.

Leader Behaviors

How leaders act on a daily basis as they seek to implement the company’s vision and strategic priorities, strive to fulfill the brand promise and live up to the value. Everyone can be a leader.

• Open-minded and active listener
• Continually grows people and business
• Truthful and transparent
• Decisive and accountable
• Forward thinking
• Proactive and communicates in a positive manner

Education/Experience/Certification/s:

• Bachelor’s degree in Graphic Arts Technology, Print Media, Packaging Science, Graphic Design or a related field. Equivalent hands-on studio experience will also be considered. 
• 3+ years of experience in print production, prepress or production design. Prior experience working with CPG packaging, flexographic print processes and complex dielines is preferred. 

Woodruff’s Perks That Support Growth and Flexibility: 

We offer a range of benefits designed to support your work-life balance and empower you to stay creative, curious and courageous:

• Flexible work setup — choose hybrid work, or join us in our Kansas City or Columbia, MO, offices
• "Freedom Fridays" — no meetings on Friday mornings/Friday afternoons to use as you see fit
• Diverse, meaningful work — contribute to projects across a wide range of industries
• Collaborative, growth-focused culture — work with a supportive team that helps you build new skills
• And more — from wellness support to peer recognition, we value and invest in our people.