Head of Packaging Production - Join Our Creative Leadership Team
Permanent, Full-time role
Location: Purley
Our story so far..
At Tjarks and Tjarks, creativity meets craft. For over 35 years, we've been shaping bold, distinctive brands that don't just sit on the shelf, they stand out and get chosen.
Trusted partners to our clients across decades, we help navigate the ever-evolving world of shoppers and retail, designing packaging that connects, competes, and converts. From big ideas to flawless execution, we deliver a true 360° design-to-artwork approach. Efficient, precise, and globally consistent.
We don't just collaborate, we create as one. Our team of experts blend imagination with technical excellence to bring brands to life in a seamless, truly integrated way.
Could this be you?
We're looking for a dynamic and experienced Head of Packaging Production to play a pivotal role in our growing studio. This is a senior, influential position for a packaging production expert who thrives in fast-paced environments and is passionate about delivering world-class packaging artwork.
You'll bring deep expertise in packaging artwork, print technologies and reprographics, combining technical excellence with leadership and strategic thinking. Acting as a key guardian of quality, you'll oversee the creative output through the artwork process, ensuring everything is accurate, print-ready, and delivered on time.
As a leader of our technical artwork team, you'll mentor and inspire your colleagues, shaping best practice while also being willing to roll up your sleeves and contribute hands-on when needed. You'll work closely with project, account, and traffic teams, as well as clients, playing a critical role in shaping workflows, problem-solving complex designs, and continuously improving our processes.
You'll also support IT-related initiatives and production projects where required, helping us evolve how we work as a business.
The day to day
Leading, developing, and growing the technical artwork team, including recruitment, onboarding, training, and performance development.
Managing workloads and priorities within your team, adapting resources to meet urgent deadlines.
Embedding and upholding internal artwork standards and procedures.
Acting as a key point of expertise for clients, ensuring their expectations are understood and met.
Representing the studio at press passes when required.
Reviewing creative and technical processes and driving continuous improvement.
Leading production meetings, advising on complex artworks, and briefing the artwork team clearly and effectively.
Working with the Traffic Manager to establish and manage realistic deadlines.
Reviewing client-supplied files for usability and technical suitability.
Advising on complex designs to achieve the best possible print and production outcomes.
Attending pre-production meetings for brand guidelines and technically challenging projects.
Overseeing the artwork checking and approval process to ensure all files are fully print-ready.
Ensuring correct use of colours, cutters, layers, barcodes, and style guidelines in line with company and client standards.
Maintaining accuracy across all internal and external proofs and approvals.
Building strong knowledge of key client brand, barcode, and style guidelines (including ALDI standards).
About you
You'll be a highly experienced production professional with:
Extensive production experience in a fast-paced agency or studio environment.
At least 5 years' experience managing a team of artworkers.
A strong understanding of artwork workflows, client expectations, and high-volume retail production.
Expert-level experience in FMCG packaging.
Confidence, leadership presence, and a solutions-focused mindset.
If you're a strategic, technically brilliant, and inspiring leader who loves detail as much as big-picture thinking, we'd love to hear from you.
Our Team & our values
We're a vibrant, creative crew who care as much about our culture as the work we make. Our values aren't just posters on the wall, they were crafted by our team and guide everything we do.
Be Innovative – Think Ahead
Be collaborative – Succeed together
Be Supportive – Lift each other up
Be All In – Show up with purpose
We're always looking for talented, passionate people to join our growing squad in our Purley studio. If you're ready to collaborate, create, and be part of something truly awesome, this is your playground.