It’s amazing what can happen over a cup of coffee. At JACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS, we’ve made it our mission to find out. Our people have been raising the bar since day one, thinking fast and acting even faster to make an impact that’s felt around the world. JDE is the home to some of the most well-known coffee brands in the world. To date, our coffee and tea portfolio is available in over 100 countries and includes iconic household names such as Jacobs, Tassimo, Moccona, Senseo, L’OR, Douwe Egberts, TiOra, Super, Kenco, Pilao and Gevalia. We’ve built our business on the belief that everyone deserves the coffee they love – no matter who you are, where you live or how you take it.

At JACOBS DOUWE EGBERTS we are inspired by our belief that it’s amazing what can happen over a cup of coffee. We are driven by the vision that everyone deserves the coffee they love.

We are on the lookout for a best in class Design to Print Manager to strengthen our R&D Packaging team.

Jacobs Douwe Egberts Research and Development Center Coffee and Tea (R&DC) is part of the Global JDE organization. R&D is the major contributor for developing Innovative coffee and tea products that delight the consumer.

The product portfolio is constantly being optimized to address 3 pillars:

• Innovation: consumers expectations through new products and channels
• Sustainability & Wellbeing: global trends and concerns around energy & waste reduction to protect environment and reduce impact on climate change, On-pack regulatory compliance with nutritional guidelines.
• Margin management: Support business needs to match certain price points while making no compromise on quality.

Projects are led in collaboration with Marketing, Manufacturing and Sourcing Departments.

JDE’s brands are loved by consumers and well recognized on shelves around the world. Excellence in print execution is conditional to ensure a sustainable category leadership as it contributes to the superior consumer experience of JDE’s brands.

The Global Design to Print Manager leads the Global Design to Print (D2P) team of about 10 professionals based in various locations (e.g. Netherlands, Ukraine and Malaysia).

The role holder reports to the Global Packaging Director.

One single process is in place to manage Global and Local brands. It is divided in 2 clear phases: 

1. The “creative phase” to develop the Design till Design Freeze stage, which is a marketing accountability.
2. The “execution phase” to turn the Design to an Artwork and a Printed packaging, which is the accountability of the R&D D2P team.

Within your role as Design to Print Manager you will have the following overall responsibilities:
 

• Deliver best possible print execution in line with marketing approved brand guidelines.
• Manage stakeholders technical and non-technical.
• Prioritize requests and manage team workload,
• Balance project timing and quality of delivery.
• Define and track team KPIs (right 1st time rate, average AW time delivery, number of AW per FTE…).
• Develop and continuously improve process to meet and outperform KPIs.
• Improve ways of working with all parties involved in the Design to Print process.
• Define needs and manage team budget.
• Develop team capabilities and each individual.
• Assist Global Packaging Director in defining the Packaging strategy and organization in line with business needs.

If you’re brimming with entrepreneurial spirit and a drive to succeed, you’ll fit right in at JDE. Working globally and locally, our Associates have been positively influencing the world of coffee for over 265 years. We love people who are not afraid to try, and who try until they get it right. We value strong convictions and encourage debate. And all this in an open, friendly environment where you can approach anyone and grow any way you like.

For this role as a Design to Print Manager we’re looking for someone who has the following skills and experience:

• You have a obtained Higher professional education level in Graphic arts and/or Printing/Packaging technology.
• 10 years’ experience in expertise area – CPG (artwork development) or  Repro-house (Account manager/director) or design agencies (account manager/director) or packaging printing.
• A thorough understanding of print specific technology, including but not limited to; Experience in build, manage and improve artwork management system, Experience in develop strategy, manage tender process/selecting and management of a pool of repro-house, Experience in repro techniques.
• An ability to work at pace and make quick decisions is really important.
• An ability to deal with an ambiguous environment is critical. You thrive when there’s ambiguity and room for change.
• Strong project management and leadership capabilities.
• Deliver and communicate tangible results.
• Excellent communication, networking and influencing skills.
• Excellent presentation and influencing skills to key partners (internal and external) and senior stakeholders.
• Show agility to take decisions regarding project execution and priority setting.
• Adapt to and fit into a demanding culture that expects high levels of performance.
• Show flexibility in travels and work from home as required.
• Be a good listener and have the ability to work with different international cultures
• Ability to travel 20-30 % of your time as required for this role (when needed for meetings and visits to other sites).

Does this sound like you? Please don’t hesitate to apply, we are looking forward to drink a cup of coffee or tea with you!

Your application at JDE
If you are interested in this career opportunity at JDE, hit the “I’m interested” button and upload your application. After receiving your application we will do our utmost to give you quick feedback. Part of the recruitment procedure at JDE will be an online assessment, followed by interviews. A pre-employment check can be part of the recruitment process.