Senior Product Design Manager

Title: Senior Product Design Manager

Reporting to: Sales Director

Location: London, Kings Cross or Brighton

Salary: Dependent on experience

Core Mission of this role

You can expect to play a vital role within a small creative team here at Key Production. We are the #1 in our industry – the biggest production house in Europe for physical music manufacture, working with an incredible range of clients and artists.

The Senior Product Design Manager leads the delivery of high-quality design work across multiple projects, combining creative leadership with strong commercial and operational awareness. This role oversees the design process from initial brief through to final artwork, ensuring technical accuracy, fostering strong client and supplier relationships, and supporting the ongoing growth and development of the design team.

The role also works closely in partnership with the sales team to identify new business opportunities, strengthen client relationships, and support the continued growth of the business.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate expertise across a broad range of design disciplines and possess a genuine passion for the creative industry. We are seeking an individual who lives and breathes design, is deeply immersed in the creative world, and is driven to build a recognised reputation within the industry.

This is more than just a role, it is an opportunity for someone who is committed to pushing creative standards, staying ahead of trends, and making a lasting impact through exceptional design.

Our Mission

With our knowledge and passion, we create unforgettable physical and audio experiences, striving to do so as sustainably as possible.

Our Behaviours

At Key Production, our core behaviours define the foundation of our workplace culture and guide our interactions with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. We believe that embodying these behaviours not only enhances individual performance but also fosters collaboration and innovation.

As a member of our team, you will be expected to demonstrate these core behaviours in your daily work, contributing to an inclusive and dynamic environment where everyone can thrive.

1. We are a Community

o We have each other’s backs

o We care and are kind to each other

o We celebrate each other’s individuality and value fairness

o We know how to have fun and enjoy each other’s company

2. We are Driven

o We wear our individual and collective creativity with pride

o We are ambitious for ourselves and for our business

o We strive to be best in class.

3. We go Above and Beyond

o We approach work with a positive, can-do attitude

o We do what we say we will do

o We are free to find the best way to get the job done

4. We work Collaboratively

o We share our wealth of knowledge internally and externally

o We are inquisitive and want to learn

o We trust each other.

o We spend our time making things better, not judging each other

5. We are Reliable

o We approach situations with a calm, level head

o We learn and grow from our mistakes

o We solve problems to deliver the best outcomes for our customers

Core Responsibilities and Capabilities

Design Leadership

• Own product design from brief to final artwork
• Translate client briefs into clear design direction
• Produce concepts that meet commercial and production constraints
• Drive design quality across multiple projects

Research and Insight

• Build strong product and market knowledge
• Use research to inform concepts and materials
• Understand trends across packaging, print, and product sectors

Concept and Development

• Generate ideas that meet client and commercial goals
• Develop concepts into production-ready designs
• Refine designs based on feedback and technical limits

Technical Delivery

• Apply strong software knowledge across design tools
• Produce accurate artwork and reprographics
• Work within templates and print specifications
• Ensure all outputs meet production standards

Commercial and Financial Responsibility

• Understand pricing, margins, and cost drivers
• Design with cost efficiency in mind
• Manage orders with awareness of budget and timelines

New Business and Sales

• Identify and target relevant prospects, building and maintaining a strong pipeline
• Develop clear proposals, follow up consistently, and close work at viable margins

Client and Stakeholder Management

• Build strong relationships with clients and planners
• Understand client needs and business context
• Deliver work that meets or exceeds expectations

Supplier Management

• Work closely with suppliers on materials and feasibility
• Understand supplier capabilities and constraints
• Maintain strong working relationships
• Ensure designs translate effectively into production

People and Team Leadership

• Support your team through guidance and feedback
• Contribute to training and development of the team

Business Development Contribution

• Support new business through ideas and proposals
• Contribute to brainstorming and pitch work
• Help grow existing accounts through strong delivery

EXPERIENCE

You should have a minimum of 5+ years’ experience in a Senior Product Design Manager role, with a proven track record of leading creative projects, managing end to end design processes, and delivering high-quality work across multiple design disciplines.

Software Experience Required

Experience using CAD and design software, including

3D modelling in Rhinoceros 3D (Rhino)

Rendering and visualisation in KeyShot

Adobe Creative Suite, including Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator

WHAT WE WILL GIVE YOU

• 25 days Pro-rated Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays
• 21 Hours Appointment time on top of annual leave to use for doctors, eye tests, and dentist appointments.
• Hybrid Working (after probation period)
• Income Protection Scheme and Life Assurance Scheme
• Bupa Menopause Plan
• Wellbeing – Access to Mental Health First Aiders
• Healthshield – Employee Health and Wellbeing Benefit
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Pay
• Training and Upskilling

As a B Corp certified and Good Business Charter accredited organisation, we are committed to balancing commercial success with positive social and environmental impact, while maintaining high standards of ethical business practice. In 2024 we became an Employee-Owned Trust which means the successful candidate is a part owner of the company and invested in our collective success.

The above is not an exhaustive list of duties and you will be expected to perform different tasks as necessitated by your changing role within the group and the overall business objectives of the group.

Key Production is an equal opportunity employer encouraging diversity in the workplace.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by law.

Our mission is to work towards an industry that is equitable, inclusive and diverse. We particularly encourage applications from people from global majority backgrounds, disabled and neurodiverse people, people from working-class backgrounds as they are underrepresented in the industry.

Please email your CV and covering letter to: recruitment@keyproduction.co.uk