Design Director - Packaging

WHO ARE WE? We are the VMS Co-Op, a group of fast growing companies in the Vitamins, Minerals and Supplements (VMS) space. The VMS Co-Op includes OLLY, SmartyPants and future acquisitions to come! This position's home company is OLLY.​ THE ROLE: DESIGN DIRECTOR - PACKAGING ​ The Design Director, Packaging is responsible for defining and leading the creative vision for OLLY's packaging ecosystem across core business, innovation, and future growth initiatives.​ This role serves as the creative leader for packaging, translating business objectives, consumer insights, and brand strategy into a clear and compelling design vision. The Design Director establishes creative standards, drives packaging innovation, and ensures consistency across the portfolio while fostering a high-performing and highly collaborative team.​ As a key member of the Creative Leadership Team, this individual partners closely with stakeholders across Brand, Product Development, Regulatory, Commercial, Insights, Packaging Engineering, and Creative Operations to align priorities, make informed decisions, and guide the future evolution of the OLLY brand through packaging across base business, innovation and partnerships.​ This role reports to the VP of Creative and leads a team. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: ​ - Define and evolve OLLY's packaging vision across core business, innovation, and future growth initiatives.​ - Establish creative standards, design principles, and systems that guide packaging development across the portfolio.​ - Provide creative direction and feedback that elevates the quality, consistency, and effectiveness of packaging work.​ - Translate business objectives, consumer insights, and brand strategy into actionable creative direction.​ - Identify opportunities to strengthen the packaging portfolio through innovation, design thinking, and consumer-centered solutions.​ - Establish priorities across packaging initiatives and guide teams toward the highest-impact opportunities.​ - Serve as the primary creative decision-maker for packaging-related work streams and recommendations.​ - Drive clarity, alignment, and decision-making across packaging initiatives, ensuring teams are focused on the highest-impact work and positioned for success.​ - Partner with Creative Operations to align resources, workloads, and priorities across the packaging portfolio.​ - Lead, develop, and inspire packaging designers and creative contributors.​ - Foster a culture of creativity, collaboration, accountability, and continuous growth.​ - Build strong partnerships across Brand, Innovation, Product Development, Regulatory, Commercial, Insights, Packaging Engineering, and Operations.​ - Represent Packaging Design in organizational planning, key business initiatives, and leadership discussions.​ - Manage external agencies, freelancers, and creative partners to deliver exceptional work.​ - Champion exceptional craft, consumer-centric design, and innovative thinking across all packaging touch points.​ ​ THE CANDIDATE: You’re a Creative Leader Who Knows How to Turn Strategy Into Design. ​ ​ You believe great packaging does more than stand out on shelf. It tells a story, creates connection, solves business challenges, and shapes how consumers experience a brand.​ You're equal parts creative visionary and strategic thinker, with a deep understanding of how design can drive both brand equity and business impact.You know how to balance long-term thinking with day-to-day realities, bringing clarity to complexity and helping teams focus on what matters most.​ You're energized by building teams, developing talent, and creating environments where great ideas can flourish. You thrive in collaborative settings, navigate ambiguity with confidence, and know how to bring people together around a shared vision.​ Most importantly, you're passionate about creating meaningful work and helping others do the best work of their careers.​ CAPABILITIES + SKILLS REQUIRED ​