What’s it like to work at Kinder’s? Well, there’s a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that, there’s also plenty of hard work. Because we don’t just like flavor, we’re obsessed with it.
With over 100 products sold nationwide, we’re now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco, Walmart, Whole Foods, and more. We’re not your typical CPG company. Privately held and founder-led, we like to think of ourselves as a pirate ship in a sea of cruise ships. Our crew is adventurous and fearless. We chart our own course and chase big ideas to make food unforgettable.
As we expand globally and approach $1 billion in revenue, we need more smart-and-scrappy, flavor-obsessed people to come aboard. If you’re looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work... this is it! Every day, you’ll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.
How You Will Have an Impact at Kinder’s: The Creative Ops Manger role will report to the Creative Services Director and will support the Creative Group by managing the flow of projects through Wrike and overseeing assets within Image Relay. This role ensures that projects are well-organized, timelines are monitored, and communication across cross-functional teams remains clear and consistent. By maintaining project workflows and managing the digital asset library, this role enables the creative team to focus on producing high-quality work that supports business objectives in a fast-paced environment.
Key Responsibilities:
· Packaging Artwork Management:- Lead and manage the end-to-end packaging artwork process, ensuring all deliverables are completed on time and within scope.
- Oversee the review and approval process for packaging artwork, ensuring compliance with brand guidelines, product requirements, and print quality standards.
- Track first production samples for product imagery, ensuring products are photographed and available in Image Relay.
- Collaborate with Production Design, Brand, Marketing, Product Development, Project Portfolio Management, Production Planning, and Quality teams to ensure alignment and timely delivery of packaging artwork projects.
- Coordinate with external suppliers, printers, and agencies to ensure artwork specifications are met and deadlines are adhered to.
- Manage Image Relay (DAM), ensuring all assets and metadata are properly organized, maintained, and available for each product launch.
- Maintain product libraries and provide additional support across creative operations as needed.
- Manage swag program inventory when required.
- Communicate project status, updates, and risks to key stakeholders on a regular basis.
- Identify potential bottlenecks and proactively resolve any issues that may arise during the artwork development process.
- Implement strategies to keep projects on track and in scope.
- Continuously evaluate and improve processes to enhance efficiency, quality, and communication.
What You Bring to the Table
- Education / Experience
- 5+ years of hands-on project and / or creative management experience. Experience in CPG a plus but not required.
- Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent communication skills with the ability to help bring drive alignment with key internal stakeholders.
- Strong problem-solving skills and attention to detail.
- Strong collaboration skills and ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
- Experience in collaborating with external partners, such as printers, creative content producers, etc., is highly desirable.
- Experience in project management tools (we use Wrike) a significant plus.
- Personal Characteristics
- Growth mindset with an excitement to learn (and teach).
- Passionate people-lover excited by the opportunity to build strong relationships with teammates and consumers.
- Low ego with a strong sense of humility.
- Thrive in a dynamic, lean, and agile environment.
- Collaborative mindset with an ability to find creative solutions.
- Self-starter who takes initiative and is willing to speak their mind.
- Excited to be part of a fast-moving team with the ability to be a leader and a follower where required.
- Enjoy making decisions and finding ways to say ‘yes’ as often as possible to impactful and important priorities.
Things About the Way We Work
- No two days here are the same.
- We try to be good team members and good communicators, but we don't live by hierarchy and structure - everyone is a difference maker here.
- We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information - our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow.
- We believe our job is to take smart risk, not to eliminate risk.
- We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise, but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart.
- We aren't trying to be average - we want to do exceptional things, and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.
Location & Travel
- The position will be based out of our 70,000 sq. foot office in Walnut Creek, CA.
- We strongly believe in the power of culture and community and have a hybrid work structure with 4 days in the office on a weekly basis to encourage collaboration and personal connections that will allow us to better serve our customers and consumer and to have more fun.
- No two days here are the same.
- We try to be good team members and good communicators, but we don’t live by hierarchy and structure – everyone is a difference maker here.
- We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information – our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow.
- We believe our job is to take smart risk, not to eliminate risk.
- We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise, but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart.
- We aren’t trying to be average – we want to do exceptional things, and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.
We offer a range of total rewards that may include paid time off, 401k, bonus / incentive eligibility, equity grants, competitive health benefits, and other family-friendly benefits, including parental leave. Kinder’s benefits vary based on eligibility and can be reviewed in more detail during the interview process.
OUR RECIPE FOR BALANCE:We believe great culture starts with people. We’re a people-first company built on connection, collaboration, and balance. Most of our work happens in the office to spark creativity and community, but we also offer flexibility so team members have the autonomy to work outside the office when needed to support their work-life balance and personal commitments.
WHERE EVERY INGREDIENT MATTERS:Kinder's is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, ancestry, national origin, gender, citizenship, marital status, religion, age, disability, gender identity, results of genetic testing, veteran status, as well as any other legally-protected characteristic. If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law, and you need any accommodation during the application process or to perform these job requirements, please reach out to us at [email protected]
Top Skills
What We Do
In 1946, World War II Navy veteran John Kinder started his own butcher shop in a small storefront in San Pablo, California. Over the next seven decades, John built a reputation for commitment to quality, family service, and amazing flavors. At the age of 90, he was still showing up first and helping customers find quality ingredients to make clean, delicious meals for family and friends. At Kinder’s, we carry on Grandpa John’s legacy by offering the best tasting seasonings, rubs, marinades and sauces in the market. We are growing fast and our products are available at national retailers including Costco, Albertsons, Sam’s Club and Walmart.
