Key Production Group
Senior Product Design Manager
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Senior Product Design Manager
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 at Key Production, the #1 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
- Strong client and supplier relationships
- Support for 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
- Support continued business growth
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 someone who:
- Lives and breathes design
- Is deeply immersed in the creative world
- Driven to build a recognised reputation in the industry
- 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 our workplace culture and guide our interactions with colleagues, clients, and stakeholders. We expect team members to embody these values daily:
1. We Are a Community
- We have each other’s backs
- We care and are kind to each other
- We celebrate individuality and value fairness
- We know how to have fun and enjoy each other’s company
2. We Are Driven
- We wear individual and collective creativity with pride
- We are ambitious for ourselves and our business
- We strive to be best in class
3. We Go Above and Beyond
- We approach work with a positive, can-do attitude
- We do what we say we will do
- We are free to find the best way to get the job done
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4. We Work Collaboratively
- We share wealth of knowledge internally and externally
- We are inquisitive and want to learn
- We trust each other
- We spend our time making things better, not judging each other
5. We Are Reliable
- We approach situations with a calm, level head
- We learn and grow from our mistakes
- We solve problems to deliver the best outcomes for our customers
Core Responsibilities & 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 & Insight
- Build strong product and market knowledge
- Use research to inform concepts and materials
- Understand trends across packaging, print, and product sectors
Concept & 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 & Financial Responsibility
- Understand pricing, margins, and cost drivers
- Design with cost efficiency in mind
- Manage orders with budget and timeline awareness
New Business & Sales
- Identify and target relevant prospects, building a strong pipeline
- Develop clear proposals, follow up consistently, and close work at viable margins
Client & 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 & Team Leadership
- Support your team through guidance and feedback
- Contribute to training and development
Business Development Contribution
- Support new business through ideas and proposals
- Contribute to brainstorming and pitch work
- Help grow existing accounts through strong delivery
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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
- Delivering high-quality work across multiple design disciplines
Software Experience Required:
Familiarity and experience using:
- CAD & design software
- 3D modelling in Rhino (Rhinoceros 3D)
- Rendering & visualisation in KeyShot
- Adobe Creative Suite: InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator
What We Will Give You
- 25 days pro-rata annual leave + bank holidays
- 21 hours appointment time (for doctor appointments, eye tests, and dentistry)
- Hybrid working (after probation period)
- Income Protection Scheme & Life Assurance Scheme
- Bupa Menopause Plan
- Wellbeing support (access to Mental Health First Aiders)
- Healthshield (employee health & wellbeing benefit)
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Enhanced Maternity/Paternity Pay
- Training & Upskilling opportunities
As a B Corp-certified and Good Business Charter-accredited organisation, we balance commercial success with positive social and environmental impact, maintaining high ethical business standards. In 2024, we became an Employee-Owned Trust, meaning the successful candidate is a part-owner of the company and invested in collective success.
This is not an exhaustive list of duties—roles may evolve based on business needs.
Diversity & Inclusion
Key Production is an equal opportunity employer and encourages diversity in the workplace.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration regardless of:
- Race
- Colour
- National origin
- Gender
- Age
- Religion
- Disability
- Sexual orientation
- Veteran status
We particularly encourage applications from:
- People from global majority backgrounds
- Disabled and neurodiverse people
- Working-class backgrounds (groups who remain underrepresented in the industry)
Please email your CV and covering letter to: recruitment@keyproduction.co.uk
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