Associate Designer

As a Fortune 500 company, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an ideas and solutions company. Our corrugated packaging business seeks to be the leader in helping our customers - large and small - package, transport and display products of all kinds. Our white paper business delivers Paper With Purpose by providing the highest level of customer service and operational excellence. We have approximately 15,000 team members in more than 100 locations in the United States that strive to meet the local needs of our customers. Our mission is to serve the needs of our customers, today and tomorrow, with products and services that exceed expectations for performance and environmental responsibility.

People * Customers * Trust

The overall role of the Associate Designer will be to support the Hexacomb/Corrugated Sales/Design department, and assisting in daily operations of the PCA Research and Innovation Center. This position is primarily a "first shift" role requiring some flexibility in start and end times

This role's primary responsibility will be to independently and professionally manage and execute internal/external requests for custom made samples/prototypes (primarily paper based packaging material) using common power tools, industry specific cutting tables, light CAD software capability and common business software usage.

This role would also be responsible for managing low volume inbound and outbound shipments (both small parcel and unit-loads) of a technical office building.

Principle Accountabilities:

• Manage and execute requests for custom samples/prototypes
  
  
  
  • Manage and set priorities for the fulfillment of all sample/prototype requests (standard and rush) in a detailed fashion.
  • Cut/create samples accurately from stock material through safe operation of power tools, hand tools, from basic schematics or instruction set.
  • Pack, label and ship all samples and provide customer service regarding shipments prior to their arrival
  • Maintain sample stock inventory and be able to forecast when stock will need to be reordered
  • Develop (with training) packaging design skills and utilization of CAD software at a basic or better level (Specifically AutoCAD or Impact CAD)
  
  
  
  
• Facility support and management
  
  
  
  • Manage low traffic shipping and receiving area of both small parcels and unit loads
  • Maintain a small workshop area so it is a safe, clean, and well-organized working space
  • Basic bench scale fabrication skills for various materials (handyman style)
  
  
  
  
• Interpersonal and general skills
  
  
  
  • Interact with and effectively communicate to sales staff, the design team, and any visitors to the PCA Research & Innovation Center both verbal and electronic communication
  • Know and follow policies and procedures of the company, share information that would benefit other members of the team, and find ways to improve the delivery of service to our customers
  • Strive to continually strengthen PCA's business philosophy of meeting needs and exceeding expectations for customers specifically supporting PCA's Commitment to Service which involves doing what's right for our customers, focusing on strategies that add value and support growth, and keeping the promises that we make.
  
  
  
  

Decision Making:

The Associate Designer will be expected to determine if sample requests should be accepted, revised, or denied depending on various factors including but not limited to material usage, labor time, and shipping costs. They will also be able to determine if requests can be done on site or should be referred to the sales reps local plant.

Interactions:

Internally the Associate Designer coordinates with sales, customer service and the on-site design team. Additionally, the PCA Research and Innovation Center (RAIC) has other teams on site, outside of Hexacomb Design. The materials testing lab, package testing lab, front office staff and a student co-op program may request support of the Associate Designer on occasion.

The RAIC is a unique site within PCA that regularly has customers touring the facility and its capabilities. The Associate Designer will interact with a large range of PCA employees, customers and support staff on any given day. The Associate Designer will be representing PCA and Hexacomb to the customer and must embody PCA's business philosophy when interacting with them.

Position Requirements:

• Highschool Diploma or GED
• Strong experience with safe usage of hand and power tools, layouts, and measurements
• Strong Organizational skills with the ability to handle numerous details, deadlines, and requests
• Attention to detail to make accurate prototypes and samples upon request
• Ability to prioritize assignments, keep deadlines and adapt to any changes that may occur
• Strong listening, evaluating, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to create alternative solutions or suggest and explain better ones.
• Experience with Excel, Outlook, and Word
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
  
  
  
  • ability to effectively communicate with multiple audiences on procedures, policies, practices, and requests for information
  • Ability to problem solve in an effort to be easy to do business with
  
  
  
  
• Previous experience as a member of a team, or a strong understanding of the importance of open communication and information sharing between team members

Additional Position Duties:

• Operating a forklift safely, training and certification can be provided
• Dock duties including loading/unloading trucks, sending and receiving shipments
• Package delivery to the various teams at the RAIC
• Assistance with one off fabrication and "fix"
• Various warehouse tasks as assigned
• Potential to learn and utilize computerized cutting table

All qualified applicants must apply at Careers.packagingcorp.com to be considered.

PCA is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans/Disabled and other protected categories.

• Vernon Hills, IL, USA