Senior Packaging Designer

We’re looking for a Senior Packaging Designer who doesn’t just create beautiful work — but brings ideas to life from concept to shelf.

At Grit & Pearl, we “roll up our sleeves.” We are a new breed of design partner built on deep production expertise, strategic thinking, and a commitment to making brands work in the real world — not just in presentations. This role is for a designer who thrives in that space: where creativity meets execution, and ideas translate into impact at scale.

You’ll play a key role in shaping distinctive, ownable packaging systems for global FMCG brands — while navigating the realities of adaptation, portfolio rollout, and production with confidence.

This is a hybrid role based in Japan with requirement to work onsite in Tokyo.

What You’ll Do

• Create strategically grounded, commercially effective packaging design across multiple brands and markets
• Translate creative briefs into ownable, scalable design systems that work from concept through to shelf
• Partner closely with Account and Strategy teams to ensure creative aligns with business and brand objectives
• Collaborate across Trident functions to bridge design, adaptation, and production seamlessly
• Contribute to brand audits, renovation projects, and innovation pipelines
• Develop and refine design solutions through iterative thinking and feedback loops
• Take ownership of projects from concept through artwork and production readiness
• Play an active role in quality control, ensuring design integrity is maintained through execution
• Present work with clarity and conviction — articulating both creative and strategic rationale
• Support and mentor junior designers, contributing to a culture of making, learning, and craft excellence

What You Bring

• Strong grounding in branding and packaging design within FMCG/CPG environments
• A portfolio that demonstrates both creative excellence and real-world application (design-to-shelf thinking)
• Ability to balance creativity with practicality — understanding constraints without compromising ideas
• Confidence in storytelling and design rationale, both visually and verbally
• A hands-on, proactive mindset — comfortable getting into the detail, not just the concept
• Collaborative spirit, with the ability to work across cross-functional and global teams
• Solid understanding of production processes, artwork, and packaging realities
• Bilingual in both English and Japanese language

Tools & Approach

• Advanced proficiency in Adobe Creative Suite
• Strong attention to detail and craft in execution
• Ability to manage multiple projects while maintaining consistency and quality

How You’ll Work

You’ll be part of a connected global team, working alongside:

• Design leadership and regional teams
• Cross-functional Trident specialists (from adaptation, production, CGI, rollout)
• Global FMCG clients and stakeholders

Who You Are

You believe great design doesn’t stop at the idea.
You care about how it’s made, how it scales, and how it performs on shelf.
You’re as comfortable crafting concepts as you are making them real.