Employees are Our Greatest Asset Privately held, Great Northern is one of the nation’s largest independent producers of corrugated packaging. For more than five decades, customers have turned to Great Northern Corporation for integrated, comprehensive packaging solutions in industrial, commercial and retail markets. Great Northern exists to live out the core values established by our founders – integrity, personal growth, entrepreneurial spirit, and a shared future. Our vision, “We help our employees win through personal growth and a shared future” is a call to action to deliver on building a people-centric culture, developing leaders from within, and sending people home fulfilled about their role and contributions.
The “win” for everyone is a trusting and collaborative culture that helps us be at our best every day. Our mission statement, “We help our customers win by doing what others can’t or won’t” gives us a clear purpose and raises the bar for performance. Doing what others “can’t or won’t” for our customers is demonstrated by a willingness to serve customers, value-added partnerships and proactively developing innovative solutions to our customer’s challenges. We are excited that you are looking to join our great culture.
Here are some details about the position. POSITION SUMMARY Under general supervision and following established procedures, the Structural Designer is responsible for providing development of package and display design concepts to assigned accounts, markets and/or projects. Fabricate final samples of design concepts for approval and write specifications for cost estimates and Production. Act as a resource to sales and other internal teams to enhance the ability of the company to present the concepts to the market.
All job responsibilities are to be performed in strict adherence with the Company’s Mission/Values Statement and in accordance with established standards for external customers as well as internal customers. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING. OTHER DUTIES MAY BE ASSIGNED. • Creates new package and display design concepts by using CAD system to develop designs that meet customers’ needs and expectations in a creative, timely and efficient manner.
- Coordinates design concepts and fabricates samples of design concepts; i.e. containers, interior packaging, and displays. • Responsible for the design deliverables on multiple projects at one time. • Establishes and maintains vendor relations to obtain support materials for design projects.
Looks to identify vendors and processes to improve our design products and outputs. • Seeks additional information on key markets to present new and innovative designs and solutions to assigned clients. • Documents accurate and detailed specifications on completed design projects for Estimating and Production. • Maintains information on freight regulations, production equipment limitations, hazardous materials requirements, packaging materials and performance and drop testing procedures.
- Understands variables related to production costs and estimating procedures. • Develops fabrication assembly drawings of specific designs as requested. • Participates in design trade shows and seminars and remains abreast of new state-of-the-art design systems and equipment. Develops and maintains relationships with other design firms, reviews catalogs, and periodicals and newsletters focused on package design concepts.
Seeks information from retailers on design requirements. • Confers with customers and/or Sales Representatives to provide solutions and ideas to enhance GNC’s ability to secure additional business. • Advises customers and management on efficient packaging procedures, innovations in packaging materials, and utilization of sealing and fastening devices. • Maintains awareness of display and packaging trends and looks for methods to adopt innovative solutions to display and packaging challenges.
- Interfaces daily with Sales, Customer Service, Marketing, Shipping/Receiving and Production employees to design and develop optimum structural designs. • Responsible for maintaining and seeking understanding and knowledge in a wide variety of fiberboard and non-fiber substrates. • Develops and maintains an efficient and significant level of knowledge as such relates to ArtiosCAD and Truck loading software. • Participates in periodic staff meetings as required.
- Participates in training and development programs as required. • Performs a variety of miscellaneous job-related tasks as may be assigned from time-to-time by a Management Representative. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED • High school diploma with a minimum of two years vocational/trade school CAD system design certificate or equivalent CAD design experience. • Previous packaging industry experience with an emphasis in manufacturing operations and CAD system design or equivalent.
3 years’ experience preferred. • Experience in ArtiosCAD required. • Ability to demonstrate strategic thinking, influence and implement change. • Strong creative sense, ability to navigate in 3D dimensions/understanding of spatial relations.
- A commitment to ethical business standards and personal integrity. • Self-motivation and ability to work with minimal supervision. • Excellent interpersonal communication skills in both oral and written format. • A demonstrated understanding of algebraic and geometric concepts.
- Must also demonstrate the ability to interpret drawings (customer specifications) and the ability to understand a variety of basic corrugated container designs. • High level of ability to work effectively with employees and Managers/Supervisors and the ability to convey a positive and professional image to employees and customers. • Demonstrated ability to use Microsoft Office software (Word, Outlook, Publisher and Excel spreadsheet applications). Exposure to other computer software such as CAD system design software.
- Exposure to a Sales, Manufacturing/Machine routing distribution environment preferred. • Accuracy in work and strong attention to detail. • Approachable and supportive when working with others. • Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw conclusions.
- Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical instructions in mathematical or diagram form and deal with several abstract and concrete variables. WHAT WE CAN OFFER YOU • In addition to excellent wages, Great Northern has a competitive benefits package including medical, dental, and vision; life insurance; paid vacation; paid holidays; profit sharing and 401(k) with company match. • We also offer our employees a safe, clean, friendly environment and room for growth! We are a Tobacco Free campus.
Great Northern is an Equal Opportunity Employer #req368 Great Northern is an equal opportunity at will employer and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of age, race, religion, color, disability, sex, sexual orientation or national origin.