Brand Design Manager

As a Brand Design Manager at Kellanova, you’ll be responsible for the visual expression of iconic brands like Cheez-It, Pop-Tarts and Eggo, leading design that millions of consumers experience in their everyday lives. You will manage and direct world-class agencies, leveraging distinctive assets to create engaging brand experiences that drive growth and innovation for Kellanova. This hybrid position is based in Chicago, IL or Naperville, IL., with Battle Creek, MI also as an option.

 

A Taste of What You’ll Be Doing

 

• Brand Design Leadership – Lead the design strategy for a brand or category of brands. Your ability to lead, inspire and collaborate will shape the expression of our brands.
• Design Agency Leadership & Capability Building – Lead through others by inspiring and empowering our core group of design agencies to deliver best-in-class creative solutions. We will foster mutual partnerships through annual performance reviews and two-way feedback, driving change and accelerating growth. By leveraging top-tier design capabilities, we aim to achieve holistic brand expressions and elevate our overall design impact.
• Total Brand Experience – Lead the development of new assets for use across marketing touchpoints, with a focus on packaging, product photography and illustration that captivate consumers.
• Quality In, Quality Out – Partner closely with cross-functional teams to foster brand stewardship and design mastery throughout the design process. Ensure agencies receive excellent briefs, drive clarity of roles, and manage stakeholder feedback to deliver impactful packaging projects.
• Aligns Design with Business Priorities – Translate business challenges into actionable design objectives by setting clear goals and success metrics. Help prioritize finite design resources—such as time and budget—for maximum impact and alignment with strategic priorities.

 

We’re Looking for Someone With 
 

• Bachelor’s degree in design (graphic or industrial) with a strong portfolio showcasing design strategy, creative excellence, and problem-solving.
• Extensive experience in graphic design, brand strategy, and design management within the CPG/FMCG industry, including work on national consumer brands and agency collaboration.
• Fluency in design and business software, including Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, Keynote) and Microsoft tools (Teams, Outlook, PowerPoint).
• Proven ability to partner across disciplines, inspire creative teams, and collaborate effectively to drive design excellence from concept to execution.
• Strong attention to detail, adaptability, and time management, with a disciplined and collaborative mindset focused on team success.
• Empathetic and strategic thinker, able to challenge assumptions and expand perspectives through non-linear thinking and business partnership.
• Skilled in storytelling and critical thinking, with the ability to translate insights into compelling visual and strategic solutions. 

 

Compensation

 

The annual salary range is $121,800 - $159,915, which is based on various factors such as location, experience and skill. Discretionary bonuses based on company and individual performance are also available.

 

What’s Next

Applications for this position will be accepted through October 24, 2025. After you apply, your application will be reviewed by a real recruiter, so it may take us a few weeks to get back with you by email or phone. Visit our How We Hire page to get insights into our hiring process and more about what we offer.

 

Need assistance throughout the application or hiring process? Email USA.Recruitment@Kellanova.com.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, life, accidental death & dismemberment insurance, employee assistance program, sh