Job Overview: Responsible for management of the R&D Packaging Engineering staff to support the development and implementation of packaging components to meet domestic and international business objectives. Work collaboratively with Purchasing and Manufacturing to execute packaging cost reduction initiatives.

Essential Responsibilities and Duties:

• Achieves results and brings out the best in people by:
  • Establishing job design and ensuring appropriate staffing to deliver the department’s strategy operating plan and short-term objectives.
  • Communicating department goals and objectives and cascading them to others, ensuring workload is distributed appropriately to achieve goals and objectives
  • Maintaining two way dialogue with direct reports on work and results.
  • Interpreting and ensuring Company policies and procedures are understood and consistently followed by others.
  • Collaboratively creating development plans and coaching individuals in achieving them.
  • Working within the people management systems in the Company to develop others (performance management, rewards and selection process); and
  • Creating an energizing work environment that supports the Company’s high performance culture while ensuring an efficient and flexible organization.

•  Directs efforts to deliver on company domestic and international new product pipeline in terms of packaging support.  Ensures projects are adequately resourced, meeting project milestones and deliverables.

• Provides thought leadership to drive packaging innovation in structure, design and testing methodology.
• Directs efforts to design, develop, recommend, and approve new packaging materials, components, and promotional systems (such as floor displays, wing racks and twin packs) to meet company business objectives and shelf life/distribution requirements.
• Oversees the seamless implementation of new packaging components and systems in manufacturing.
• Develops and writes specifications for purchase and approval of all packaging components to ensure uniformity and compliance of components from lot to lot.
• Lab tests and field tests packaging components and shippers to ensure protection and containment of finished goods in distribution and throughout shelf life.
• Leads project and department communications at senior level meetings and project teams.
• Works collaboratively with Purchasing and Manufacturing leadership to drive and execute packaging cost reduction initiatives.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Education: Requires a four year college or university degree or its equivalent in Packaging or an Engineering discipline. Advanced degree in Packaging Science is preferred.

Experience: Requires five to eight years experience in a packaging design/engineering managerial role, preferably in a consumer package goods environment.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:Requires:

• Strong managerial skills in projects and people.
• Comprehensive knowledge of barrier properties of packaging materials/components and methods to determine them.
• Comprehensive knowledge of packaging components and equipment and how the two interface each other.
• Comprehensive knowledge of recycling and waste problems and best practice solutions.
• Strong working knowledge of developing robust testing protocols.
• Good oral and written communication skills.

TO APPLY send resume to:     resume@srexecutivesearch.com