Packaging Manager

Kraft Heinz; Nijmegen; Presencial; EUR 110.000 - 160.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Kraft Heinz is seeking a Packaging Manager to act as the organisation's packaging technology expert. The role leads complex packaging projects, shapes long-term technology roadmaps, and collaborates with internal teams and external partners to drive growth, sustainability, quality and efficiency across regions.

The candidate will optimize packaging performance, manage technical risk, and influence strategic decisions with senior leadership, while coaching packaging professionals and advancing

Formación

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Packaging Engineering, Engineering, Materials Science, Food Science, or related technical field.
• 10+ years of packaging development experience in a complex, matrix organisation.
• Demonstrated leadership of large packaging projects, platforms or programmes.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders across multiple regions.

Responsabilidades

• Lead highly complex packaging projects, platforms and technical workstreams.
• Act as the subject matter expert for packaging technologies, materials, and processes.
• Research and establish external partnerships with suppliers, institutes and industry bodies.
• Collaborate across global regions with packaging developers, procurement and leadership teams.
• Influence packaging investments and technology decisions to drive growth, quality and efficiency.

Conocimientos

Packaging leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Technology scouting

Stakeholder influence

Global collaboration

Educación

Packaging-related degree

Descripción del empleo

Job Description

The Packaging Manager serves as the organisation's packaging technology expert, leading highly complex packaging projects, technology platforms, and strategic initiatives. The role drives packaging innovation, develops long-term technology pipelines, and connects internal teams with external technology ecosystems to identify and implement solutions that support growth, sustainability, quality, efficiency, and business performance.

Job Description

The Packaging Manager serves as the organisation's packaging technology expert, leading highly complex packaging projects, technology platforms, and strategic initiatives. The role drives packaging innovation, develops long-term technology pipelines, and connects internal teams with external technology ecosystems to identify and implement solutions that support growth, sustainability, quality, efficiency, and business performance.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Packaging Leadership

• Independently lead highly complex packaging projects, platforms, and technical workstreams.
• Shape packaging technology strategy and contribute to long-term innovation roadmaps and 5 to 10-year packaging plans.
• Partner with senior R&D leadership to identify future technology opportunities and business growth enablers.
• Build and maintain a robust packaging innovation pipeline across business units and regions.

Technical Expertise

• Act as the recognized subject matter expert for packaging technologies, materials, processes, and emerging trends.
• Provide technical guidance, feasibility assessments, and scientific expertise to packaging development teams globally.
• Evaluate and recommend packaging technologies that improve product performance, quality, sustainability, and operational efficiency.
• Identify and mitigate technical risks associated with packaging solutions and implementation activities.

Innovation & External Partnerships

• Research and assess emerging technologies, materials, manufacturing processes, and industry developments.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with suppliers, research institutions, industry associations, and external technology partners.
• Evaluate new technologies for potential application within the Kraft Heinz portfolio.
• Provide recommendations related to intellectual property, implementation constraints, and technology partnerships.

Global Collaboration & Influence

• Collaborate with packaging developers, technology leads, procurement partners, and cross-functional stakeholders across global regions.
• Lead technical discussions in global forums and influence decisions through deep technical expertise and business acumen.
• Communicate complex technical concepts effectively to non-technical audiences, including senior leaders.
• Coach and mentor packaging professionals to strengthen organisational capability.

Business Performance

• Support delivery of innovation, productivity, sustainability, and value engineering objectives.
• Influence investment and technology decisions with significant business impact.
• Drive initiatives that enhance business growth, operational performance, quality outcomes, and cost efficiencies.

Key Stakeholders

Internal

• R&D Directors
• R&D Leadership Teams
• Packaging Developers and Engineers
• Product and Process Experts
• Global Technology Leads
• Global and Regional Procurement Teams
• Senior Leadership Forums and Governance Boards

External

• Packaging Suppliers
• Material and Technology Providers
• Research Institutions
• Industry Networks and Associations
• Innovation and Technology Partners

Decision-Making Authority

• Leads decisions regarding packaging technology selection, technical feasibility, and platform direction.
• Provides recommendations to senior leadership regarding technology adoption, strategic partnerships, intellectual property considerations, and implementation approaches.
• Operates with a high degree of independence while aligning decisions with company strategy and governance.

Financial Impact

• Influences packaging investments and technology decisions with an area of impact exceeding €800K.
• Contributes to financial performance through innovation, risk reduction, quality improvement, operational efficiency, and business growth initiatives.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Packaging Engineering, Engineering, Materials Science, Food Science, or a related technical discipline.

Experience

• Minimum 10+ years of packaging development experience within a complex, matrix organisation.
• Demonstrated leadership of highly complex packaging projects, technology platforms, or innovation programmes.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and leading cross-functional initiatives across multiple regions.

Key Competencies

Technical & Strategic

• Expert knowledge of packaging technologies, materials, processes, and manufacturing systems.
• Technology scouting and pipeline development.
• Innovation strategy and long-term roadmap planning.
• Scientific and technical problem solving.
• Risk assessment and feasibility evaluation.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Strategic influencing and stakeholder management.
• Executive communication and presentation skills.
• Coaching and mentoring.
• Global collaboration and network building.
• Strong ownership, judgement, and decision-making capability.

Success Measures

• Delivery of strategic packaging innovation initiatives.
• Strength of packaging technology pipeline.
• Adoption of new packaging technologies and materials.
• Contribution to sustainability, quality, and productivity objectives.
• Stakeholder satisfaction and influence across global packaging networks.
• Development and coaching of packaging talent.

Location(s)

Nijmegen

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes.