Associate R&D Principal Packaging Engineer - E-Commerce Pet

General Mills Inc.; United States; On-site; USD 111,000 - 166,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Wellbeing support

Job summary

General Mills is seeking an E-Commerce Packaging Engineer for the Pet Segment Operating Unit. You will lead Packaging R&D for BLUE Buffalo and EdgardCooper, partnering with cross-functional teams to deliver current plans and enable growth through innovative packaging solutions for the e-commerce channel.

You will manage a portfolio across complex manufacturing networks, develop a digital packaging modeling framework, and drive cost savings while advancing sustainability initiatives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering or a related field.
• 5 years of packaging experience in CPG, with 3+ years in e-commerce packaging.
• Experience with a variety of packaging materials (flexible films, rigid plastics).
• Ability to build relationships with cross-functional partners.
• Strong communication, leadership, and strategic thinking skills.
• Desire to challenge assumptions and drive new ways of working.

Responsibilities

• Develop a flexible technology framework across the Pet portfolio.
• Mentor a high-performing packaging development team.
• Activate a packaging strategy to enable cost savings.
• Drive growth initiatives, including e-commerce partnerships and new formats.
• Lead business strategies with cross-functional partners and external collaborators.
• Advance sustainability through packaging material innovations.

Skills

Packaging knowledge

People skills

Strategic planning

Leadership

Influence stakeholders

Education

Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering

Job description

COMPANY OVERVIEW

We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best — bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one another and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what’s next.

JOB OVERVIEW

General Mills is seeking an E-Commerce Packaging Engineer in their Pet Segment Operating Unit. This role will have Packaging R&D accountability for iconic brands, including BLUE Buffalo and EdgardCooper. You will serve as the direct Packaging R&D business interface across these key brands to deliver the current plan and partner on growth strategies, and build packaging capability to enable the future growth for Pet. This role will coordinate across a talented team of technical leaders, execute against innovation growth ideas, core renovation levers, and advance our digital transformation capabilities for our e-commerce channel. This role will create and translate a Packaging modeling framework to help accelerate our flexible format across all of Pet with an emphasis on e-commerce. This responsibility spans across a large raw material cost of goods sold and requires strong activation and leadership to deliver against innovation and cost savings goals. You will manage a portfolio of products through a complex manufacturing network, temperature states, and channels, providing opportunities to lead new ways of working with a variety of cross‑functional partners.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Develop a flexible technology framework through new digital ways of working across the entire Pet portfolio.
• Act as a mentor to a high‑performing team of packaging developers with diverse expertise across key materials, brands, and technical areas to deliver research and develop new products, cost savings, and core innovation plans and pipeline sufficiency.
• Support and activate a packaging strategy to unlock fewer and bigger end‑to‑end cost savings initiatives.
• Drive key business initiatives to drive growth for our business in a variety of formats and business sectors, including e‑commerce partnerships and non‑traditional bag formats.
• Steer the activation of functional and business strategies by driving moments of truth levers, tapping into subject matter experts, external partners, and brand remarkability tools to drive a packaging growth agenda.
• Advance a Circular Future through business management and collaboration with central technology resources on new packaging material technologies to drive the advancement of Global Responsibility commitments for packaging sustainability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree in Packaging Engineering or other related degree fields.
• 5 years of packaging experience working in CPG packaging or other relevant industry, with 3+ years working on e‑commerce packaging.
• Experience and technical acumen across a variety of packaging materials, including flexible films and thermal rigid plastics.
• Demonstrated knowledge of business processes and ability to develop relationships with cross‑functional partners.
• Demonstrated strong people skills, strategic planning, and leadership skills.
• Desire to challenge assumptions, identify new opportunities, and create new ways of working & capabilities.
• Effective communication skills to influence internal and external stakeholders.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Takes accountability to win, has a bias for action, and can deliver results through others.
• Depth and experience in designing, qualifying, and commercializing dry pet food packaging across an array of size offerings for all channels.
• Mentoring and coaching others for growth.
• Experience in mentoring and developing other packaging engineers or team members.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and organizational complexity.
• Demonstrated strong agile leadership & ability to pivot quickly.
• Exceptional multi-tasking, follow-up, and prioritization skills.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

Applicants for this position must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full‑time basis, and General Mills will not sponsor applicants for this position for work visas. This role is open to relocation, and General Mills would provide relocation support if the selected candidate meets organizational standards, but international relocation and remote assignments will not be considered.

SALARY RANGE

The salary range for this position is: $110,800 - $166,300 Annual. At General Mills we strive for each employee's pay at any point in their career to reflect their experiences performance and skills for their current role. The salary range for this role represents the numerous factors considered in the hiring decisions including, but not limited to, educations, skills, work experience, certifications, etc. As such, pay for the successful candidate(s) could fall anywhere within the stated range.

BENEFITS

Beyond base salary, General Mills offers a competitive Total Rewards package focusing on your overall well‑being. We are proud to offer a foundation of health benefits, retirement and financial wellbeing, time off programs, wellbeing support and perks. Benefits may vary by role, country, region, union status, and other employment status factors. You may also be eligible to participate in an annual incentive program. An incentive award, if any, depends on various factors, including, individual and organizational performance.

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must meet a minimum 18-year age qualification.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER (EOE)

General Mills is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital or familial status, status regarding public assistance, or membership or activity in a local human rights commission.

REASONABLE ACCOMODATION REQUEST

If you need to request an accommodation during the application or hiring process, please fill out our online accommodation request form by following this link: Accommodation Request.

ABOUT US

New possibilities. Bold thinking. Real heart. Build remarkable brands with remarkable people. At General Mills, we make food the world loves. Across 100+ markets, we come together to create, innovate and grow. Here, you’ll do meaningful work and help to lead the future of food at a company that stands for good. Watch with captions in other languages here.