Director, Packaging R&D—End-to-End Innovation & Savings

Kraft Heinz, Inc.

Glenview (IL)

On-site

USD 190,000 - 238,000

Full time

3 days ago

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Job summary

Kraft Heinz, Glenview R&D Center, seeks a Director of R&D, Central Packaging E2E Execution, to lead two high-impact teams driving complex packaging initiatives and cost optimization across the portfolio. You will shape technical direction, establish governance, and build capabilities while partnering with Platform teams and business units to deliver significant NSV and productivity gains.

This role demands strategic thinking, executive communication, and a track record of scaling packaging

Qualifications

Bachelor’s required; master’s preferred in Packaging Science/Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
15+ years of progressive R&D and commercialization experience in packaging, with demonstrated expertise across materials, processes, and manufacturing.
7+ years leading technical teams, including experience managing managers and building multi-team organizations.
Proven track record delivering complex, cross-functional packaging projects at scale and driving significant cost savings through Productivity or similar initiatives.
Experience managing substantial project portfolios and budgets with strong business and financial acumen.
Technical depth in packaging substrates, structural design, manufacturing processes, and supplier landscapes.
Strategic thinker with the ability to translate business objectives into executable technical roadmaps.
Exceptional stakeholder management and executive communication skills - comfortable influencing at all levels.
Strong organizational design instincts; experience building high-performing technical teams in complex matrix environments.

Responsibilities

Define and execute portfolio strategy across Packaging Complex Projects and Productivity, optimizing for business impact, technical feasibility, and resource allocation.
Own the development, prioritization, and health of the Productivity pipeline to consistently deliver >$7-$10MM in annual cost savings.
Drive delivery of packaging projects with >$750MM NSV impact, ensuring >95% Right-First-Time success through robust stage-gate and risk management processes.
Partner with senior leadership across R&D, Operations, Procurement, and Business Units to shape packaging investment priorities and enterprise packaging strategy.
Establish and steward technical standards, governance frameworks, and best practices for complex packaging development and Productivity execution.
Champion Right-First-Time delivery through robust design-for-manufacturability principles, supplier qualification, and cross-functional risk management.
Drive sustainability integration across the packaging portfolio in alignment with corporate ESG commitments and evolving regulatory requirements.
Lead strategic supplier engagement to unlock innovation, cost competitiveness, and supply chain resilience.
Collaborate with Packaging Innovation and Procurement to build and manage a best-in-class supplier partnership ecosystem.
Lead, develop, and inspire two high-performing technical teams (25–30 total) with a strong culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.