Director, Process Engineering

Pregis LLC; Chicago, Northern (IL, KY); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 220,000; Full time

Job summary

Pregis LLC is seeking a Director of Process Engineering to define and deploy an enterprise strategy across a multi-site manufacturing network. You will establish standards, governance, and roadmaps to improve safety, quality, and EBITDA while partnering with Operations, Quality, CI, Product Development, Supply Chain, and Finance.

You will lead cross-functional initiatives, drive capital projects, and champion data-driven optimization to sustain manufacturing excellence and growth across all

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Chemical, Manufacturing Engineering, or related discipline, required.
• 15+ years of progressive manufacturing, process engineering, or operational excellence leadership experience.
• Experience leading engineering organizations within a multi-site manufacturing environment.
• Proven success developing and deploying enterprise-wide engineering strategies.
• Experience supporting large-scale operational transformation, capital investments, and manufacturing modernization efforts.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute the enterprise Process Engineering strategy aligned with Pregis growth objectives.
• Establish engineering standards, governance, and best practices across the manufacturing network.
• Build a multi-year roadmap focused on process capability, automation, technology adoption, and operational excellence.
• Serve as the Process Engineering subject matter expert to executive leadership.
• Develop organizational capabilities, technical standards, career paths, and succession plans.
• Create consistency in engineering practices while supporting the unique needs of individual business units.
• Deploy technical resources against the company's highest-value improvement opportunities.
• Lead network-wide initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, reliability, and cost reduction.
• Drive Process Engineering support for the Pregis Production System (PPS).
• Identify and scale best practices across manufacturing locations.
• Champion data-driven problem solving, process optimization, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Executive communication

Influencing stakeholders

Leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in Mechanical/Industrial/Chemical/Manufacturing Engineering

Job description

Position Summary

The Director, Process Engineering is an enterprise leadership role responsible for defining and deploying Pregis' Process Engineering strategy across a multi-site manufacturing network. As a leader within the Operations Center of Excellence, this role will establish the vision, standards, capabilities, and roadmap needed to improve manufacturing performance, accelerate growth, and drive operational excellence across all business units.

This position serves as a key strategic partner to Operations, Quality, Continuous Improvement, Product Development, Supply Chain, and Finance. Success requires the ability to influence across the organization, align diverse stakeholders, and drive adoption of common engineering standards and best practices while improving safety, quality, service, productivity, reliability, and EBITDA performance.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the enterprise Process Engineering strategy aligned with Pregis growth objectives.
• Establish engineering standards, governance, and best practices across the manufacturing network.
• Build a multi-year roadmap focused on process capability, automation, technology adoption, and operational excellence.
• Serve as the Process Engineering subject matter expert to executive leadership.

Center of Excellence Leadership

• Develop organizational capabilities, technical standards, career paths, and succession plans.
• Create consistency in engineering practices while supporting the unique needs of individual business units.
• Deploy technical resources against the company's highest-value improvement opportunities.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement Manufacturing Transformation

• Lead network-wide initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, reliability, and cost reduction.
• Drive Process Engineering support for the Pregis Production System (PPS).
• Identify and scale best practices across manufacturing locations.
• Champion data-driven problem solving, process optimization, and continuous improvement.

Capital & Technology Strategy

• Develop enterprise process technology and automation roadmaps.
• Partner with Operations and Finance to identify, prioritize, and justify capital investments.
• Provide leadership for major capital projects, equipment upgrades, and manufacturing modernization efforts.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and manufacturing solutions that support long-term growth.

Cross-Functional Influence

• Partner with Business Unit Presidents, Operations Directors, Plant Managers, and Functional Leadership teams.
• Lead through influence rather than direct authority to drive adoption of standards and initiatives.
• Build strong relationships across the manufacturing network to accelerate change and execution.
• Ensure engineering initiatives deliver measurable business impact.

Measures of Success

• Improved manufacturing productivity and throughput
• Reduced waste, scrap, and conversion costs
• Improved process capability and product quality
• Increased equipment reliability and operational performance
• Successful deployment of the Pregis Production System
• Strong capital project return and benefit realization
• Consistent engineering standards across the manufacturing network
• Increased manufacturing capacity to support growth
• Sustainable EBITDA improvement

Qualifications

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Chemical, Manufacturing Engineering, or related discipline, required.
• 15+ years of progressive manufacturing, process engineering, or operational excellence leadership experience.
• Experience leading engineering organizations within a multi-site manufacturing environment.
• Proven success developing and deploying enterprise-wide engineering strategies.
• Experience supporting large-scale operational transformation, capital investments, and manufacturing modernization efforts.

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into execution.
• Demonstrated success influencing across functions, locations, and business units.
• Strong executive presence and communication skills.
• Ability to balance enterprise standardization with business-specific needs.
• Proven ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing technical teams.
• Strong business acumen with a focus on EBITDA, productivity, and operational performance.

Travel

• >50%

Compensation

• The listed annualized base pay range is primarily based on analysis of similar positions. Actual base pay could vary and may be above or below the listed range based on factors including but not limited to performance, proficiency and demonstration of competencies required for the role. The base pay is just one component of Pregis' total compensation package. The base pay range for this role is estimated to be $180,000 - $220,000, depending on experience and skills.

  Compensation details listed in US job postings reflect base salary only and do not include benefits. Learn more about Benefits at Pregis.