Director, Pulp & Paper Innovation Center

Sabert Corporation; Greenville (TX); On-site; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

401(k)

Life insurance

Job summary

Sabert Corporation is seeking a CFI Director - Pulp & Paper to lead the technology agenda for molded fiber and paper solutions. This hybrid role drives innovation from concept to commercialization, balancing performance, sustainability, and manufacturability while stewarding a cross-functional team.

You will own the technical portfolio, define barriers and coatings strategy, and oversee labs, pilots, and trials, ensuring food-contact compliance and scalable processes.

Qualifications

• BS or equivalent degree in Paper Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 10-15+ years in pulp/paper or molded fiber packaging R&D with proven commercialization record.
• Expertise in forming processes, barrier coatings/laminations, and converting.
• Strong command of material testing (TAPPI/ASTM), food-contact compliance, and reliability engineering.
• Demonstrated leadership in stage-gate, portfolio management, and cross-functional program delivery.
• Experience with sustainability frameworks (FSC/PEFC, recyclability/composability claims, LCA).
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and execute Sabert's pulp and paper innovation strategy aligned with growth and sustainability goals
• Lead development of new molded fiber and paperboard solutions, including high-heat, sealable, and barrier-enhanced technologies
• Drive end-to-end product development from concept through pilot and full-scale commercialization using stage-gate processes
• Advance barrier coatings, laminations, and material technologies to improve performance and differentiation
• Oversee R&D labs, pilot trials, and testing standards (TAPPI, ASTM, food-contact compliance)
• Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Commercial, Marketing, and Procurement to bring innovations to market
• Support manufacturing scale-up and define critical process parameters for successful production
• Lead sustainability initiatives including fiber sourcing (FSC/PEFC), recyclability, composability, and lifecycle assessments
• Build and develop a high-performing technical team while managing budgets, capital projects, and innovation pipelines

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Stage-gate leadership

Portfolio management

Communication skills

Education

BS in Paper Science / Materials Science / Chemical Engineering

Job description

Sabert Corporation is seeking a CFI Director - Pulp & Paper to lead the technology agenda for molded fiber and paper solutions. This hybrid role drives innovation from concept to commercialization, balancing performance, sustainability, and manufacturability while stewarding a cross-functional team.

You will own the technical portfolio, define barriers and coatings strategy, and oversee labs, pilots, and trials, ensuring food-contact compliance and scalable processes.