Director, R&D – Central Packaging E2E Execution

Kraft Heinz, Inc.; Glenview (IL); On-site; USD 220,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

Kraft Heinz, Inc. seeks a senior leader to define and drive the packaging portfolio strategy across Complex Projects and Productivity, aiming for substantial cost savings and multi-hundred million NSV impact.

You will partner with R&D, Operations, Procurement and business units to set priorities and steer enterprise packaging initiatives. Lead two high-performing technical teams (25–30) with strong accountability, build standards and governance, and champion Right-First-Time execution, risk

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree 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
• Collaborative, solutions-oriented leadership style with a bias for accountability and execution

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 rigorous 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
• Design clear roles, career pathways, and succession plans; build organizational capability for long-term growth
• Establish effective interfaces and ways of working with Platform teams, Business Units, and key external partner.
• Provide strategic leadership and direction for both Complex Projects and Productivity teams, ensuring alignment with enterprise priorities and business unit objectives

Skills

R&D leadership

Packaging design

Portfolio management

Cost reduction

Supplier management

Executive communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk management

Team management

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Packaging Science/Engineering

Master's preferred in Packaging Science/Engineering

Job description

• 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 rigorous 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
• Design clear roles, career pathways, and succession plans; build organizational capability for long-term growth
• Establish effective interfaces and ways of working with Platform teams, Business Units, and key external partner.
• Provide strategic leadership and direction for both Complex Projects and Productivity teams, ensuring alignment with enterprise priorities and business unit objectives
• Team (salaried): 8-10 direct reports, 25-30 total team responsibility Complex Projects team: 4 direct reports, 12 total Productivity team: 4-6 direct reports, 13-18 total
• 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
• Collaborative, solutions-oriented leadership style with a bias for accountability and execution