Director, VRO & Packaging Agility

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.; New York (NY); On-site; USD 124,000 - 214,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Retirement savings

Paid holidays and vacation time

Education-related programs

Paid leave

Job summary

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is seeking a Director of VRO & Packaging Agility to lead enterprise-wide packaging agility initiatives that accelerate speed to market and strengthen supply chain resilience.

You will drive innovation in packaging technologies, materials, and automated Print on Demand solutions while collaborating with Packaging, Engineering, Supply Chain, R&D, Manufacturing, and Brand teams.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of experience in Packaging Development, Packaging Engineering, Manufacturing, or related CPG industries.
• Proven experience leading complex packaging innovation and commercialization programs.
• Strong experience in prestige beauty, personal care, or consumer packaged goods.
• Experience with digital printing, Print on Demand, and emerging packaging technologies is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated project management experience leading global cross-functional teams and influencing senior stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead global packaging agility programs focused on speed to market, packaging simplification, business continuity, automation, and value engineering.
• Identify opportunities to reduce packaging complexity, material usage, waste, and cost while improving manufacturability, quality, and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate and introduce new packaging technologies, materials, decoration methods, digital printing solutions, and automation capabilities to enhance supply chain agility.
• Drive the expansion and technical execution of Print on Demand (POD) capabilities to support market‑specific, event‑driven, and personalized consumer experiences.
• Develop business cases, feasibility assessments, and commercialization strategies for new packaging concepts, technologies, and capabilities.
• Lead cross‑functional teams through concept development, validation, scale‑up, and implementation of packaging solutions.
• Establish packaging validation strategies, ensuring compliance with ELC standards, manufacturing requirements, consumer expectations, and brand equity objectives.
• Assess technical risks, trade‑offs, and opportunities, translating complex packaging considerations into clear recommendations for leadership.
• Support category and enterprise packaging strategies that drive agility, innovation, sustainability, cost savings, and operational resilience.
• Manage project timelines, KPIs, stakeholder communications, and governance to ensure successful delivery of strategic initiatives.

Skills

Packaging development

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Digital printing

Print on Demand

Automation

Cost optimization

Education

Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, or related technical discipline

Tools

CAD/PLM tools

Validation testing

Job description

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers, marketers, and sellers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products, and is a steward of luxury and prestige brands globally. The company’s products are sold in approximately 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, M·A·C, La Mer, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin Paris, TOM FORD, Smashbox, AERIN Beauty, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, KILIAN PARIS, Too Faced, Dr.Jart+, the DECIEM family of brands, including The Ordinary and NIOD, and BALMAIN Beauty.

Description

The Director, VRO & Packaging Agility leads the development and execution of enterprise-wide packaging agility initiatives that accelerate speed to market, enable supply chain flexibility, and strengthen competitive advantage. Drive innovation in packaging technologies, materials, digital printing, automation, and Print on Demand solutions while leveraging packaging expertise to deliver technically robust, consumer-centric, and cost-effective packaging systems. Partner across Packaging, Engineering, Supply Chain, R&D, Manufacturing, and Brand teams to build scalable capabilities that improve responsiveness, efficiency, and business growth.

• Lead global packaging agility programs focused on speed to market, packaging simplification, business continuity, automation, and value engineering.
• Identify and implement opportunities to reduce packaging complexity, material usage, waste, and cost while improving manufacturability, quality, and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate and introduce new packaging technologies, materials, decoration methods, digital printing solutions, and automation capabilities to enhance supply chain agility.
• Drive the expansion and technical execution of Print on Demand (POD) capabilities to support market‑specific, event‑driven, and personalized consumer experiences.
• Develop business cases, feasibility assessments, and commercialization strategies for new packaging concepts, technologies, and capabilities.
• Lead cross‑functional teams through concept development, validation, scale‑up, and implementation of packaging solutions.
• Establish packaging validation strategies, ensuring compliance with ELC standards, manufacturing requirements, consumer expectations, and brand equity objectives.
• Assess technical risks, trade‑offs, and opportunities, translating complex packaging considerations into clear recommendations for leadership.
• Support category and enterprise packaging strategies that drive agility, innovation, sustainability, cost savings, and operational resilience.
• Manage project timelines, KPIs, stakeholder communications, and governance to ensure successful delivery of strategic initiatives.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Mentor and develop team members, fostering technical excellence and career growth.
• Provide packaging expertise and technical guidance to project teams on design, testing, manufacturability, supplier capability, and risk management.
• Build strong partnerships across Global Supply Chain, R&D, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Brand teams to successfully deliver strategic programs.
• Influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment across global cross‑functional

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, or related technical discipline
• 8+ years of experience in Packaging Development, Packaging Engineering, Manufacturing, or related CPG industries.
• Proven experience leading complex packaging innovation and commercialization programs.
• Strong experience in prestige beauty, personal care, or consumer packaged goods preferred.
• Experience with digital printing, Print on Demand, and emerging packaging technologies is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated project management experience leading global cross‑functional teams and influencing senior stakeholders.

Leadership Competencies

• Drives Creativity and Innovation
• Strives for Excellence in Execution
• Embraces and Leads Change
• Builds Collaborative Relationships
• Delivers Results Through Influence and Technical Expertise

Technical Expertise

• Deep knowledge of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging systems, including plastics, glass, metal, paperboard, corrugate, labels, folding cartons, rigid boxes, pumps, airless systems, and dispensing technologies.
• Expertise in package design, materials, component engineering, decoration technologies, digital printing, automation readiness, and package validation.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes including injection molding, extrusion, metal forming, glass forming, assembly operations, and printing technologies.
• Proven ability to evaluate supplier capabilities, line performance, package specifications, technical drawings, testing protocols, and commercialization requirements.

Pay Range

The anticipated base salary range for this position is $124,200.00 to $214,450.00. Exact salary depends on several factors such as experience, skills, education, and budget. Salary range may vary based on geographic location. In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for participation in a highly competitive bonus program as well as participation in the share incentive plan. In addition, this position is eligible for participation in a highly competitive bonus program with the possibility for overachievement based on performance and company results. In addition, The Estée Lauder Companies offers a variety of benefits to eligible employees, including health insurance coverage (medical, dental, and vision insurance), wellness and family support programs, life and disability insurance, retirement savings plans, paid leave programs, education-related programs, paid holidays and vacation time, and many others. Many of these benefits are subsidized or fully paid for by the company.

Equal Opportunity Employer

It is Company's policy not to discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions), gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, protected medical condition as defined by applicable state or local law, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws and ordinances. The Company will endeavor to provide a reasonable accommodation consistent with the law to otherwise qualified employees and prospective employees with a disability and to employees and prospective employees with needs related to their religious observance or practices. Should you wish to apply for this position or any other position with the Company and you believe you require assistance to complete an application or participate in an interview, please contact [e-mail].

Michigan Applicants

Persons with disabilities needing accommodations for employment must notify the company in writing of the need for an accommodation within 182 days after the date the person with a disability knew or reasonably should have known that an accommodation was needed.

Philadelphia Applicants

Philadelphia's Fair Chance Hiring Law

Rhode Island Applicants

The company is subject to chapters 29-38 of title 28 of the general laws of Rhode Island and is therefore covered by the state's workers' compensation law.