Executive Director, Packaging

American Forest & Paper Association; United States; Hybrid; USD 205,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation

Parental leave

401k match

Fitness center

Dental and vision

FSAs/HSAs

Job summary

American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) seeks an Executive Director, Packaging, to set strategic priorities, lead policy and program development, and drive issues that support the packaging sector. The role emphasizes advocacy, collaboration with industry leaders, and coordination with allied associations to advance AF&PA's public policy objectives.

The position focuses on paper-based packaging, building relationships with industry executives, and guiding committees across packaging

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree in business or communications preferred
• 10+ years of experience in a related field or association
• Experience managing multiple projects
• Experience preparing effective communication and presenting information to different audiences
• Experience leading teams staffing a committee and running large meetings
• Experience developing and implementing budgets
• Understanding of the paper industry manufacturing industry and marketplace dynamics
• Interpersonal skills and ability to build relationships with staff senior management within member companies, industry consultants and government staff
• Leadership skills including accountability and ownership
• Ability to drive consensus on challenging issues
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities across departments

Responsibilities

• Maintain up-to-date information on issues impacting Packaging sectors
• Guide sectors in identifying and prioritizing issues and solutions
• Collaborate across AF&PA with executives on priorities and crosscut projects
• Lead thought leadership on Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
• Serve as staff executive for paper product groups and committees
• Provide members and policy makers with timely information
• Participate in member recruitment and retention for packaging sectors
• Represent AF&PA with allied organizations and industry associations
• Create written communications and testimony on packaging issues
• Coordinate with Government Affairs to testify to legislative bodies
• Maintain relationships with outside groups in coalitions
• Prepare and manage budgets
• Lead groups and projects across the organization

Skills

Stakeholder management

Public policy

Leadership

Communication

Budgeting

Project management

Strategic planning

Team leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Critical thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Job description

Industry advocacy policy strategy and thought leadership this role has it all The Executive Director Packaging sets strategic priorities and leads the development and implementation of goals policies programs issues and committees that support AF&PA's Packaging Sector which includes producers of Containerboard Kraft Paperboard bags and foodservice packaging Sectors collaborate closely to support the Associations key public policy initiatives This position will focus on leading issue advocacy and projects related to paper based packaging and cultivating relationships with industry business leaders and the leadership of other industry associations integral to AF&PA's work Below is more detail on American Forest & Paper Association AF&PA this important role and how you could impact the industry

Working at AF&PA The American Forest & Paper Association AF&PA values diverse backgrounds and capabilities and invites all talented individuals to apply to be part of our team and support our culture and mission We encourage the exchange of knowledge innovative ideas and different perspectives to reach our goals

Essential job functions

• Maintain up to date information on the full range of issues impacting the Containerboard and Kraft and Paperboard sector member operations
• Guide packaging sectors in identifying analyzing and prioritizing issues and integrating business solutions into the Associations key public policy and marketplace initiatives
• Collaborate consistently and productively across AF&PA especially with the Executive Director Recovered Fiber on member priorities and issues and projects that crosscut multiple sectors to ensure that strategies and deliverables are aligned
• Contribute thought leadership on Extended Producer Responsibility EPR; collaborate with the Executive Director Recovered Fiber and the VP Industry Affairs to create strategic approaches to EPR
• Serve as staff executive for various paper product group committees ie Containerboard Kraft Sector Containerboard Division Corrugated Packaging Alliance and Paperboard Packaging Sector
• Provide packaging sector members AF&PA staff and policy makers with relevant and timely business and policy information
• Participate in membership recruitment and retention for packaging sectors including ContainerboardKraft and Paperboard
• Represent AF&PA and actively engage in activities and conferences with allied organizations and those in which AF&PA is a member ie American Institute for Packaging and the Environment AMERIPEN
• Create written communication and testimony regarding packaging issues
• Coordinate with AF&PA’s Government Affairs team to advocate and testify to federal state and local legislative and regulatory bodies on member interests related to packaging
• Maintain relationships and coordinate with outside interest groups in packaging coalitions and on shared legislative and regulatory goals
• Prepare and manage budgets
• This position does not directly supervise others but is responsible for leading groups and projects

Qualifications

• Bachelors degree required; advanced degree in business or communications preferred
• Ten 10 or more years of experience in a related field or association
• Experience managing multiple projects
• Experience preparing effective communication and presenting information to different audiences
• Experience leading teams staffing a committee and running large meetings
• Experience developing and implementing budgets
• Understanding of the paper industry manufacturing industry and marketplace dynamics
• Interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain strong relationships with staff senior management within member companies industry consultants and staff from government agencies and trade groups
• Leadership skills including taking ownership and being accountable
• Ability to identify emerging issues and develop strategic plans that support key initiatives
• Ability to drive large group consensus and decisions on challenging and competitively sensitive issues
• Critical thinking skills to analyze issues identify opportunitiesthreats and integrate business solutions
• Ability to design and manage multiple projects including those outside the scope of assigned areas
• Ability to prioritize based on an organizations goals and objectives
• Ability to operate in a cross functional departmentalmulti disciplinary approach and team
• Ability to motivate and supervise staff without full supervisory authority
• Excellent written and oral communication skills including ability to write concisely and speak publicly and with credibility to staff member companies partners and media
• Ability to balance multiple responsibilities with high quality execution and performance
• Ability to travel up to 20 of the time; travel is expected to be domestic with occasional trips to Canada

Compensation and Benefits

The salary for this position is expected to be between 205000 250000

• Paid Vacation Personal and Sick leave totaling 27 42 days per year based on relevant experience plus holidays
• paid Parental Leave94 80 paid CareFirst medical plans for employees and their families
• Generous 401k retirement plan with up to 9 employer contribution after waiting period
• Free fitness center and pickleball courts at the DC office location
• Plus dental vision life insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts Health Savings Account

Location

We are located on 13th Street NW between F and G directly above Metro Center Station Our office is hybrid which includes up to two days of remote work The person in this role will also travel up to 20 of the time; travel is expected to be domestic with occasional trips to Canada

About AF&PA

AF&PA serves to advance public policies that foster economic growth job creation and global competitiveness for a vital sector that makes the essential paper and packaging products Americans use every day The US forest products industry employs more than 925000 people largely in rural America and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 44 states Our industry accounts for approximately 47 of the total US manufacturing GDP manufacturing more than 435 billion in products annually AF&PA member companies are significant producers and users of renewable biomass energy and are committed to making sustainable products for a sustainable future through the industrys decades long initiative Better Practices Better Planet 2030 Visit AF&PA online at afandpaorg or follow us on X ForestandPaper

Your Rights

AF&PA is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and welcomes all talented individuals regardless of race color national origin religion age sex disability veteran status or other category protected by law

Applicants have rights under federal employment laws Information may be found on the Department of Labors website httpswwwdolgov as well as through these available notices Know Your Rights; Fair Labor Standards Act FLSA; Family and Medical Leave Act FMLA; and Employee Polygraph Protection Act EPPA