Executive Director, Packaging

American Forest & Paper Association; Washington (District of Columbia); Hybrid; USD 205,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid vacation and sick leave

Medical plans

401(k) retirement plan

On-site fitness center

Job summary

American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) seeks an Executive Director, Packaging to set strategic priorities and steer policy, programs and committees for the Packaging Sector. You’ll drive issue advocacy, cultivate industry relationships, and guide cross-functional teams across AF&PA to advance packaging initiatives.

The role leads multiple committees, collaborates with senior leadership and external partners, and supervises projects without direct reporting.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in business or communications preferred.
• Ten or more years of related field or association experience.
• Experience managing multiple projects and large meetings.
• Experience developing budgets and presenting information to diverse audiences.
• Ability to travel up to 20% domestically, with occasional Canada trips.

Responsibilities

• Maintain up-to-date information on packaging issues impacting members.
• Guide sectors in identifying and prioritizing issues and solutions.
• Collaborate across AF&PA to align strategies and deliverables.
• Lead thought leadership on EPR and strategic approaches.
• Serve as staff executive for paper-product group committees.
• Prepare and share timely packaging information with members and policymakers.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Project management

Communication

Budgeting

Relationship building

Public policy

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred

Tools

Budgeting software

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 Association’s 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 Association’s 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 (i.e., 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 Containerboard/Kraft and Paperboard
• Represent AF&PA and actively engage in activities and conferences with allied organizations, and those in which AF&PA is a member (i.e., 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

If your knowledge, skills and abilities are transferrable and you think you’re a great candidate for AF&PA - please consider applying even if you do not meet all the criteria listed below.

• Bachelor’s 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 opportunities/threats, 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 organization’s goals and objectives
• Ability to operate in a cross-functional departmental/multi-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 $205,000-$250,000. This is a good-faith estimate based on market data for comparable positions and the current budgeted amount for this role. Factors to be considered when determining the salary of the selected candidate include relevant skills, experience and knowledge, and the alignment of these qualities with those of existing staff.

We offer a generous benefits package that currently includes:

• Paid Vacation, Personal and Sick leave totaling 27-42 days per year (based on relevant experience), plus holidays and paid Parental Leave
• 94%-80% paid CareFirst medical plans for employees and their families
• Generous 401(k) retirement plan with up to 9% employer contribution (after waiting period)
• Free fitness center and pickleball courts at the DC office location

Location

• We are located on 13 th 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 U.S. forest products industry employs more than 925,000 people, largely in rural America, and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 44 states. Our industry accounts for approximately 4.7% of the total U.S. 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 industry’s decades-long initiative — Better Practices, Better Planet 2030 . Visit AF&PA online at afandpa.org or follow us on X @ForestandPaper .

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.