Front-of-Funnel Packaging Leader, R&D

Hershey Company; Hershey (CA); On-site; USD 142,000 - 177,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellbeing

Financial Security

Time Off & Flexibility

Growth & Development

Job summary

The Hershey Company is seeking a Front‑of‑Funnel Packaging Manager to lead packaging strategy, feasibility, and portfolio planning. You will partner with R&D, Packaging Commercialization, and brand teams to translate consumer needs into scalable packaging solutions.

You will develop options, test plans, and risk assessments, while guiding cross‑functional teams to ensure launch readiness and sustainable packaging choices.

Qualifications

• 7+ years in packaging development, strategy, commercialization, or technical programs.
• Experience influencing senior stakeholders and shaping strategic directions.
• Bachelor's degree in packaging, engineering, or a closely related technical discipline; advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

• Shape upstream packaging strategy by defining opportunity spaces, guardrails, feasibility and portfolio implications.
• Bridge Packaging, R&D, and Packaging Commercialization, aligning product design, feasibility, validation, and launch readiness.
• Translate consumer, customer, channel, sustainability, retail, and operations needs into packaging design principles and criteria.
• Develop packaging options, prototypes, testing plans, and risk assessments before commercialization.
• Lead cross‑functional alignment without direct authority, presenting trade‑offs and recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Resolve high‑impact packaging challenges balancing performance, protection, cost, speed to market, and sustainability.
• Build repeatable tools, playbooks, and governance for Packaging and partner functions.

Skills

Packaging engineering

Leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Packaging/Engineering

Job description

The Hershey Company is seeking a Front‑of‑Funnel Packaging Manager to lead packaging strategy, feasibility, and portfolio planning. You will partner with R&D, Packaging Commercialization, and brand teams to translate consumer needs into scalable packaging solutions.

You will develop options, test plans, and risk assessments, while guiding cross‑functional teams to ensure launch readiness and sustainable packaging choices.