Plastics R&D Manager — Product & Process Innovation

Hood Packaging Corporation; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Life Insurance

Short- and Long-Term Disability

Paid Holidays

Paid Vacation

Retirement Plan

Employee Assistance Program

Tuition Reimbursement

Professional Development

Job summary

Hood Packaging Corporation in Atlanta, GA is seeking an experienced Corporate Research & Development Manager to lead product development and technical service across the Plastics Division. The role focuses on coordinating plant trials, customer qualifications, and commercialization of new technologies, while optimizing resin blends and reducing material costs.

The candidate will collaborate with the DRD, procurement, and cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement, support

Qualifications

• Lead and coordinate product development and technical service activities across the Plastics Division.
• Plan, coordinate, and track plant trials, customer qualifications, and the commercialization of new products and technologies.
• Improve existing products through film-structure design, material optimization, process evaluation, testing, and performance validation.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate product development and technical service activities across the Plastics Division.
• Plan, coordinate, and track plant trials, customer qualifications, and the commercialization of new products and technologies.
• Improve existing products through film-structure design, material optimization, process evaluation, testing, and performance validation.
• Work closely with the DRD and VP of Procurement to oversee evaluation, testing, certification, and approval of new raw-material sources, additives, and suppliers.
• Partner with Corporate Procurement and suppliers to align sourcing strategies with divisional product, performance, and cost objectives.
• Provide technical recommendations and supporting documentation to assist in approval of raw materials.
• Lead division-wide resin blend optimization, material cost reduction, and technology deployment initiatives.
• Collaborate with Operations, Sales, Product Development personnel, and customers to create products that deliver value.
• Provide technical support to customers, Sales teams, and manufacturing facilities on product performance and requirements.
• Support sales through customer visits, technical presentations, and evaluations of new business opportunities.
• Participate in investigations involving product quality, manufacturing performance, customer complaints, and field-performance concerns; support corrective actions.
• Help evaluate each plastic plant’s current abilities and equipment needs for QA lab testing.
• Maintain knowledge of flexible-packaging trends, resin and additive developments, and emerging technologies.
• Attend trade shows, technical conferences, supplier meetings, and customer meetings as required.
• Participate in strategic planning and process-improvement initiatives across the Plastics Division.
• Provide short-term product development and technical service coverage at Plastics Division facilities as needed.

Job description

Hood Packaging Corporation in Atlanta, GA is seeking an experienced Corporate Research & Development Manager to lead product development and technical service across the Plastics Division. The role focuses on coordinating plant trials, customer qualifications, and commercialization of new technologies, while optimizing resin blends and reducing material costs.

The candidate will collaborate with the DRD, procurement, and cross-functional teams to drive continuous improvement, support