Senior Application Development Manager - Flexibles

TOPPAN Packaging Americas; United States; Remote; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading packaging solutions provider is seeking a Senior Application Development Manager to be the main technical contact with customers. This remote role focuses on developing and commercializing flexible packaging solutions, requiring strong material science expertise and extensive experience in food packaging applications. Candidates should have over 10 years of experience in product development, particularly in retort and hot fill packaging. The position involves significant collaboration with teams and travel to various locations.

Qualifications

• Strong material science knowledge including various films and laminations.
• Extensive experience in food packaging and flexible packaging applications.
• 10+ years in packaging development for retort, hot fill, and liquid applications.

Responsibilities

• Work closely with the Commercial Team to commercialize packaging opportunities.
• Lead technical activities to expand sales and improve product performance.
• Build and maintain strong technical customer relations.
• Translate customer requirements to specifications.
• Define project success criteria and manage projects.

Skills

Material science knowledge

New product development

Project management

Customer relationships

Education

Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Food Science, Packaging, or Plastics

Job description

Senior Application Development Manager, Flexibles Division

The Senior Application Development Manager for the Flexibles Division is the main technical contact between the customer and TOPPAN. This position is responsible for all development and technical service activities at assigned accounts/markets. The packaging technology team is constantly iterating, solving problems, and working together to develop packaging solutions that are cost‑effective, product‑safety compliant, more sustainable, and satisfy customers’ needs.

Remote Position

This is a REMOTE position (Central or Eastern Time Zones). Requires 30‑40% travel and easy access to a major airport.

What you’ll be doing

• Working closely with the Commercial Team to identify and successfully commercialize flexible packaging opportunities at targeted accounts.
• Leading technical activities to expand sales of existing structures, develop new flexible packaging structures, drive cost savings, and improve product performance.
• Building and maintaining strong technical customer relations.
• Translating customer requirements to TOPPAN specifications and developing manufacturing instructions.
• Ensuring portfolio is aligned with the business priorities and the needs of the customer.
• Defining project success criteria, drawing conclusions based on data, making technical recommendations, and managing projects. Projects are often fast paced with high visibility.
• Developing and leading pilot, production, and filling/packing trials. Publishing trial reports for internal and/or external distribution.
• Coordinating activities to accomplish tasks using available internal and external resources.
• Providing routine technical service activity.
• Preparing written and verbal presentations, project plans, updates, and periodic reports for internal and external use.
• Traveling domestically and internationally to manufacturing plants, suppliers, customers, conferences, and other innovation partners.
• Maintaining complete and accurate work records, including documentation for intellectual property protection.

Qualifications

• Strong material science knowledge (OPP, PET, PE films, Nylon, paper, and foil laminations)
• New product development, flexible packaging applications, project management, and customer relationships.
• Extensive experience in key growth areas in food packaging such as retort, hot fill, hard‑to‑hold products, liquid packaging, lidding, and portion control packaging are requirements for this position.

Required Experience

• Bachelor of Science, preferably in Engineering, Food Science, Packaging, or Plastics related field
• 10+ years of Flexible Packaging Product Development and manufacturing processes. Processes include printing (roto/flexo), laminating (adhesive and extrusion), coating, slitting, pouching and form/fill/seal conversion.
• 10+ years of development of packaging for retort, hot fill, hard to hold, liquid applications

Seniority Level

• Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

• Full‑time

Job Function

• Engineering and Manufacturing

Industries

• Packaging and Containers Manufacturing