Senior Director, Packaging Engineering & Innovation

The Swan Food Company; Hopkins (MN); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Car allowance

Annual incentive bonus

Total Rewards package

Job summary

CJ Schwan's is seeking a Senior Director of Packaging Engineering to drive strategy, development, and performance of packaging materials across our U.S. food portfolio. You will enhance product quality, safety, and consumer experience while partnering with R&D, Operations, Procurement, Quality, and Marketing to bring innovations to market.

Travel about 30% is required. The role requires 15+ years in packaging, strong leadership, and deep expertise in films, paper, corrugates, and testing.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Packaging Science, Materials Science, Engineering, or a related technical field; Master's degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in packaging development, materials engineering, or a related discipline, including significant people leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success leading packaging innovation, commercialization, and cross-functional initiatives within the food industry.
• Experience supporting packaging performance in frozen food applications preferred, including manufacturing, distribution, storage, and consumer preparation.
• Strong technical expertise across flexible films, paperboard, corrugate, rigid packaging, trays, cartons, barrier materials, and packaging performance testing.

Responsibilities

• Develop and lead the enterprise packaging materials strategy across our portfolio.
• Lead the selection, development, testing, and commercialization of packaging materials.
• Establish packaging standards, testing methodologies, and governance processes.
• Partner with R&D, Operations, Procurement, Quality, Marketing, and external suppliers.
• Drive packaging optimization to reduce cost while maintaining protection and consumer satisfaction.
• Champion sustainability initiatives including recyclability and regulatory compliance.
• Build and inspire a high-performing team with strategic guidance and leadership across the organization.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Project management

Problem solving

Strategic thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Packaging Science, Materials Science, Engineering, or related

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Packaging materials knowledge

Job description

CJ Schwan's is seeking a Senior Director of Packaging Engineering to drive strategy, development, and performance of packaging materials across our U.S. food portfolio. You will enhance product quality, safety, and consumer experience while partnering with R&D, Operations, Procurement, Quality, and Marketing to bring innovations to market.

Travel about 30% is required. The role requires 15+ years in packaging, strong leadership, and deep expertise in films, paper, corrugates, and testing.