Senior Manager Packaging Innovation

Packaging Corporation of America; Vernon Hills (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 165,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Holidays

401k with employer matching

Life AD&D and disability coverage

Medical, dental, and vision benefits

Job summary

Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is seeking a Manager, Packaging Development to lead innovative packaging solutions through data-driven analysis across direct and indirect customers. This role requires strong knowledge of corrugated materials and a strategic mindset to guide projects from concept to implementation.

You will manage cross-functional teams, mentor designers, and collaborate with manufacturing and executive stakeholders to deliver value-added packaging innovations nationwide.

Qualifications

• BS in packaging, science or engineering with a minimum of 10 years of experience in the paper/packaging field.
• Demonstrated leadership, creativity/innovation, analytical thinking and professional presentation.
• Onsite role with travel up to 25%.
• Ability to safely handle packages up to 50 lbs (100 lbs with assistance).

Responsibilities

• Lead customer interaction and collaboration with executive levels to define needs and provide value-added analysis.
• Guide design and innovation for fiber-based packaging ideas and related studies.
• Develop and propagate best practices for package development across PCA.
• Identify market trends and leverage multi-site data for operational improvements.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Communication

Education

BS in packaging, science or engineering

Job description

As a Fortune 500 company, Packaging Corporation of America (PCA) is an ideas and solutions company. Our corrugated packaging business seeks to be the leader in helping our customers - large and small - package, transport and display products of all kinds. Our white paper business delivers Paper With Purpose by providing the highest level of customer service and operational excellence. We have approximately 15,000 team members in more than 100 locations in the United States that strive to meet the local needs of our customers. Our mission is to serve the needs of our customers, today and tomorrow, with products and services that exceed expectations for performance and environmental responsibility.

People * Customers * Trust

Position Summary:

Manager, Packaging Development will drive the creation and implementation of innovative packaging solutions using a rigorous, data-driven approach for both direct and indirect customers. This leader is expected to be results-oriented, setting high expectations and guiding teams (both direct and indirect) to achieve measurable results. While a strong and broad foundation in corrugated materials (corrugated structures, board and paper properties) is essential, the ideal candidate will focus on providing strategic solutions through the identification of design concepts, advanced data analysis, and the generation of actionable insights in an effort to mitigate risk and provide a roadmap for moving us or our customers forward (results). This individual must have extensive problem-solving skills to identify and take on new/unknown challenges that could have a significant impact to our customers or our business. This includes identification and development of new fiber based products and becoming a subject matter expert in emerging trends. The role requires exceptional communication and collaboration skills at manufacturing, technical and executive levels. By leveraging the expertise and support of others, this manager will maintain and advance the culture of excellence, ensuring PCA remains the supplier of choice through proactive problem-solving and customer-focused innovation.

Dimensions:

Problem solving and solution selling is a core focus. This individual will manage and mentor package developers in addition to leading and hands on contribution to value oriented projects across multiple manufacturing locations and customers at a national level. They will address technical challenges of interest to key stakeholders across the company and will be expected to leverage knowledge gained in targeted studies for broad applicability. Application of current and generated data in clear logical formats to mitigate risk of change/movement is a key (Complete solution selling).

Principal Accountabilities:

• Lead customer interaction and collaboration at high levels to understand and distill customer need and provide value-added analysis for customer-focused projects, clearly connecting problem statement and resolution through both written and oral presentation to executive levels.
• Understanding industry trends in order to guide customers towards more "future-proof" packaging approaches.
• Create, communicate, and execute systematic methodologies with both internal and external stakeholders, enabling us to drive to problem resolution efficiently and effectively.
  • Lead and promote package development related best practices to the broader group of design individuals across PCA
• Explore new product innovation centered around fiber based materials that have potential for wide scale usage.
• Identify/Conceive/Develop material or packaging products and or information (innovate)
  • Identifying market trends and gaps in (PCA or market) fiberbased products that could be actionable
  • Leverage data gathered at multiple sites to identify generalized operational improvements broadly applicable.
  • Design of experiments and statistical analysis experience is beneficial
• Work safely both on site and off; collaborate with all site employees in safe operation of all lab equipment and develop safety-training improvements; and support site safety goals.
• Responsible for knowing and following policies and procedures of the company; for sharing information that would benefit other members of the team; and for finding ways to improve the delivery of service to our Customers.
• Continually strive to strengthen PCA's business philosophy of meeting needs and exceeding expectation for Customers. This includes supporting PCA's Commitment to Service which involves doing what's right for our Customers, focusing on strategies that add value and support growth, and keeping the promises that we make.

Decision Making:

This position requires a professional able to make independent, timely and considered decisions regarding the time required to drive to a problem solution and the required robustness of the solution and it's implementation. The SR Manager of Innovation is expected to drive design and innovation at a national level across multiple manufacturing sites and multi-site customers. The Sr Manager of Innovation will identify and develop new product offerings, material or information, that can be leveraged by the greater selling or design team. They will be relied upon to bring added value through analytical reporting and presentation of complex results distilled for a broad range of consumption. They should exercise discretion and creativity in determining the best way to address customer needs, taking general directions or problem statements, and making decisions as to the approach to completing assigned projects. Employee readily handles complex objectives and customer challenges largely independently, while recognizing the value brought by occasionally collaborating with team members and management.

Interactions with Customers and Contacts:

This position works cooperatively with individuals across PCA at a national level, with frequent verbal and written communication with internal Customers (sales and plant operations, national and local sales groups, etc.), external Customers, and PCA/TDS management. The extensive customer interactions and interactions with internal stakeholders in other PCA facilities requires clear communication and an ability to simplify and clearly explain complex test methodology both orally and in written form. This individual should be able to foster collaboration internally and externally to meet customer satisfaction goals.

Position Requirements

• BS in packaging, science or engineering with a minimum of 10 years of experience with a significant portion in the paper/packaging field or a demonstrable equivalent
• A demonstrable history of leadership, creativity/innovation, analytical thinking and professional presentation.
• This position is primarily onsite with travel up to 25%, by appropriate modes.
• Capable of safely handling packages of up to greater of 50 lbs. or SOPI/OSHA limits (or 100 lbs. with assistance) as needed for performance of the position.
• Commitment to develop and foster strong working relationships.

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COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Starting salary range for position: $110,000-$165,000.

• Paid Holidays.
• Within the first 30 days of employment, an employee (and their dependents) is eligible to enroll in certain benefit coverages -- medical, dental, and vision - and are automatically enrolled in life, AD&D, and disability coverages.
• Upon hire, an employee is automatically enrolled in the 401k plan. The plan offers both pre-tax and Roth contribution options along with employer provided matching contributions.
• Disclaimer: The Compensation and Benefits information in this posting represents PCA's good faith and reasonable estimate of what it may pay for this position. The Company reserves the right to modify this information at any time, subject to applicable law.