Senior Packaging Cost Specialist

Tree Brand Packaging; Hickory (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Tree Brand Packaging in Newton, NC is seeking a Senior Packaging Costing Specialist to own the costing and estimating function for pallets, crates, and custom packaging. You will develop accurate cost estimates, maintain material and labor data, and create standardized tools used across locations.

Collaborate with design, review high-value quotes for margin integrity, mentor staff, monitor market prices, and identify cost-reduction opportunities.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent required; bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting, industrial engineering, or related field preferred.
• Significant experience in cost estimating, pricing analysis, or manufacturing costing for pallets/crates/wood packaging.
• Strong understanding of raw material markets (lumber, hardware) and ability to track current pricing.
• Ability to analyze throughput, waste, and labor data to build accurate cost models.
• Proficiency with Pallet Design System (PDS), Microsoft Access, and Excel or ability to learn quickly.
• Excellent written and verbal communication; able to work across sales, purchasing, operations, and customers.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and take ownership of a functional area.

Responsibilities

• Own and lead costing and estimating for pallets, crates, and custom packaging.
• Develop accurate cost estimates by analyzing material usage, labor, throughput, and waste.
• Monitor lumber and hardware pricing to keep assumptions up to date.
• Build standardized costing models in PDS, Access, and Excel.
• Collaborate with design to align cost, margin, and manufacturability.
• Review high-value quotes for accuracy and margin integrity.
• Analyze plant throughput and labor data to refine costing.
• Identify cost-reduction opportunities and pricing risks.
• Serve as technical resource for pricing and quotes.
• Coordinate with purchasing on raw material cost trends.
• Develop and maintain costing documentation and procedures.
• Provide mentorship to Packaging Solutions staff.
• Troubleshoot discrepancies between estimated and actual costs.
• Maintain records of quotes and costing data for audits.
• Perform other related duties as needed.

Skills

Cost estimating

Pricing analysis

Manufacturing costing

Data analysis

Independence at work

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in business/finance

Bachelor's degree in accounting/industrial engineering

Tools

Pallet Design System (PDS)

Microsoft Access

Excel

Job description

Job Title: Senior Packaging Costing Specialist

Classification: Exempt

Location: Newton, NC

Position Type: Full Time

Department: Packaging Solutions Group / 'War Room'

Pay Grade: TBD

Reports To: Head of Sales

Effective Date: 08/25/2026

Summary and Objective:

The Senior Packaging Costing Specialist owns and leads the costing and estimating function within the Packaging Solutions Group, serving as the company's primary technical authority on pallet, crate, and custom packaging pricing. This role is responsible for developing accurate, competitive cost estimates, maintaining up-to-date raw material and labor cost data, and building standardized costing tools and procedures used across the company's manufacturing locations. Working as a peer to the Senior Packaging Design Specialist, this position ensures that design decisions are grounded in accurate cost and margin implications, and that every quotation reflects current market conditions and production realities. The Senior Packaging Costing Specialist also provides technical mentorship to other Packaging Solutions staff working on costing-focused projects, helping build estimating capability and consistency across the group.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• 1.Own and lead the costing and estimating function within the Packaging Solutions Group, serving as the primary authority on pricing methodology for pallets, crates, and custom industrial packaging.
• 2.Develop accurate, competitive cost estimates and quotations by analyzing material usage, labor, throughput, waste, and production constraints across the company's manufacturing locations.
• 3.Monitor and maintain current market pricing on lumber, hardware, and other raw materials to ensure costing assumptions remain accurate and up to date.
• 4.Build and maintain standardized costing models and tools within Pallet Design System (PDS), Microsoft Access, and Excel to ensure consistent estimating practices company-wide.
• 5.Partner with the Senior Packaging Design Specialist to align design decisions with cost, margin, and manufacturability implications.
• 6.Review and validate complex or high-value quotes prepared by other Packaging Solutions staff for accuracy and margin integrity.
• 7.Analyze plant-level throughput, waste percentages, and labor and man-hour data to refine costing assumptions and improve estimate accuracy.
• 8.Identify cost-reduction opportunities and pricing risks, communicating findings and recommendations to sales and leadership.
• 9.Serve as the primary technical resource for sales and customers on pricing, quoting, and cost-related questions.
• 10. Coordinate with purchasing to track raw material cost trends and flag pricing shifts that impact active or pending quotes.
• 11. Develop and maintain costing documentation, procedures, and best practices to standardize the estimating process across locations.
• 12. Provide technical guidance and mentorship to Packaging Solutions Specialists and Analysts working on costing-focused projects.
• 13. Troubleshoot discrepancies between estimated and actual production costs, working with operations to identify root causes.
• 14. Maintain organized, well-documented records of quotes, pricing reviews, and costing data to support internal audits and transparency.
• 15. Perform other related duties as assigned to support departmental, operational, and strategic business objectives.

Minimum Required Qualifications:

• High school diploma or equivalent required; bachelor's degree in business, finance, accounting, industrial engineering, or a related field preferred.
• Significant experience in cost estimating, pricing analysis, or manufacturing costing, ideally within pallet, crate, or wood packaging manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of raw material markets, including lumber and hardware, and the ability to track and apply current pricing.
• Ability to analyze throughput, waste, and labor data to build and maintain accurate cost models.
• Proficiency with, or the ability to quickly learn, Pallet Design System (PDS), Microsoft Access, and Excel.
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across sales, purchasing, operations, and customers.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and take ownership of a functional area with minimal oversight.

Desired or Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in finance, accounting, business, industrial engineering, or a related field.
• Five or more years of experience in cost estimating or pricing within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience estimating or costing across multiple plants or production locations.
• Specific familiarity with lumber, hardware, or other packaging raw material markets.
• Experience mentoring or providing technical direction to junior estimating staff.
• Advanced Excel modeling and analysis skills.
• Familiarity with ERP or MRP systems.
• Bilingual (English/Spanish) is a plus.

Core Competencies:

• 1.Humility (lacks ego, team agenda, transparent, trainable, servant orientation)
• 2.Hungry (extra mile, internally driven, self-starter, excellence, passionate, change agent)
• 3.People Smart (interpersonal, group dynamics, influential, self-aware, motivating)
• 4.Competent (knows and can accomplish the task at hand – job, challenges, requirements)
• 5.Integrity (honest, reliable, transparent, strong character, loyal, righteous)

Supervisory Responsibilities:

This position has no direct supervisory responsibilities at this time. However, the role provides technical mentorship and guidance to Packaging Solutions Specialists and Analysts working on costing-focused projects, and requires strong leadership and influence while working with company personnel at multiple levels, customers, and outside vendors.

Physical Demands:

This position primarily involves office-based work requiring extended periods of sitting, computer use, and detailed analytical work while building cost models and reviewing quotations and specifications. The role also requires periodic time on the production floor and occasional travel to other company locations to gather cost and throughput data, validate assumptions, and review production processes, which may involve walking, standing, bending, and occasional lifting of samples, materials, or documentation up to 25 pounds. Strong visual acuity and the ability to communicate clearly in person, by phone, and in writing are required.

Work is primarily performed in an office setting within or adjacent to a manufacturing facility, with regular exposure to a production environment when gathering cost data or validating throughput and labor assumptions on the plant floor. Conditions in the manufacturing area may include noise, dust, and varying temperatures typical of a wood packaging production facility. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) is required when on the production floor, in accordance with company safety policies. The role requires close collaboration with sales, purchasing, operations, and customers across the company's locations, and may involve occasional flexibility in schedule to meet customer or production deadlines.

Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are normally Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Some night and weekend work may be required. Working remotely is at the discretion of the immediate supervisor.

Travel:

This position requires occasional travel, up to 15%, to support costing activities, data gathering, and coordination across the company's manufacturing locations.

AAP/EEO Statement:

All recruiting, hiring, training, promotion, compensation, and other employment related decisions are provided fairly to all persons on an equal opportunity basis without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Employee Acknowledgement:

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and work responsibilities of the position. This job description and the duties of this position are subject to change, modification and addition as deemed necessary by the company. Employees are required to comply with supervisory instructions and perform other job duties, responsibilities and assignments required by company officials. This job description does not constitute an employment contract between the company and any employee. The job responsibilities of this position may include cross-training in other functions to ensure satisfactory operation.

I have read the above job description. I understand its contents and have had an opportunity to discuss with a member of management or the HR team. By signing below, I agree that I understand what is expected of me and can comply with all requirements of this position.

Employee Signature: ______________________________________ Date: _________________