Senior Packaging Development Manager

Jobtailor; California (MO); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Jobtailor seeks a senior packaging development leader to direct the Americas direct-contact, secondary, and tertiary packaging strategy, guiding cross‑functional teams.

You will partner with supply chain, sales, marketing, and project management to drive new package innovations, optimize material use, manage budgets, and mentor a global team.

Frequent domestic and international travel is expected as teams scale up packaging across facilities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university in packaging engineering, food engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, polymer/materials engineering, or related science field.
• A minimum of 10 years related packaging development in CPG industry and 7 years of being a mid-senior manager with hands-on management experience.
• Business and commercial awareness; ability to influence other business members; excellent communication, interpersonal skills, and teamwork.
• Prefer Packaging Professional Certification (CPP).
• Advanced knowledge and hands-on experience in a wide range of package materials and technologies.
• Technical knowledge of packaging equipment and processes such as form-fill-seal, shrink tunnel, labeler, case packer, conveying system.
• Prefer training and experience in Lean and Six Sigma, or equivalent.
• Advanced knowledge of food product/package development flow from ideation to product launch in a consumer goods environment.
• Strong knowledge of food processing and product/package needs and interactions.
• Highly creative with ability to create new-to-the-world packages and packaging concepts.
• Ability to synthesize diverse technologies into innovative packaging solutions.
• Ability to translate consumer needs into packaging innovations.
• Good knowledge of government agencies pertaining to the food industry.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations (FSMA, FDA, USDA, CFR).

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage package development team for America zone markets and other applicable markets.
• Align zone strategies with global package strategies and monitor latest package technology developments.
• Manage annual budgets and KPIs for the packaging development team.
• Maintain networking with global packaging community for initiatives and cross-zone projects.
• Collaborate with west/east coast plant teams to scale up new pack formats and relocate packages.
• Drive ideation and realization (I&R) package solutions meeting business objectives.
• Provide in-depth technical expertise in designing packaging specifications and test methods.
• Approve design of concepts, experiments, and technical specifications for zone materials.
• Engage with agencies, vendors, and testing services to develop components aligned with growth and sustainability.

Skills

Packaging leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Lean Six Sigma

Team management

Communication

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in packaging engineering or related field

Tools

Form-Fill-Seal Equipment

Shrink Tunnel

Labeler

Case Packer

Conveying System

CPP Certification

Job description

• Lead and manage package development team in food direct contact package, secondary & tertiary package development for America zone markets and other applicable markets.
• Lead and execute Zone’s package development strategies aligned with global package strategies; Keep abreast of the latest package technology development and be able to maximize their application in products; partner with internal functions within supply chains, sales, marketing, and project management teams, managing new package capability development, value improvement initiatives, and supply chain sustainability.
• Manage annual budgets, and KPI for package development team.
• Maintain close linkage and networking with global packaging community for global package initiatives and competence development as well as specific package projects cross zones based on capability.
• Close partnership with the west coast and east coast plant multi-function teams, and project team to scale up new pack types and pack formats for production and relocate packages across facilities.
• Lead package development process in accordance with company guide/requirements that best suit for zone applications; propose ideation and realization (I&R) package solutions and deliver the working quality that fulfill the business objectives and expectation from internal/external stakeholders.
• Provide in depth technical expertise in designing and defining package and packaging specifications, including test methods; package/machine capability studies and their impact on package performance and specifications.
• Approve design of concept/experiment/test methodologies/technical specifications on zone package materials.
• Engage with government agencies, trade associations, vendors, package development groups, and testing services to develop and manufacture components which meet the company's business strategies for growth, sustainability, value, performance, and reliability if needed.
• Be able to travel domestically and internationally when required. Before east coast facility is fully operative (2026 – 2029), more frequent travelling between west coast facility and east coast facility is expected than usual per project scope requirement. Be able to provide opportunities to utilize and develop the team talents. Projects may be assigned as determine by the leaders based on skill and strategic intent.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree from four-year college or university in packaging engineering, food engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, polymer/materials engineering, or related science field required.
• A minimum of 10 years related packaging development in CPG industry and 7 years of being a mid-senior manager in the related field with solid hands-on management and supervisory skill and experience.
• Business and commercial awareness; ability to influence other business members; excellent communication, interpersonal skills, and teamwork.
• Prefer Packaging Professional Certification (CPP).
• Advanced knowledge and hands-on experience in wide range of package materials, such as polymers, glass, metal, flexible, paperboard & corrugated packaging material, and manufacturing process; printing and decoration technologies to enhance brand equity and shelf appeal of package; conversion technologies like injection molding, thermoforming and blow molding.
• Technical knowledge of packaging equipment and process equipment, such as, form-fill-seal, shrink tunnel, labeler, case packer, conveying system etc.
• Prefer training and experience in Lean and Six Sigma, or equivalent.
• Advanced knowledge of food product/package development flow from ideation to product launch in a consumer goods environment.
• Strong knowledge of food processing and a strong working knowledge of product/package needs and interactions.
• Highly creative individual with proven ability to create new-to-the-world packages and packaging concepts.
• Ability to bring together diverse technologies and concepts to create new to the world package innovation.
• Ability to work with brand and consumer research to understand unmet consumer needs, lead package development team, and translate those into successful packaging innovations.
• Good knowledge of government agencies pertaining to the food industry.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations is preferred (FSMA, FDA, USDA, CFR (Code of Federal Regulation, Canadian Food Inspection regulation, FTC).

Core Competencies

Demonstrates advanced knowledge in packaging development, including materials and processes, with a strong focus on innovation and sustainability. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex projects in the consumer packaged goods industry.

Highest-signal resume keywords

• Packaging Development Management
• Advanced Knowledge of Package Materials
• Technical Knowledge of Packaging Equipment
• Packaging Professional Certification (CPP)
• Food Safety Regulations Knowledge

ATS Optimization Keywords

Hard Skills

• Packaging Engineering
• Food Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Polymer/Materials Engineering
• Lean and Six Sigma
• Injection Molding
• Thermoforming
• Blow Molding
• Package Specifications Design

Soft Skills

• Excellent Communication
• Interpersonal Skills
• Teamwork
• Business and Commercial Awareness
• Creativity

Certifications & Qualifications

• Packaging Professional Certification (CPP)

Industry Keywords

• Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)
• Food Processing
• Food Safety Regulations
• Government Agencies
• Sustainability

Tools & Technologies

• Form-Fill-Seal Equipment
• Shrink Tunnel
• Labeler
• Case Packer
• Conveying System