Packaging Engineer Manager

About the role

The Packaging Engineer Manager role leads complex packaging projects and teams to design, develop, optimize, and specify packaging materials that deliver clear consumer benefits through new products, quality improvements, and cost-saving initiatives. The position applies industry-leading technologies and tools, leverages strong supplier relationships, and effectively manages intellectual property while ensuring projects are delivered on time and on budget.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end packaging projects, from concept through commercialization, to deliver new products, quality enhancements, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Design, develop, and optimize packaging materials and solutions that provide tangible consumer benefits and support brand and product strategies.
• Apply industry-leading packaging technologies, tools, and methodologies to create innovative, efficient, and sustainable packaging solutions.
• Leverage and manage relationships with suppliers to identify new materials, technologies, and processes that improve performance, quality, or cost.
• Effectively manage intellectual property related to packaging designs and technologies, ensuring appropriate protection and compliance.
• Use project management methodologies to plan, execute, and track packaging projects, delivering results on time and within budget.
• Provide regular status updates and clear communication to stakeholders at all levels of the organization, ensuring transparency and alignment.
• Offer technical leadership for packaging development by defining and sharing best practices, standards, and guidelines across the team and broader organization.
• Continually update and expand business-relevant technical expertise in packaging, materials, and related technologies.
• Drive the technical development of team members through teaching, coaching, mentoring, and identifying future technical leaders.
• Influence the technical direction of the business by contributing packaging insights and recommendations to strategic decisions.
• Lead and manage a small team, including 2–3 direct reports, providing day-to-day guidance, performance feedback, and development support.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional partners, including R&D, manufacturing, quality, procurement, and commercial teams, to ensure packaging solutions meet all requirements.
• Support commercialization activities in biscuit or similar product environments, ensuring packaging is robust, scalable, and ready for full production.
• Prioritize multiple projects and manage complexity, balancing short-term deliverables with long-term strategic initiatives.
• Demonstrate executional excellence by consistently following through on commitments, resolving issues quickly, and driving projects to completion.
• Model and promote company values by leading through example, fostering a culture of collaboration, integrity, and continuous improvement.
• Use analytical tools and software, including Word, Excel, and Minitab, to document, analyze, and communicate packaging data and project outcomes.

Requirements

• B.S. or M.S. degree in Packaging or a technical discipline such as Mechanical, Industrial, Chemical, or Food Engineering.
• Approximately 8 years of experience in packaging development.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including leading projects and/or teams.
• Strong technical foundation in packaging science, materials, and packaging technologies.
• High level of technical curiosity and willingness to continually learn and apply new concepts.
• Proven ability to work effectively with all levels of the organization, from technical teams to leadership.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in software tools including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Experience using Minitab or similar statistical/analytical software.
• Ability to influence others and achieve results by working with diverse, cross-functional teams.
• Strong executional excellence, personal leadership, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with commercialization in a biscuit or similar food manufacturing environment.
• Proven capability in people coaching and development.

Qualifications

• Experience in the food industry, particularly in biscuits, baked snacks, or similar product categories.
• Experience in packaging engineering leadership or packaging engineering management.
• Demonstrated leadership development experience, including mentoring and growing technical talent.
• Experience in people management and leading small technical teams.
• Ability to define, document, and share technical best practices in packaging.
• Track record of living company values and leading by example in day-to-day work.
• Comfort working in a large, global organization with diverse teams and stakeholders.

Skills

• Strong technical foundation in packaging science, materials, and packaging technologies.
• High level of technical curiosity and willingness to continually learn and apply new concepts.
• Proven ability to work effectively with all levels of the organization, from technical teams to leadership.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in software tools including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Experience using Minitab or similar statistical/analytical software.
• Ability to influence others and achieve results by working with diverse, cross-functional teams.
• Strong executional excellence, personal leadership, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with commercialization in a biscuit or similar food manufacturing environment.
• Proven capability in people coaching and development.