Packaging Specialist, Discovery & Innovation

Innovation Leadership

Lead upstream packaging innovation by developing and advancing early-stage concepts that align with PDI's future platforms and strategic priorities.

Transform consumer insights and market signals into actionable designs and solutions, using strong commercial and technical judgement.

Engage with suppliers, startups, and academic institutions to leverage external innovation, exploring novel materials and technologies that can enhance packaging solutions.

Portfolio Management

Curate and oversee a balanced portfolio of opportunities across various time horizons, ensuring alignment with the Discovery & Innovation roadmap and maximizing long-term value.

Project Ownership and Execution

Assume full ownership of assigned innovation workstreams, managing project scope, timelines, and execution with a commitment to high-quality standards and successful handoffs to Product Development.

Design, build, and test prototypes through rapid experimentation, allowing for swift learning and informed go/no-go decisions to evaluate scalability and feasibility.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Collaborate closely with Discovery & Innovation scientists and engineers to seamlessly integrate packaging into early research, ensuring cohesive development workflows.

Risk Assessment and Mitigation

Identify and address technical, material, and regulatory risks early in the process, developing mitigation strategies to facilitate smooth downstream development.

Decision Support and Communication

Synthesize findings into comprehensive technical narratives that support portfolio decisions and effectively communicate insights and recommendations to stakeholders.

Qualifications

• BS in Packaging Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, or related scientific discipline from an accredited program
• Advanced degree preferred
• 3–6 years in packaging engineering, materials development, or innovation-focused R&D
• Experience supporting early-stage research or feasibility work
• Exposure to regulated environments (FDA, EPA, medical device, pharma, or consumer healthcare)
• Experience with prototyping, testing, or concept evaluation

Skills/Abilities

• Apply strong packaging fundamentals to solve ambiguous, early-stage problems
• Translate insights into differentiated concepts and clear recommendations
• Design and execute experiments to assess feasibility and risk
• Synthesize technical findings into clear, decision-ready outputs
• Communicate effectively with cross-functional stakeholders
• Build strong partnerships internally and externally
• Demonstrate ownership, accountability, and follow-through
• Stay current on emerging technologies and innovation trends
• Leverage digital and AI-enabled tools to accelerate research and development