Packaging Technologist

About the role

Bringing our love of food to families for five generations! Blount Fine Foods is a family-owned and operated manufacturer, marketer, and developer of premium fresh prepared foods. We are an engaging team, bringing restaurant-quality products to America including single-serve grab-n-go fresh soups, mac & cheese, and entrées in grocery stores across the country, as well as for hot bars and restaurants. Help us create the finest food experiences including those with specialty certifications that include organic, gluten-free, and low sodium, among others.

Responsibilities

• Lead packaging development for new product launches, redesigns, continuous improvement in manufacturing, cost reduction, and sustainability initiatives.
• Communicate with packaging vendors on new designs and benchtop testing for various packaging types including rigid/flexible plastics, paperboard, labels, and corrugate.
• Coordinate and conduct packaging tests at multiple production facilities. Design robust testing methods, document key metrics, analyze results, and provide recommendations based on testing outcomes.
• Manage packaging project timelines, deliverables, sample needs, trial readiness, and documentation from concept through implementation.
• Maintain up-to-date packaging specifications, weights and measures for customer portals, EPR regulations, and internal use.
• Collaborate with Operations, Procurement, and other teams to troubleshoot operational issues and optimize packaging performance across production lines.
• Support company sustainability goals through packaging improvements focused on source reduction, recyclability, recycled content, right-sizing, lightweighting, waste reduction, and supplier innovation.
• Consult with Engineering team on equipment purchases and transfers from R&D perspective.
• Collaborate with co-manufacturer partners to offer packaging expertise and ensure Blount’s standards are met for process, product type, distribution, shelf-life targets, etc.
• Research new and evolving packaging technology, trends, capabilities, and other advancements to share with Blount teams.
• Some travel required between Blount facilities, to packaging vendor’s facilities, industry expos, on-site courses, and training, etc.
• Additional responsibilities with similar skill and work conditions, as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree (B. S.) in Packaging Science, Food Science, Mechanical Engineering or a related field; 2-5 years of experience in packaging, food production, or food technology; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Strong attention to detail.
• Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Develop a solid understanding of packaging applications via the R&D process.
• Be both attentive to details and mindful of a bigger picture.

Benefits

• Medical, dental and vision benefits.
• 401k with Company match.
• Paid time off including vacation, sick time and holidays.
• Education Assistance Program.
• Life Insurance and Short-Term Disability.
• Discounts on Blount products at Company retail location.
• Discretionary Annual Bonus Program.

Pay

The pay range for this position is $70,000 to $80,000 per year.