Principal Packaging Engineer

As part of an entrepreneurial-culture, the ideal candidate will be open to stretching within the R&D function and will develop a broad skill set and critical experiences in this role.  Ability to create “go to market” solutions that deliver product efficiently via multiple distribution platforms and maintain a current understanding of packaging technologies, process and material sustainability, as well as technology developments within the packaging industry is expected.  The candidate will be required to transfer technology within internal plants and co-packers to optimize overall system cost and efficiency.  Looking for a critical thinker with exceptional communication, influencing, and relationship management skills who thrives in a fast-paced environment.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Manages and executes multiple simultaneous packaging projects with minimal supervision
• Maintains open communication and builds strong relationships with internal & external teams from cross functional partners to suppliers
• Innovative thinking and solution-oriented problem-solving skills. Knowledge of troubleshooting tools / techniques desired
• Participate as an active member of cross-functional business development teams comprised of individuals from a variety of disciplines, including Marketing, Purchasing, Engineering and other groups
• Support the identification and implementation of cost savings opportunities, looking both at individual component level as well as process improvements and manufacturing efficiency gains
• Design and execute package testing and evaluation, including production line trials, to validate packaging performance
• Provide support to manufacturing during the implementation of commercialization activities and packaging changes
• Builds, maintains, and leverages external network of material and equipment vendors and co-manufacturing partners
• Must demonstrate an ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial and consumer-driven environment
• Strong desire to learn and grow in multiple cross-functional areas
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and manage risk in a fast-paced environment with ambiguity and change
• Tackle ambiguous problems to determine and prioritize business strategies

**If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Kristine O’Sullivan at kosullivan@cps4jobs.com.

JO:  120.24KO
#LI-KO1

Technical Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Science / Engineering, Chemical or Mechanical Engineering, or related field required
• Must be located in Chicago, IL or willing to relocate to Chicago, IL for the duration of employment
• Willingness to adapt and thrive in a blended work environment, seamlessly transitioning between remote work and in-office operations as required
• Four years of experience in packaging development roles, ideally in the high-volume food or consumer goods industries
• Must have experience in the development and execution of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging materials, and have knowledge of the interrelationship with equipment
• Must have four years’ experience executing scale up activities; writing plant trial protocols, leading qualification and scale up trials at manufacturing sites, and completing trial reports with recommendations for manufacturing to deliver successful production of a finished good
• Strong track record of identifying opportunities, setting priorities, and delivering results in complex, cross-functional organization
• Strong project management skills in developing project timelines with multiple cross-functional touchpoints
• Must have conceptual, analytical, and technical skills with excellent communication and presentation skills
• Excellent written and oral communication skills
• Must be able to travel domestically and internationally 15-25% of the time
• Must be able to lift product cases unassisted at plant trials and prepare pallets for testing

**If you’d like to hear more about this opportunity and others we are currently working on, please contact Kristine O’Sullivan at kosullivan@cps4jobs.com.

JO:  120.24KO
#LI-KO1