Position Overview:

Represent the culture and DNA of the brand through packaging and production for new launch initiatives. This position will have individual project responsibilities and will lead all aspects of packaging, production, and quality. This person will identify and develop new packaging solutions to include primary, secondary and tertiary systems and technologies that support the brand development and product strategy. Act as technical expert for brand to determine usage, design, and quality requirements are met for a successful product launch and act as sounding board for team’s projects to ensure the same.

The Director of Packaging will lead necessary supplier and tooling qualification, testing and value engineering solutions contributing to consumer wins. Manage technical discovery phase of NPD projects in order to conclude assessments of the cost and technical feasibility and manage impacts to related functions such as supply chain, finance, consumer usage and intellectual property.

Principle Accountabilities:

Package Engineering & Production

• Manage, coach and support packaging and process engineer direct reports. Build team to ensure new brands are set up for success, whether through acquisition or organic creation.
• Drive innovation into brand with new concepts, technology, and delivery systems that support Product Development and Brand initiatives.
• Lead design for manufacturability while achieving the brand positioning through the development stages. Support Onsite qualifications, line trial’s, compatibility, scale-up and Mass production as required.
• Manage tooling kick-off, qualification, and validation for all newly tooled project. Ensure fit, form, and function of each tooled package is met from drawing stage through tooling completion.
• Work with Production and Quality to define package specifications, design criteria, and quality defect ranges to ensure all package quality requirements are met. Ensure optimal process flow with partners from manufacture of components through filling and assembly.
• Provide technical reports and risk analysis with recommended solutions or guidance to business owners.
• Oversee the on-going quality and production of new and existing components and formulas, production scale up and continued operations by supporting the QA manager and factory to trouble shoot any on-going issues.
• Determine tooling strategy that supports program forecast and weekly rate of production requirements to meet launch timing.

Sourcing & Project Management

• Partner with Sourcing and PMO for program cost, tooling estimates, development lead time, and manufacturability.
• Lead cost feasibility and analysis for new launches to ensure margin targets are met. Coordinate with Brand and Product Development partners where needed to ensure cost and project requirements are met. Recommend changes where needed to maintain targets.
• Build value analysis into every project to ensure each is the most cost effective while achieving stated design criteria, function, and quality guidelines.

Sustainability

• Serve as internal leader and expert for sustainability. Monitor emerging trends, programs, and technologies that will benefit each brand to ensure sustainability goals are met
• Collaborate with regulatory to issue and update brand, retailer guidelines
• Lead internal sustainability updates to both Operations and Brand teams to ensure all are aware of new regulations and innovations in sustainability

Key Working Relationships:

• Brand Development
• Creative
• Project Management
• Sourcing and Production
• Product Development/Regulatory
• Distribution and Transportation
• Quality Assurance
• Third Party Supply Partners

Required Skills & Experience:

• BS in Packaging Science
• +10 years packaging, sourcing, and operations experience with the Health and Beauty industry
• Experience managing a small, highly functioning team of diverse disciplines and backgrounds
• Strong Technical Development Experience
• Experience leading and implementing process improvement initiatives
• Strong organization and follow up skills
• Ability to multi-task, meet deadlines, and prioritize
• Strong problem-solving capabilities and a hands-on approach.
• Good project management skills
• Good interpersonal skills

Must be able to perform essential functions (with or without an accommodation) without posing a "direct threat" to the health and safety to self or others. The Company reserves the right to alter, change, abolish and even combine jobs depending upon changing conditions.