Job Purpose:
The Director leads the transformation of Packaging into a strategic Center of Excellence within R&D, ensuring it drives innovation, consumer experience, operational efficiency, and sustainability. This role stewards packaging capability across all categories and markets, delivering differentiated, cost-effective solutions from concept to commercialization.
Key Responsibilities:
- Innovation & Design: Translate consumer insights, brand vision, and sustainability goals into innovative packaging formats and experiences.
- Engineering & Feasibility: Oversee trials, plant validations, and tooling development to ensure technical readiness and compatibility.
- Performance & Compliance: Establish and manage testing protocols, ensuring adherence to quality, safety, and regulatory standards.
- Supplier Partnerships: Build strong collaborations to co-develop scalable, cost-effective, and innovative packaging.
- Sustainability Leadership: Drive 4R strategies (reduce, reuse, recycle, replace) and align with ESG requirements and global regulations.
- CoE Governance: Institutionalize standards, workflows, and knowledge systems to enable consistent, scalable execution.
- Capability Building: Coach teams, embed packaging thinking in business planning, and represent Packaging in strategic forums.
Qualifications:
- Experience: 10+ years in packaging development/engineering, with at least 5 years in leadership; proven track record across multiple packaging formats, sustainability, and supplier management.
- Education: Bachelor's in Packaging Engineering, Materials Science, Industrial Design, or related field; Master's or certification in Packaging/Sustainability preferred.
- Skills: Expertise in packaging science, materials engineering, and design for manufacturability; strong project management, supplier influence, sustainability frameworks, and regulatory knowledge.
