Paper Innovation Director

Paper Innovation Manager / Director

Reporting to: VP of R&D, Innovation Institute® (i2)
Location: Norcross, GA
Travel: 25–50% first year; 25% thereafter

At Georgia‑Pacific Packaging, paper innovation is built for enterprise scale, customer relevance, and measurable value. The Paper Innovation Manager / Director plays a pivotal leadership role at the Innovation Institute® (i2), serving as the enterprise‑wide paper science authority that connects research, operations, and customers to deliver differentiated packaging solutions.
This role leads the Paper Science Lab (PSL) and paper innovation portfolio, translating paper science, paper making capability, and emerging technologies into scalable, profitable outcomes for GP’s container board mills, corrugated plants, and end customers. You will shape the future of paper‑based packaging by pairing deep technical expertise with principled leadership, customer curiosity, and business acumen.

What You Will Do Lead the Paper Science Lab & Paper Innovation Portfolio

• Own and evolve GP Packaging’s paper innovation portfolio, aligning projects to strategic priorities, customer needs, and compelling ROI.
• Lead the Paper Science Lab at i2 as a world‑class R&D and testing resource for container board mills, box plants, and customers.
• Guide the identification, scoping, and execution of new paper products, processes, and technologies, from concept through mill trial and commercialization.
• Partner with business leaders to prioritize work that maximizes value creation and competitive advantage.

Develop People & Capability

• Lead, coach, and develop a contribution‑motivated PSL team.
• Establish clear Roles, Responsibilities, and Expectations (RREs) tied to value creation, experimentation, and individual growth.
• Foster a culture of principled decision‑making, learning, and scientific rigor.
• Identify and remove technical, organizational, or resource bottlenecks that limit speed to value.

Manage Resources & External Connectivity

• Own the PSL budget, lab footprint, and equipment strategy within i2.
• Maintain strong connectivity to suppliers, emerging technologies, academic research, and external demand drivers.
• Ensure GP remains at the forefront of paper science, sustainability‑driven innovation, and material performance.

Strategic Customer & Business Engagement

• Serve in a customer‑facing leadership role, supporting direct engagement with corrugated box plants and end customers.
• Translate customer needs into paper performance opportunities and innovation pathways.
• Build and maintain a working knowledge of the processes, constraints, and capabilities of GP Container board mills, GP Box, Mailers, and Hummingbird facilities.
• Support i2 customer visits, trainings, and showcases by providing a credible paper mill and R&D perspective.

Enterprise Partnership & Commercialization

• Partner across GP R&D, Operations, Commercial, and Innovation teams to identify profitable paper growth opportunities.
• Develop points of view (POVs) on where paper innovation can unlock new markets, performance advantages, or cost positions.
• Work closely with Operations to design, execute, and scale mill trials that lead to commercial adoption.
• Build strong collaborative relationships across i2 and the NTC Paper making Platform to leverage shared knowledge, tools, and assets.

Who You Are (Basic Qualifications)

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Material Science, Paper Science, or a related scientific field.
• Significant on‑site paper mill experience in process engineering, operations, or R&D/innovation roles.
• Demonstrated people leadership and supervisory experience.

What Will Put You Ahead

• Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in a relevant technical discipline.
• Proven portfolio and project management experience in an R&D or innovation environment.
• Hands‑on paper mill and R&D lab experience, including trial design and commercialization.
• Experience engaging customers or commercial partners in technical innovation discussions.

Benefits

We provide medical, dental, vision, flexible spending and health savings accounts, life insurance, ADD, disability, retirement, paid vacation/time off, educational assistance, and may also include infertility assistance, paid parental leave and adoption assistance. Eligibility criteria are set by the applicable Summary Plan Description, policy or guideline and benefits may vary by geographic region. If you have questions on what benefits apply to you, please speak to your recruiter.

Equal

Opportunities

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and protected veteran status. Except where prohibited by state law, some offers of employment are conditioned upon successfully passing a drug test. This employer uses E‑Verify.

Hiring Philosophy

All Koch companies value diversity of thought, perspectives, aptitudes, experiences, and backgrounds. We are Military Ready and Second Chance employers. Learn more about our hiring philosophy here.

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