Manager, Structural Packaging Design

Overview

A growing and highly respected packaging manufacturer is seeking an experienced Packaging Design Manager to lead its structural packaging design function. This leadership role is responsible for overseeing the development of innovative folding carton and paperboard packaging solutions that meet customer expectations while balancing manufacturability, functionality, sustainability, and cost.

The Packaging Design Manager will lead a team of structural designers and serve as a key technical resource for customers, sales, manufacturing, customer service, and production teams. This individual will drive packaging innovation from concept through commercialization, ensuring designs can be efficiently manufactured while delivering exceptional value to customers.

This role is ideal for a hands‑on packaging professional who enjoys leading teams, solving complex packaging challenges, collaborating directly with customers, and influencing the development of high-quality packaging solutions in a fast‑paced manufacturing environment.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of structural designers.
• Establish departmental goals, performance expectations, and best practices.
• Prioritize workloads and resources to ensure project deadlines and customer commitments are achieved.
• Conduct performance evaluations and support professional development initiatives.
• Foster a collaborative, customer‑focused, and innovation‑driven culture.
• Promote accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement throughout the design organization.

• Direct the design and development of folding carton and paperboard packaging solutions from concept through production.
• Develop creative structural packaging designs that optimize functionality, cost, sustainability, and manufacturability.
• Oversee prototype development and production‑ready CAD drawings.
• Review and approve structural designs prior to customer presentations and manufacturing release.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders to ensure designs align with production capabilities and customer requirements.
• Recommend design enhancements that improve package performance, production efficiency, and overall product quality.

• Serve as the primary structural packaging expert for both customers and internal teams.
• Participate in customer meetings to understand objectives, challenges, and packaging requirements.
• Present design concepts, prototypes, and technical recommendations.
• Develop strong customer relationships through responsiveness, technical expertise, and innovative problem‑solving.
• Partner with sales teams to support new business opportunities and packaging development initiatives.

• Manage multiple packaging development projects simultaneously while maintaining quality, cost, and delivery expectations.
• Coordinate closely with Sales, Estimating, Manufacturing, Production, Customer Service, and Supply Chain teams.
• Track project timelines and ensure successful execution from concept through commercialization.
• Identify potential risks, production concerns, and project obstacles before they impact customer deliverables.
• Maintain effective communication among all stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.

• Research market trends, sustainable packaging solutions, new materials, and emerging technologies.
• Lead initiatives focused on improving manufacturing efficiency, reducing waste, lowering costs, and increasing productivity.
• Develop and maintain structural design standards, documentation, and best practices.
• Evaluate new software, equipment, and technologies that support design and manufacturing excellence.
• Drive innovation efforts that enhance packaging performance and customer satisfaction.

• 7+ years of experience in structural packaging design within folding carton, paperboard, or related packaging environments.
• Experience managing packaging development projects from concept through production.
• Strong customer‑facing experience supporting packaging design and development initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to lead…