Head of Plastic Closures Technology

Location: Vreeland

Head of Plastic Closures Technology
Job

Requisition #: 034168 (Open)

The Head of Plastic Closures Technology reports to the VP Product Solutions & Innovation and is accountable for leading and coordinating all global technical activities related to the Plastic Closures substrate within the innovative Closures SBU. The role provides technical leadership, governance, and strategic direction across product design, manufacturing processes, tooling, and cost structure for Plastic Closures worldwide. It ensures alignment of technical developments with Greif’s business strategy, safety, quality standards, sustainability objectives, and Stage Gate Product Development & Innovation process.

The position serves as the global technical authority for Plastic Closures, driving product improvements, manufacturing best practices, process standardization, tooling longevity, and continuous scalable manufacturing cost reduction initiatives.

Key Responsibilities

Lead and globally coordinate technical development activities for the Plastic Closures substrate across all regions.

Act as the technical owner and subject matter expert for Plastic Closures products, materials, processes, and tooling.

Drive continuous product improvement initiatives, including performance, safety, durability, reliability, and customer value.

Define, develop, and deploy Manufacturing Best Demonstrated Practices (BDPs) specific to Plastic Closures.

Lead process standardization efforts across plants to ensure consistent quality, efficiency, and operational excellence.

Establish and execute strategies to reduce cycle times, downtime, and improve asset utilization.

Lead global initiatives focused on manufacturing cost reduction, including material optimization, process efficiency, scrap reduction, and cycle time improvements.

Partner closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Procurement, and Supply Chain to ensure robust industrialization and scalability of Plastic Closures solutions.

Define global technical standards, specifications, and guidelines for Plastic Closures products and processes.

Support capital investment decisions by providing technical evaluations, feasibility studies, and ROI input for Plastic Closures-related equipment and tooling.

Interface with external suppliers, OEMs, and technology partners to identify and implement new raw materials and manufacturing technologies.

Provide technical support and escalation leadership for complex manufacturing or product quality issues.

Mentor, coach, and technically guide regional and plant-level engineering and technical teams.

Track and report progress, risks, and technical KPIs to senior leadership.

Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, quality, and sustainability requirements across all Plastic Closures technical activities.

Build strong cross-functional relationships at global, regional, and local levels to enable effective execution.

Education & Experience

Bachelor’s degree (B.S.) in Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, Materials Engineering, Polymers, or a related technical discipline.

10+ years of progressive technical leadership experience in plastic packaging, injection molding, closures, or high-volume manufacturing environments.

Strong background in injection and co-injection processes, molds, manufacturing automation, and process optimization.

Proven track record in cost reduction, process standardization, and operational excellence initiatives.

Knowledge & Skills

Deep technical knowledge of polymer materials, injection molding, and related manufacturing technologies.

Strong understanding of tooling design, wear mechanisms, and life-cycle optimization.

Strategic thinking with strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

Results-oriented with a continuous improvement mindset.

Excellent interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills across cultures and geographies.

Ability to lead through influence in matrixed organizations.

Customer-focused mindset with strong internal and external collaboration skills.

Comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving clarity in complex technical environments.

Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as required.

EEO Statement
Greif is an equal opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against any applicant or employee on the basis of sex, race, religion, age, national origin, color, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic. For more information read Greif’s Equal Opportunity Policy:

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