Packaging Group Leader - NA R&D

Job Description

Are You Ready to Make It Happen at Mondelēz International?

Join our Mission to Lead the Future of Snacking. Make It With Pride.

This is a Packaging Development R&D position in the NA Business Unit responsible for delivering against the Productivity, Sustainability, Waste and Quality agendas, physically located in East Hanover, NJ. The individual must possess experience in managing people, package development, technical expertise in flexible films, rigid plastic trays, paperboard cartons and corrugate boxes and plant trial execution in the commercialization process in a fast‑paced environment.

The individual must possess technical skills, the ability to learn on the fly and execute independently by leveraging their expertise and experience. This candidate must demonstrate the ability to be a strong team leader representing our technical organization. They must be able to find technical or process solutions when problems are identified during the qualification of packaging on our production lines, with timely and effective communication to key stakeholders such as local BD, Engineering, Manufacturing and Quality, as well as the cross‑functional team including Procurement, Marketing, PCDM, CS&L, Product and Process Development.

The scope of this position is a Packaging Group Leader managing a small group of Junior Engineers, as well as a Project Lead executing against programs in the Sustainability and Productivity agendas.

• Lead the Productivity and Sustainability Group and serve as project lead for significant Packaging Development Initiatives supporting key NA Regional packaging programs. Accountable for delivering programs from concept to commercialization, working closely with Packaging and Procurement teams, operations, business teams, and other internal and external partners.
• Act as Packaging Development Leader for a Packaging Team, interacting with cross‑functional teams, managing timelines, providing timely communication and updates to Management, outlining issues, risks and contingency plans, and driving commercialization on Productivity and Commercialization packaging initiatives.
• Properly document and communicate project progress and findings to all key peer and Senior Leadership stakeholders.
• Focus on developing Junior Engineers’ technical expertise, improving their strengths and development needs, and providing career guidance.
• Responsible for the Packaging Team that will conduct and coordinate functional testing including plant trials, lab testing, shelf‑life studies and material vendor evaluations, including analysis of data, results and follow‑up recommendations and action plans. Direct reports are responsible, and the candidate is accountable for project deliverables.
• Maintain working knowledge of the specification system and others to support the role, develop written packaging specifications, and complete thorough plant trial reports.

• Execute Productivity programs with high demand activities across the NA manufacturing network in Mexico, the US and Canada, covering all products including Biscuits, Chocolate and Candy. Support programs from concept initiation through commercialization and develop/lead timeline development, risk assessment and contingency plans to ensure execution on projects.
• Have a technical understanding of Packaging Specifications required for commercializing robust performance‑based specs and improving spec quality. Assess the spec portfolio and find productivity through optimization or harmonization across paperboard cartons, flexible films, corrugate cases and rigid plastic trays.
• Follow the I2M process (commercialization) for assigned projects and maintain communication with key stakeholders for implementation. Participate in project update meetings led by PCM and key cross‑functional team members or critical updates to senior leadership, providing accurate status updates with sufficient technical knowledge in a timely manner to avoid potential delays.
• Lead plant trials for packaging materials, working with cross‑functional teams (Marketing, Procurement, Business…