Packaging Development Americas Sr Manager

Job Purpose

To lead the development and implementation of Region Americas packaging (cross‑categories), delivering the best packaging experience to our consumers, while achieving the optimal balance among superior quality, environmental responsibility, and operational efficiency inside the perimeter of competence.

This is a hybrid role based out of Northbrook, IL.

• People Management
  • Lead, mentor, motivate and direct two reports fostering a collaborative and result‑driven work environment.
  • Define and lead the Americas packaging development strategies building the necessary technical and managerial know‑how, optimizing workplace productivity, and promoting professional growth.
  • Set clear objectives, delegate tasks while providing the needed managerial and technical support and regular feedback.
  • Ensure effective communication and coordination within the packaging team and other relevant departments, working in close collaboration with other leaders.
• New Packaging Development and Industrialization
  • Lead the development and industrialization of new packaging solutions (Consumer, Trade and Handling Units), based on existing and/or available technologies, for the Region Americas Masterplan projects, starting from consumers and customers' needs understanding and applying a Shopper/Consumer/Customer’s Design driven approach.
  • Guarantee that the developed packaging solutions ensure recipe protection all along the product's shelf life, while matching logistic and distribution channel key requirements for both primary (shelf) and secondary (out of shelf) placement, enhancing packaging sustainability.
  • Work in close partnership with project leaders and the heads of other relevant departments to ensure the projects are delivered according to the expected quality and industrial standards and in line with the defined costs and timing.
• Existing Portfolio Management
  • Packaging ESG strategy: influence the Region Americas in the implementation of the ESG strategy, ensuring long‑term goals achievement, always guaranteeing superior quality experience for our consumers and full alignment with the future business needs of the category.
  • Designed-quality continuous improvement: based on deep consumer understanding, define the strategy both to significantly improve the consumer experience and to give actual value to the business.
  • Design to Value and PCM projects: define the strategy to make Region Americas packaging system more competitive, while ensuring to deliver to our consumers the best packaging experience.
  • Supply security: partner with Purchasing and QFS directors in order to co‑design an effective packaging purchasing strategy aiming to protect the Region Americas against business interruption and quality incident risks.
• Systems and Processes
  • Set clear guidelines for the managed team and design the needed processes to guarantee efficient and effective management of the packaging technical specs, artworks and packaging process standards.
  • Packaging materials and drawings: manage the Region Americas packaging specs system, focusing on properly agreeing with the involved suppliers on all technical aspects and communicating with internal stakeholders according to the company’s procedure and systems.
  • Packaging Artworks: lead the artwork process for the technical and graphical packaging part, according to the company’s procedure and system, in strong collaboration with internal stakeholders and leading external providers stakeholders for a perfect graphical execution.
  • Packaging process standards: define the relevant process parameters for the existing and new packaging operations within the assigned projects.

• Minimum of 7 years in packaging within FMCG brand owners.
• Bachelor’s degree in Food/Packaging Science‑technology, Engineering, Chemistry, Industrial Chemistry or related fields.
• Experience with the use of AutoCAD or drawing software.
• Communication, negotiation, assertiveness, international team player, planning results oriented.
• Essential skills: analytical, communication, negotiation, strategic thinker, team builder.

As of the date of this posting, the estimated pay range for this role is…