Manager – Packaging, EPR & Circularity; Global

Our Global Support Center/ Corporate Office is located in the Energy Corridor- off I10 and N Eldridge.

Address: 1390 Enclave Pkwy, Houston, TX 77077

Hybrid Role:
In-office Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday. Work from home on Thursday and Friday.

Sysco is seeking a Packaging Manager to lead its Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) compliance and drive packaging and circularity innovation across our global assortment. This role sits at the intersection of regulation, sustainability, and commercial value creation. The successful candidate will be responsible for reducing EPR exposure and fees, leading packaging innovation pilots, and collaborating with suppliers and internal stakeholders to drive sustainable packaging and circular system solutions across categories.

• Lead EPR compliance reporting and strategy across markets, tracking emerging legislation and translating requirements into supplier and merchandising actions.
• Develop internal reporting and analytics on EPR exposure and cost drivers; partner with Legal and Finance teams to ensure accurate forecasting and mitigation planning.
• Identify packaging designs and materials that increase Sysco’s financial risk under EPR regulations and lead efforts to address them with internal and external partners.

• Partner with suppliers, category teams, and external innovators to identify, test, and scale circular solutions—including reuse pilots, compostable or recyclable formats, and secondary packaging optimization.
• Design and lead packaging pilots, working closely with merchandising, operations, and customers to test circularity solutions and capture performance data.
• Stay abreast of packaging material science and industry trends and act as Sysco’s subject matter expert on packaging innovation opportunities.

• Run supplier-facing packaging innovation initiatives such as the Pack-a-Thon and Supplier Sustainability Summit.
• Build business cases to redesign packaging formats with lower environmental and financial cost—working collaboratively with suppliers and merchants.
• Influence packaging specifications and sourcing practices through Sysco’s category management and Partnership Growth Management processes.

• Collaborate with global and regional Sustainability team members on shared priorities, contributing to initiatives beyond packaging (e.g., waste, emissions, sustainable sourcing).
• Bring best practices and innovation insights into global forums to strengthen Sysco’s sustainability strategy and product roadmap.
• Represent the packaging and circularity perspective in cross-functional working groups and stakeholder engagement.