Package Engineer, Engineering

ofi is a global leader offering naturally good food & beverage ingredients and solutions. At the forefront of consumer trends, we provide manufacturers and retailers with products and ingredients that will delight their consumers. Making a positive impact on people and planet is part of that delight. From plant to palate, we take care of the ingredients. We are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable and transparent supply.

We add value through our unique manufacturing footprint and natural, delicious and nutritious products. Our fresh ideas help our customers unleash the sensory and functional attributes of cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices to create naturally healthy and delicious food & beverage products. Whoever we’re with, whatever we’re doing, we always make it real.

Reporting to the Business Head North America Nut PL & Global Head Packaging Engineering, Package Center of Expertise (COE), the Package Engineer is responsible for focusing on leading and supporting all aspects of package innovation and development for private label nut projects. The identified candidate will have experience with implementation and testing of sustainable packaging. They will be accountable for guiding, identifying, developing and supporting package engineering activities for project activity relating to bulk products, private label and retail innovation efforts from front end development through commercialization.

Qualification of external manufacturers is also key in this role. An additional critical part of this role is to work influentially and collaboratively with cross‑functional team across multiple levels of management (sr. management through individual contributors) and global regions. An in‑depth knowledge of material sustainability is required. This hands‑on role will require a broad network of suppliers and technologies. This leader will work closely with innovation and site teams to direct and foster package innovation to proactively cultivate and drive development of new incremental growth platforms and ideas within platforms which satisfy new need states, consumers and usage occasions.

• Lead, direct and deploy packaging project activity to deliver against innovation development and commercialization agenda.
• Understanding of material structures and sustainability applications. Awareness of legislation and trends in sustainable packaging
• Support ofi project teams in making informed decisions based on hard data and are comfortable thinking big while executing details flawlessly
• Manages packaging development timelines, ensuring that all critical launch milestones are met and information is communicated as necessary to key stakeholders
• Drive and direct key packaging supplier relationships on innovation opportunities while developing and fostering strong connections with suppliers.
• Demonstrable experience working closely with packaging vendors, contract manufacturers, operations and marketing teams
• Oversee development of outside vendors and manufacturing facilities to enable innovation program success and implementation of sustainability objectives.
• Creates packaging briefs including dielines & artwork improvements, and initiates and oversees applicable product/product testing
• Creating mockups for new product launches
• Creates packaging testing protocols and associated/cross‑functional SOP’s
• Supports Quality team in creation of finished product specifications
• Proactively seek out and understand packaging technologies that may have application to business
• Integrate new packaging solutions and technologies into the pipeline that can be leveraged to drive new innovation platforms.
• Develop and drive productivity improvement opportunities for packaging and innovation function.
• Drive alignment with key project stakeholders on packaging development direction for innovation programs with solid project solving skills and business acumen
• Troubleshoot issues, removes barriers and elevates issues appropriately that arise during development and commercialization.
• Understand relationship between package, product and process.
• Perform other duties as…