Senior Manager, Packaging Engineering

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Grow with Welch's! Welch's is on a journey towards our bold ambition of being the global‑leader of convenient, good‑for‑you fruit‑based food and beverages. To turn this goal into a reality we need you and other exceptionally talented, agile, and innovative individuals who are eager to contribute to something extraordinary!

We are seeking a Senior Manager, Packaging to lead Welch’s packaging and process engineering team, with accountability for delivering high‑impact partnered projects and advancing our enterprise packaging strategy. This leader will manage a team of packaging and process engineers, ensuring technical excellence and flawless execution while also shaping the roadmap for sustainable, consumer‑focused, and cost‑effective packaging solutions. The Senior Manager will serve as the key R&D representative in partnered projects with Marketing, Operations, and Supply Chain, ensuring packaging and process solutions enable innovation, growth, and productivity.

They will also play a leadership role in setting long‑term packaging direction, advancing sustainability initiatives, and developing supplier and technology partnerships.

• Lead Pack & Process Team:
  Manage, coach, and develop engineers in packaging and process disciplines, building technical mastery and fostering cross‑functional collaboration. There will be two direct reports.
• Deliver Partnered Projects:
  Serve as the R&D lead on partnered projects, translating consumer and business needs into packaging and process solutions that deliver growth, cost, and sustainability objectives.
• Shape Packaging Strategy:
  Contribute to Welch’s packaging strategy, ensuring alignment with innovation priorities, sustainability goals, and long‑term business needs.
• Integrate Pack & Process:
  Ensure packaging design choices are manufacturable and resilient by embedding process considerations early in development.
• Advance Sustainability:
  Drive initiatives to meet Welch’s ESG commitments, including recyclable, reusable, and renewable solutions.
• Build Supplier & Technology Partnerships:
  Lead relationships with key suppliers and technology partners, bringing forward emerging solutions.
• Strengthen Functional Capability:
  Partner with other R&D team members on lab and pilot plant capabilities, standards, and systems to ensure robust commercialization and continuous improvement.

• Strategic thinker who can translate consumer insights and business needs into scalable packaging and process platforms.
• Design‑minded leader with expertise in structural packaging, CAD modeling, and design‑for‑manufacture principles.
• Inspiring leader who builds teams, grows talent, and fosters collaboration across functions.
• Sustainability champion with proven ability to build and execute sustainable packaging material strategies, including use of LCAs to drive decision‑making.
• Results‑oriented problem solver who balances creativity with pragmatism and cost‑consciousness.
• Strong communicator who can influence at senior levels internally and externally.
• Curious and future‑focused, with a passion for sustainability and continuous improvement.

• 10+ years of progressive experience in Packaging Development, Process Engineering, or related technical roles within Food & Beverage or CPG.
• BS/MS in Packaging, Engineering, or related technical discipline (advanced degree preferred).
• Proven track record leading packaging innovation from concept through commercialization.
• Demonstrated leadership in managing teams, building capability, and shaping functional strategy.
• Strong understanding of packaging material science, process technologies, and manufacturing systems.
• Experience in structural package design, including CAD modeling and design‑for‑manufacture principles.
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing sustainability strategies, including use of sustainable materials, design for recyclability, and execution of Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs).
• Experience partnering with suppliers and co‑manufacturers to drive innovation and ensure supply continuity.
• Knowledge of sustainability…