Packaging Engineering Manager

Published: 6/14/2022

Job Description

Do you enjoy packaging design and development? Are you looking for an opportunity to influence and own the packaging structure strategy for a well-known CPG brand? Can you use your expertise to help adapt packaging design requirements and success metrics as the business evolves, expands and grows its eCommerce channel? Do you want to work at a great company with friendly, talented and energetic people? Then you would be a great fit at Avery Products!

Avery Products Corp. is seeking a Packaging Engineering Manager to lead the Packaging Engineering team. The Packaging Engineering Manager will use her / his packaging background to direct Avery’s packaging development and optimization strategy for products in traditional retail and wholesale channels, as well as the rapidly growing and quickly evolving direct-to-consumer and eCommerce marketplaces. Our Packaging Engineering team develops retail unit, shipper case, and direct-to-consumer parcel packaging structures from concept to implementation in support of new product introduction initiatives and works with Product Marketing, Packaging Marketing, R&D, Plant Operations, Procurement and Packaging Suppliers. The successful candidate will utilize packaging and supply chain knowledge to deliver packaging structures that meet business objectives and balance aesthetics, functionality and cost. You must be able to manage multiple projects and adapt to evolving and innovative project requirements throughout all phases of the product / package innovation process.

What you will be doing

Manages, mentors and provides technical guidance to the Packaging Engineering team to achieve operational objectives. Assigns projects, delegates activities and provides personnel development goals.

Manages and facilitates all packaging tasks related to the development and optimization of packaging solutions, effectively collaborating and working cross-functionally within the organization and with suppliers.

Accountable for the long-term packaging technology roadmap, organizational capability development, and achievement of annual cost savings, sustainability, quality, and operational performance targets.

Partners with Supply Chain, Procurement, Regulatory, Quality, and Sustainability teams to proactively assess and address emerging packaging compliance requirements and industry trends.

Serves as the organizational subject matter expert for packaging sustainability, environmental compliance, and regulatory developments, providing guidance to executive leadership and cross-functional stakeholders on potential business impacts. Including environmental labeling, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), recycled content requirement, and other regional, state, and federal packaging legislation

Drives cost effective, environmentally conscious, tested and qualified packaging designs based on customer and product requirements.

Establishes and executes the packaging engineering strategy, driving innovation, standardization, scalability, and continuous improvement across the organization.

Ensures project and department objectives are completed on time and on budget.

Acts as a point of escalation for packaging issues reported by customers and operations and drives root cause analysis and corrective action.

Observes, analyzes, and researches current team standard work processes to develop and implement efficient processes, including design, development, testing, evaluation, and final package structure validation.

Evaluates manufacturing, assembly, automation, and packaging equipment capabilities to identify opportunities for operational excellence, capacity improvements, and future growth.

Partners with executive leadership to support strategic business initiatives, new product introductions, market expansion opportunities, and customer-specific packaging requirements.

Understands internal business strategies. Keeps abreast of new technologies and trends in packaging within industry and marketplace.

Builds and maintains strategic relationships with key suppliers, testing laboratories, industry organizations, and customers to drive innovation and strengthen technical partnerships.

Possesses strong business acumen and financial analysis skills, developing business cases, ROI analyses, cost models, and capital expenditure recommendations for packaging investments and strategic initiatives.

Experienced with direct to consumer parcel packaging (E-Commerce) strategy and packaging development.

Possesses strong project management skills and consistently meets time-sensitive goals.

Develops cost estimates for new or exploratory product / packaging initiatives.

Evaluates and understands manufacturing, product assembly and packaging machinery processes and output.

Develops test protocols and standard operating procedures for package testing in-house or with third party testing facilities.

Directs in-house shock and drop testing activities and 3rd party ISTA package ship testing.

Travels to plant facilities (US and Mexico), vendors, and/or customer locations.

Manages and supervises department standard works activities such as:

~ Packaging structure and die line development via computer aided design programs

~ Defining weight and dimension information for systems set-up

~ Artwork review and documentation

~ Writing/approving specifications

~ Defining pallet configurations

~ Extracting and manipulating critical packaging information from Avery systems in MS Excel

Education, Experience and Technical Skills

Bachelor's of Science degree in Packaging Science, Engineering or related field.

Industry Experience: 10 to 15 years preferably in Consumer Product Goods packaging. This position requires a strong grasp of retail packaging needs in regards to appearance and sustainability.

Packaging material experience and knowledge on corrugate and paperboard

Excellent communication and written skills

Intermediate proficiency in the following:

MS Office - Excel, PowerPoint and Word.

Palletization Packaging Programs: CAPE Systems and/or Topps.

Draft and Design Programs: ArtiosCad, ESKO Studio, and Adobe Illustrator

Ability to lift up to 25 pounds

Travel – up to 25%

Avery Products Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of CCL Industries, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of self-adhesive labels, labeling software, binders, dividers and other products. Founded in 1935, Avery has built a solid reputation as the trusted brand and leading resource for organization and identification solutions. Combining dynamic capabilities in technology with groundbreaking ideas, Avery offers innovative products to make life easier—at work, home, school, and small business. Avery also offers free software, design templates and mobile apps. The consumer can now access the Avery experience anywhere, anytime and create customized projects that are uniquely their own.

What we offer:

Dynamic, energetic work environment with an exceptional talented workforce.

Great comprehensive benefits including Medical, Dental, Vision, Short Term & Long Term Disability, Company provided & paid life insurance

Excellent 401K Retirement Plan with generous company match.

Work Life Balance; 12 Company Paid Holidays, Paid Vacation and Paid Sick Time

All offers of employment are based on the successful completion of a pre-employment background check. Avery Products Corporation is an at-will employer. Employment is at will and, as such, are free to resign at any time without any reason. The company retains the right to terminate an employee’s employment at any time with or without reason or notice.

Thank you for your interest and considering this opportunity! Please send resume when responding.