Sr Manager, R&D - Packaging Materials

About the role

Kraft Heinz is looking for a Senior Manager, R&D - Packaging Materials in Glenview, Illinois. You will lead a portfolio of complex plastic packaging technology strategies and initiatives, balancing technology exploration with proof of concept, and manage partnerships across the value chain while delivering value and a business case.

Key responsibilities

• Build and manage relationships with suppliers, technology providers and external partners such as universities, institutes, start-ups and open innovation networks.
• Identify material, polymer and packaging technology solutions that avoid material bans and regulatory risks, and advance recyclable, reusable and compliant plastic packaging formats aligned with sustainability goals.
• Deliver packaging designs to Performance-Based Specifications (PBS) and provide technical leadership on packaging reviews.
• Own project and portfolio budgets, resourcing and capacity planning, and act as accountable owner for governance, escalation and go/no-go decisions.
• Partner with legal to build an IP portfolio, and mentor, coach and train junior team members.
• Manage, coach and retain a team of about three direct reports, including goal setting, performance management, salary planning and hiring, and build succession and upskilling plans.

Required profile

• BS/MS/PhD in Engineering, Materials, Chemical or Packaging Engineering, or a related discipline.
• At least 8 years of R&D technology development and commercialization experience in packaging, with project leadership experience (consumer goods, food & beverage, pharma or similar preferred).
• Demonstrated experience managing end-to-end development projects, leading external partnerships and coordinating cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated people management experience and previous experience leading complex, multisite or global packaging or technology launches.
• Willingness to travel up to 25% of the time.

Required skills

• Strong technical knowledge of materials (polymers, coatings and additives) and manufacturing constraints, including converting processes such as forming, filling, labeling, injection molding, blow molding, thermoforming, extrusion and lamination, and bottle closure and dispensing systems.
• Project management and PMO skills, including governance, risk management, budget management and stakeholder reporting.
• Expert knowledge of design of experiments and statistics, and of sustainable packaging solutions, industry standards and regulations.
• Experience with pilot line setups and scale-up to industrial production.