Director, Research & Innovation Packaging, Beverage Creations

About The Job

The R&I Director of Packaging Beverage Creations is responsible to partner with the Brand and Supply Chain Teams to design and advance our packaging innovation, productivity and circularity circularity road map in alignment with our One Planet One Health commitments, and to expand our capabilities, partnerships & coalitions as it relates to designing superior packaging. They will lead a team of packaging developers within the United States to excel in holistic packaging development and delivery of smart & engaging, future-proof experiences that drive growth, reduce the environmental impacts of packaging, and create efficiencies.

Objectives of the role Required In this role you will

• Prioritize and ensure adequate staffing of project team in coordination with department heads to execute the projects.
• Develop & manage packaging new technology strategy in collaboration with our strategic supplier base, procurement & advance technology team
• Align complex technical and business recommendations with cross-functional partners
• Own R&I input to category pipeline and strategy development
• Manage and grow a staff of 5+ packaging engineers/managers in a hybrid - regional organizational model across US
• Collaborate with the companywide packaging group as well as all cross-functional leadership to ensure smooth transfer of information, holistic understanding of program needs, and adherence to requirements.
• Initiate local, global and external initiatives to support local priorities
• Represent regional packaging team within global network to leverage resources & knowledge to strengthen packaging ambitions
• R&I leader responsible for influencing business strategy and performance, while ensuring team development and successful delivery of priorities
• Increased accountability for business performance through balance of risk, priorities, resources and budget
• Ensure development of new technical & material concepts for packaging solutions via collaboration with internal and external experts to drive value and growth
• Recruit and develops a high-performing, engaged team
• Lead resource and succession planning for current/future needs
• Translate business vision and strategy into an R&I action plan in a compelling way, bringing others along
• Develop 3-5 year strategic roadmaps for areas encompassing the evolution of best packaging solution portfolios from current to future state
• Drive the selection of key new vendors and maintain strong relationships with incumbents to continuously identify and deliver on innovative ideas

The base compensation range for this position is $122,000-183,000 commensurate with experience. Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options. To give our employees flexibility, Danone is a hybrid work environment.

About You

Targeted profile Required The ideal candidate will have

• Continually integrates evolving business context into functional responsibilities
• Ability to travel approximately 20%
• Technical competency and credibility within the field of food packaging strategy and transformation
• Demonstrated Leadership in cross functional teams involving marketing, sales, purchasing, regulatory, and supply chain in the development of new products
• General knowledge of the processes within marketing, industrial design, production, supply chain, regulatory and global sales channels
• Fully autonomous with N+1 awareness
• Anticipate new business opportunities or challenges to ensure sustainable competitive advantage
• 10 - 15 years' experience in a packaging, sciences or engineering field (preferably in the food or beverage industry)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Deliver effective recommendations with incomplete information or ambiguity
• Possess a holistic understanding of manufacturing, plants and products
• Excellent business skills and understand the levers of R&I
• A proven track record in managing ‘holistic’ packaging development, including the creation, development and delivery of sustainable, ownable structural and functional consumer impactful packaging innovations, resulting in notable commercial impact. Business continuity and protection of launched packaging, ensuring efficient production and best in class quality in the supply chain.
• Bachelor’s degree minimum, master’s degree in environmental sciences or engineering ideal (Packaging, Mechanical, Chemical or related engineering science)
• Lateral thinking and problem solving
• Challenge team to identify new technical solutions

About us

At Danone North America, you’ll work with some of the best-known food and beverage brands in the world like Activia, Silk, Horizon Organic, Two Good, Oikos, evian, and Happy Family. You’ll be part of one of the largest Certified B Corps™ in the world, working together to make sure our brands create real benefits for people, communities, and the planet. We have 6,000+ employees across the U.S. and Canada. Come join our movement for a healthier world One Planet. One Health BY YOU.

Danone North America doesn’t just welcome what makes you unique, we value it. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All hires to our team are based on qualifications, merit and business needs. We recruit, employ, train and promote regardless of race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, genetic characteristic or any other protected status. Faithful to our values of openness and humanism, all of our employees share in the commitment to engage one another with dignity and respect. http//www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf

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