Senior Manager, Packaging Development

Company Description

e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. stands with every eye, lip, face and paw. Celebrating the beauty of every eye, lip and face is fundamental to our DNA. It’s in our name and inspires us as a company. Our deep commitment to inclusive, accessible, cruelty-free beauty has fueled the success of the e.l.f. Cosmetics brand online and at retail since 2004. With the acquisition of clean-beauty brand W3LL People in February 2020, and the launch of the KEYS Soulcare brand in 2021 (created with Alicia Keys), we continue to expand our portfolio with strategic extensions that support our purpose and values. Our brands are widely available at www.

.com and other online outlets, at leading beauty, mass-market, and natural specialty retailers such as Target, Walmart and Ulta, and also internationally.

e.l.f. has been public since 2016 (NYSE: ELF). The company has annual revenues of ~$300 million, a market cap of ~$1.5B and is a member of the S&P 600. The e.l.f. employee base represents the consumers that we serve – over 70% female and 46% diverse. e.l.f. is also a leader in board diversity. We are one of only five public companies that has over 60% women and over 20% black Board membership. We are committed to creating a culture internally – and in the world around us – where all individuals are encouraged to express their truest selves, are empowered to succeed and where we do the right thing for people, the planet and animals.

Position Summary

The Sr. Manager, Packaging Development will play a key role in driving and leading packaging development across multiple brands reporting to the Head of Package Design. The Senior Manager will be part of the launch team to lead the packaging efforts and ensure all the technical aspects from Design Turnover, BOM creation, drawing approval, package testing, line trials, artwork validation, packaging standards and range boards, tertiary packaging and packaging data creation are conforming to Quality process.

They will be part of a company initiative to broaden our supplier base globally and onboard new suppliers to the e.l.f. Beauty organization on all packaging deliverables. The team is comprised of Global Sourcing, Planning, R&D, Product Marketing and Creative. These suppliers we are seeking should be recognized industry companies who are known for innovation, quality, cost, and sustainability. This Sr. Manager, Packaging Development, will also be responsible for all EU/NA innovation from a packaging perspective.

The Senior Manager will need to collaborate with our team in China (including packaging engineers) and our cross-functional teams in the US to streamline efforts and maximize efficiencies across development.

This individual will be required to drive their projects and solicit other team members to ensure the required packaging tasks are performed in a timely manner. The developer must have the ability to adapt to fast-changing environments. The position will require an individual to have the willingness to take risks and to consider new approaches to improve the organization's competitive position.

Responsibilities:

• Set up and maintain the Packaging database.
• Ensure all projects are completed and meet the intended design, quality, cost, functionality, manufacturability, regulatory, consumer safety, and sustainability objectives.
• Lead inspiring and actionable innovation in support of brand objectives that align with senior leader’s business opportunities and support brand calendar pipeline of innovation.
• Support the company's efforts to support social and environmental responsibility, specifically through driving sustainable design and materials for our packaging.
• Provide technical solutions and work with the cross-functional team on timeline targets, cost avoidance, and quality improvement
• Partner with Creative teams and suppliers to drive new and breakthrough premium packaging materials, color effects, and decoration.
• Develop risk assessment and timetable.
• Ensures KPIs align with brand/category and function strategy and have the foresight to anticipate when changes are required
• Evaluate package samples, sustainability prototypes, and supplier technical capability.
• Research and identify suppliers who have capabilities in the area of sustainable packaging.
• Understand that the first consumer experience is the package. Represent the culture and DNA of the brand or business segment being managed.
• Provide leadership and ensure deep organizational capability in packaging development and influence packaging design and process engineering to ensure successful development and launch of both new packaging/products and dual sourcing for current business.
• Develop packaging according to the project brief and sustainability concepts.
• Audit testing to qualify new packages.
• Provide updates on project milestones, and inform appropriate people of technical and timing issues.
• Partner with key partners to continually enable innovative design for the category and brand.
• Maintain technical contact with suppliers.
• Build strong relationships across brands and functions to develop, implement and align with the brands/category strategy with long-term vision.
• Create package specification and control plan.

Qualifications:

• Proven experience managing suppliers and collaborating with multi-disciplinary partners
• Fluency in Mandarin a plus
• Evaluate package samples, sustainability prototypes, and supplier technical capability.
• Set up and maintain Packaging database
• Create package specification and control plan.
• Maintain technical contact with suppliers.
• Minimum BS degree in Packaging Science or Engineering.
• IOPP certification a plus
• 7+ years’ experience in cosmetic package development.
• Develop packaging according to the project brief and sustainability concepts.
• Comprehensive knowledge of global supplier community and understanding of pricing structures.
• Provide updates on project milestones, and inform appropriate people of technical and timing issues.
• Audit testing to qualify new packages.
• Ensure all projects are completed and meet the intended design, quality, cost, functionality, manufacturability, regulatory, consumer safety, and sustainability objectives.
• Clear leadership ability.
• Experience working with Global suppliers across multiple time zones
• Deep/practical packaging expertise in sustainability and abreast of best practices and emerging opportunities/technologies that support sustainability objectives
• Provide technical solutions and work with the cross-functional team on timeline targets, cost avoidance, and quality improvement.
• Concentrated experience in the beauty industry with proven development experience in color, fragrance, skincare categories, and tools.
• Develop risk assessment and timetable.
• Research and identify suppliers who have capabilities in the area of sustainable packaging.
• Demonstrated understanding of the manufacturing and distribution process as it relates to supporting targeted and global product launch strategies.

Technical Competency:

• Some level of judgment required in assessing Marketing briefs, clarity of Packaging definition and providing recommendations to lower risks while achieving the Marketing concept
• Some degree of analytical, financial and organizational skills required
• Comprehensive knowledge of decorating techniques and materials used on primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging.
• Technical competency in the analysis of geometric objects in 2- and 3-dimensions, including an understanding of form, fit, and function of packaging components and subcomponents.
• PC literate and competent with Microsoft Office applications (especially Excel and Pivot table functionalities).
• Strong knowledge of sustainable packaging and supplier practices, including knowledge of post-consumer recycled materials, recyclability, etc.
• Knowledge of CAD software and/or PRO E Creo and 3D printing
• Comprehensive knowledge of test methods used to validate component/package performance.
• Comprehensive knowledge of materials used in the construction and manufacturing of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging.