Manager, R&D Packaging Materials Performance Specifications

Job Purpose

As theR&DManagerofPackaging Performance Specifications you will lead the development deployment and governance ofPerformance-Based Specifications(PBS)for packaging across theKraft Heinz North Americaportfolio. Theobjectiveof the role is to ensure packaging solutions are specified and delivered againstdefined functional quality shelf-life consumer experience and manufacturing performance outcomes(rather than prescriptive designs). You will partner with Packaging R&D Innovation Process and Platform packaging teams Quality Operations Procurement and external partners to translate requirements into clear testable and compliant performance specifications that enable scalable commercialization and consistent execution.This role includes building andmaintainingspecification templates and standards enabling strong cross-functional ways of working and ensuring specification discipline supports innovation value engineering and compliance with evolving sustainability and regulatory needs.Your team will support you in these efforts and will lead packaging sustainability complianceforExtended Producer Responsibility legislation.

EssentialFunctions &Responsibilities

• Own and evolve thePBSframeworkfor packaging including definition structurecontent and linkage to performance outcomes (functional quality shelf-life consumer experience manufacturing performance).

• Lead development and rollout of enterprisePBStemplates and best practices including guidance for writing measurable requirements and acceptance criteria.

• Translate cross-functional requirements intoPBSby partnering with Packaging R&D Innovation Process/Platform teams Quality Operations and other stakeholders to ensure specifications are complete testable and fit for manufacturing.

• Establish and run specification governance including review cadenceapprovalworkflows escalation paths and go/no-go readiness requirements related to specification completeness and risk.

• Ensure specifications enable manufacturable solutions aligning performance requirements with converting processes and manufacturing constraints (e.g. filling web handling labeling molding printing closures/dispensing where applicable).

• Drive consistency and complianceby ensuring specifications reflect relevant sustainability and regulatory considerations and aremaintainedas requirements evolve.

• Build tools and processes forspecificationlifecycle management including version control change management and communication of updates toimpactedfunctions and sites.

• Define and align testing/validation expectationstied toPBS including performance verification criteria and documentation needed to support proof of concept scale-up and handover.

• Enable training and adoptionby developing training materials and coaching teams onPBSthinking writing high-quality requirements and applying enterprise packaging standards.

• MeasurePBSeffectivenessusing quality and execution metrics (e.g. right-first-time specifications reduction in rework fewer late-stage changes improved launch readiness).

People Management Responsibilities

• Team (salaried):targeting 2direct reports

Key Outputs & Deliverables

• EnterprisePBSframework and templatesthat standardize how packaging performance requirements are defined and documented.

• A governedPBSlibrary(maintainedspecifications version control change management clear ownership).

• Project-readyPBSdeliverablesthat enable teams to deliver packaging designs to Performance-Based Specificationsmeeting defined functional quality shelf-life consumer experience and manufacturing performance outcomes.

• Specificationreadiness criteriaembedded in project governance to supporttimely high-quality handover from concept through proof of concept scale-up and commercialization.

• Training andenablementmaterialsto drive consistent application ofPBSand enterprise packaging standards.

Expected Experience& Required Skills

• BS/MS/PhDdegree in Engineering Materials Chemical or Packaging Engineering preferred or related discipline.

• 6 years of R&D packaging developmentcommercializationexperienceand project leadership experience (consumer goods food & beverage pharma or similar preferred).

• Strong technical knowledge ofpackaging materialsformatsand manufacturing/converting constraints.

• Demonstrated experience inbuilding performance specificationsas well aspackaging development and commercializationand cross-functional project leadership.

• Strong ability to translate business technical and consumer needs intoclear measurable performance requirements.

• Proven capability withproject governance risk management and stakeholder reporting.

• Working knowledge ofdesign of experiments andstatisticsand technical problem solving.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to influence across functions and levels.

• Familiarity withsustainable packaging solutionsand the need to align packaging work with evolving sustainability and regulatory requirements.

• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% of the time

Work Environment & Schedule

This positionoperatesprimarily in a hybrid work environment and is based at the Kraft Heinz R&D Innovation Center in Glenview IL. Our hybrid model provides flexibility based on business needs allowing employees to work virtually up to two days per week with an expectation to work on-site at least three days per week at the Glenview Innovation Center (Chicago IL).

Physicaldemandsinclude but not limited to

• Regular office work

• Physical presence at labs and manufacturing sites (internal and external) to perform experimental and validation testing

This job description is not designed to cover orcontainall duties or responsibilities that are requiredofthe role. Duties or responsibilities may change or be added with or without notice.