Associate Director, R&D Sustainability & Materials CoE

Job Purpose

As theSustainability & Materials Center of Excellence(CoE)Packaging Leaderyouwilllead a team of technical expertsresponsible fordeveloping packagingsolutions to serve theNorth American portfolio. Theteamsobjectiveisto develop materialand formatsolutionsin flexibles thermoforms and rigid packaging that meet sustainability requirementswhile supportinginnovation compliance andvalue engineeringinitiatives.In this role youwillbe responsible for the team todevelop andleadtechnical strategiestodelivernovel functionalandcost competitive solutions.You willpartner with theInnovation Process andPlatformpackaging teamsas well ascrossfunctional stakeholders to translatetechnicaland sustainabilityrequirements intocommerciallyviablemanufacturable solutions.The role includes identifying material/polymer/packaging technology solutions and research pathways leading proof of conceptandtechnology scale up andenablingseamless transition oftechnologies to the business units.The ideal candidate combines deep technical packaging expertise with strongsustainability knowledge andproven experiencemanagingcomplex projects and technical teams.

EssentialFunctions &Responsibilities

• Leadand prioritizea portfolio of complex packagingtechnologystrategies andinitiativesbybalancingtechnology exploration withproof of concept of novel technologies. Managecomplex partnerships across the value chaintodemonstratevalue and business case address technical hurdles drive speed to market andenable competitive advantage.

• Buildcoordinateand managerelationshipsand partnershipswith suppliers and technology providers(includingresin coating material film manufacturers) andwithuniversitiesinstitutesstart-upsopeninnovationnetworksandscouting partnersto define research and develop materials to meet specific platform and application needs

• Represent Kraft Heinzon critical industrycommitteesand forumsservingas oneexternalvoiceto advancesustainability and technology.

• Directtheteam tobuild andexecute research plansincludingtechnicaldocumentation prototyping lab testing qualification on pilot and/or production equipment at vendor or at Kraft Heinz

• Support theteamin translatingresearch findings into meaningful recommendations communicating results and driving decisions and technology adoption

• Serveas Subject Matter Expertbyleading and driving functional training and process improvements for the pkg organization.

• Act as technical expert for junior developers anddirect team toflex onto projects requiringproblem solving

• Partnerwithlegal to build robustIP strategiesconduct explorationand helpbuild IP portfolio todrive competitive advantage

• Ownproject andportfolio-level budgets resourcing strategies and capacity planningtoensuredelivery within approved financial guardrails.Developand maintain detailed project plans schedules budgets and resource allocationstomonitor progress assess risk escalate tradeoffsand drive corrective actions.

• Serve as an accountable owner for governance escalation and go/no-go decisions. Representpackaginginsteering forums and influencestakeholders.Provide technical leadership and oversighton packagingreviewstoensuredesign decisions align with enterprise standards manufacturability sustainability and long-term platform strategy

• Mentor coach and trainjunior project team members and contribute to PMO best practices and templates.

People Management Responsibilities

• Team (salaried):targeting 3direct reports11total teamresponsibility.

Key Outputs & Deliverables

• Delivertechnology strategyand prioritizea portfolio of complex packagingtechnology/formatinitiativesto deliver against sustainability innovation and value engineering initiatives.

• Lead and deploy a team of packaging technical experts tosuccessfully deliver 20to30 concurrent complex packagingtechnologyprojects annually acrossflexible rigid and thermoform materials and formatsmeeting committed timelines budgets and technical performance targets from concept throughproof of conceptand handover.

• Ensure compliance with evolving sustainability and regulatory requirements for portfolio projects including:

• Minimizing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees

• Designing packaging solutions that avoid material bans and regulatory risks

• Advancing recyclablereusable and compliant packaging formats aligned with enterprise sustainability goalsand legislative requirements

• Deliver packaging designs to Performance-Based Specifications (PBS) ensuring solutions meet defined functional quality shelf-life consumer experience and manufacturing performanceoutcomes(rather than prescriptive designs).

• Build and sustain a high-performing packaging technical team with clear capability deployment across the portfolio improved bench strength and consistent application of enterprise packaging standards.Manage coach mentor and retain employees including goal-settingperformance management salary planning and hiring.

• Build succession andupskilling plans for junior talent maximizing apprenticeship with more senior/experienced team members

Expected Experience& Required Skills

• BS/MS/PhDdegree in EngineeringMaterialsChemicalor PackagingEngineeringpreferredor related discipline.

• Minimum of 14 yearsofR&Dtechnology development andcommercialization experience inpackagingand project leadership experience (consumer goods food & beverage pharma or similar preferred).

• Demonstrated experience managingend-to-enddevelopmentprojectsidentifying and drivingpackagingtechnologyinitiativesleading strongexternal partnershiprelationshipsand coordinating cross-functional teams.

• Demonstrated experiencein peoplemanagement(up to 5to8 highly skilled technical individuals)

• Strong technical knowledge of materials(polymers plastic componentsflexible materialsfiber componentsbarrier coatingsetc.) converting processes (e.g.cartoningfillingweb handling labeling molding) printingbottle closureand dispensingsystems and manufacturing constraints.

• Proven project management/PMO skills; experience with project governance risk management budget managementand stakeholder reporting.

• Expertknowledge ofdesign of experimentsand Statisticsstrongtechnical problem solving

• Excellent communication negotiation and interpersonal skills; ability to influence at all levels.

• Previous experience leading complex multisite or global packagingor technologylaunches.

• Expert knowledge of sustainable packaging solutions material/package industry standardsand regulations.

• Experience with pilot line setups and scaleup to industrial production.

• Willingness and ability to travelup 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(GlenviewIL).

Physicaldemandsinclude but not limited to

• Regular officework

• Physical presence atlabs andmanufacturing sites(internal and external)to performexperimental and validation testing