Vice President, Packaging

Whats it like to work at Kinders Well theres a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that theres also plenty of hard work. Because we dont just like flavor were obsessed with it.

With over 100 products sold nationwide were now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco Walmart Whole Foods and more. Were not your typical CPG company. Privately held and founder-led we like to think of ourselves as a pirate ship in a sea of cruise ships. Our crew is adventurous and fearless. We chart our own course and chase big ideas to make food unforgettable.

As we expand globally and approach $1 billion in revenue we need more smart-and-scrappy flavor-obsessed people to come aboard. If youre looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work... this is it!Every day youll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.

The Vice President Packaging will lead Kinders enterprise packaging strategy and capability with responsibility for developing and executing packaging solutions that enable innovation protect product quality strengthen our brands improve operational performance and support continued profitable growth.

As Kinders continues to expand its portfolio channels manufacturing network and innovation pipeline this leader will build a scalable packaging organization capable of supporting both the speed of an entrepreneurial business and the complexity of a rapidly growing CPG company. The Vice President will have broad responsibility across packaging engineering and development commercialization materials and supplier strategy cost optimization manufacturing performance sustainability and packaging innovation.

Working across R&D Innovation Marketing Operations Strategic Sourcing Quality Supply Chain Finance and external manufacturing partners this leader will ensure packaging considerations are integrated early into product and commercial decisions and successfully translated from concept through commercialization and scale.

The ideal candidate combines deep technical packagingexpertisewith strong commercial judgment and enterprise leadership. They are equally comfortable evaluating a new packaging technology challenging material specifications partnering with suppliers on cost and capacity troubleshooting manufacturing constraints and advising senior leaders on packaging investments and strategic tradeoffs.

Enterprise Packaging Strategy & Leadership

• Develop and lead Kinders enterprise packaging strategy establishing the long-term vision capabilities technologies supplier ecosystem and organizational structure required to support continued growth.
• Establish packaging roadmaps across the portfolio that balance consumer experience brandobjectives product protection manufacturability speed to market cost sustainability and supply continuity.
• Serve as the senior packaging subject matter expert for the organization advising executive and functional leaders on packaging technologies investments capabilities risks and opportunities.
• Build scalable packaging processes standards governance specifications and decision frameworks that create greater consistency and discipline as the organization grows.
• Translate business and portfolio strategies into packaging capability requirementsidentifyingwhere Kinders must build buy automate partner or invest to support future growth.
• Maintain a strong external perspective on emerging packaging technologies materials suppliers manufacturing capabilities consumer trends and industry developments.

Packaging Innovation Engineering & Commercialization

• Lead packaging development from early-stage concept through design testing qualification commercialization and post-launch optimization across new products renovations and existing portfolio improvements.
• Partner closely with R&D Innovation Marketing and Creative to translate consumer and brandobjectivesinto packaging solutions that are distinctive functional scalable and operationallyviable.
• Ensure packaging engineering is engaged early in the innovation process toidentifytechnical requirements manufacturing constraints cost implications lead times and commercialization risks.
• Establish rigorous technical standards for packaging design materialsselection specifications testing qualification and performance.
• Lead development and optimization across primary secondary and tertiary packaging including rigid and flexible structures bottles jars films pouches closures labels cartons corrugate cases and retail-ready displays.
• Drive packaging simplification and platform strategies whereappropriate reducing unnecessary complexity whilemaintainingconsumer and brand differentiation.
• Build disciplined commercialization processes that enable Kinders to move quickly without sacrificing quality manufacturability cost or execution.

Manufacturing Automation & Operational Performance

• Partner with Operations Engineering Supply Chain and manufacturing leadership to ensure packaging designs areoptimizedfor Kinders internal manufacturing network and external co-manufacturing partners.
• Evaluate packaging performance across filling sealing labelingcartoning case packing palletizing and other packaging operations toidentifyopportunities to improve throughput reliability labor efficiency and overall equipment effectiveness.
• Lead packaging-related root cause analysis for recurring manufacturing quality material or performance issues and drive sustainable corrective actions.
• Identifyopportunities for automation equipment upgrades material changes and process improvements that increase capacity and enable future growth.
• Establish packaging requirements and technical standards for new manufacturing equipment production lines and facility investments.
• Partner with Engineering and Operations on packaging-related capital planning including development of business cases technical requirements supplier selection installation qualification and performance expectations.
• Ensure packaging innovation can transition successfully from pilot or initial production into repeatable high-volume manufacturing.

Materials Supplier Strategy & Strategic Sourcing

• Partner with Strategic Sourcing to develop and execute comprehensive category strategies for Kinders packaging materials and suppliers.
• Establish a resilient scalable supplier ecosystem capable of supporting Kinders growth innovation pipeline quality expectations geographic footprint and service requirements.
• Provide technical leadership in supplierselection qualification negotiations performance management and development.
• Develop strategies across major packaging categories including corrugate flexible films rigid plastics bottles jars closures labels cartons and other packaging components.
• Evaluate supplier capabilities capacity technology geographic footprint cost structures tooling requirements lead times and business continuity risks.
• Establish dual-source and contingency strategies for critical materials and components where appropriate to strengthen supply continuity.
• Build strategic relationships with key packaging manufacturers converters equipment providers and technology partners to provide Kinders access to emerging capabilities and innovation.
• Partner with Procurement and Finance to understandpackagingcommodity exposure and develop strategies to manage material volatility and total cost.

Cost Margin & Value Engineering

• Own the packaging productivity and value-engineering agendaidentifyingopportunities to reduce total packaging cost while protecting product performance consumer experience quality and brand equity.
• Build a multi-year packaging productivity pipeline tied to measurable savings margin improvement material optimization and operational efficiency.
• Challenge existing specifications materials formats pack configurations and manufacturing processes toidentifyopportunities for simplification and cost improvement.
• Partner with Finance and Strategic Sourcing to develop transparent packaging cost models and improve visibility into material conversion freight tooling and operational costs.
• Lead make-versus-buy supplier material and technology evaluations using total cost of ownership and long-term strategic value rather than unit price alone.
• Ensure value-engineering opportunities are supported byappropriate testing risk assessment and change-management processes before implementation.

Quality Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Partner with Food Safety & Quality Assurance and Regulatory teams to ensure packaging protects product integrity and meets applicable food safety quality labeling and regulatory requirements.
• Establish robust packaging qualification and validation standards including shelf-life barrier performance seal integrity compatibility distribution transit compression and environmental testing asappropriate.
• Ensure packaging materials suppliers specifications and manufacturing processes meet Kinders quality expectations and applicable regulatory standards.
• Lead resolution of significant packaging-related quality issues in partnership with Quality Operations suppliers and co-manufacturers.
• Establishappropriate packagingspecification management and change-control processes to protect consistency across the manufacturing and supplier network.

Sustainability & Responsible Packaging

• Develop a practical business-aligned packaging sustainability roadmap that considers material reduction recyclability recycled content packaging efficiency and waste reduction.
• Evaluate new materials and technologies based on environmental impact as well as food safety product protection consumer experience manufacturability availability and economics.
• Partner across the organization toidentifyopportunities to reduce packaging material usage and manufacturing waste without compromising performance.
• Monitor evolving packaging regulations retailer expectations infrastructure and industry standards and translate relevant developments into actionable business strategies.

Organizational Leadership & Capability Building

• Build lead and develop a high-performing packaging organization capable of supporting Kinders current business and future scale.
• Define the organizational structure capabilities roles and technicalexpertiseas the portfolio and manufacturing network continue to expand.
• Attract develop coach andretainexceptional packaging talent while creating clear accountability and opportunities for growth.
• Establish a culture of technical rigor curiosity speed ownership collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Develop organizational capability beyond the Packaging team by strengthening cross-functional understanding of packaging requirements economics risks and opportunities.
• Create strong operating rhythms metrics and performance expectations that provide visibility into packaging innovation commercialization productivity supplier performance quality and organizational priorities.

• Bachelors degree in Packaging Science Packaging Engineering Materials Science Engineering or a related technical discipline; advanced degree or MBA preferred.
• 12 years of progressive packaging experience within food beverage CPG or high-volume consumer manufacturing including significant leadership responsibility.
• Proven experience leading an enterprise packaging function or complex packaging organization including strategy innovation engineering commercialization and team leadership.
• Deep technicalexpertiseacross multiple packaging formats and materials including flexible films rigid plastics bottles jars closures labels cartons and corrugate.
• Demonstrated success commercializing packaging solutions from concept through qualification scale-up and high-volume manufacturing.
• Strong experience partnering with Operations and Engineering on packaging equipment automation line optimization throughput and capital investment.
• Proven ability to develop packaging material and supplier strategies that improve cost capacity quality innovation and supply resilience with a strong network across packaging manufacturers converters and technology providers.
• Demonstratedtrack recordof delivering meaningful value engineering productivity and cost-reduction initiatives while protecting product quality consumer experience and brand integrity.
• Strong understanding of food-grade packaging requirements including material performance barrier properties shelf life testing quality and regulatory considerations.
• Strong business and financial acumen with experience evaluating capital investments total cost of ownership material economics and packaging decisions thatimpactgross margin.
• Demonstrated ability to build and develop high-performing technical teams andestablishscalable processes standards and capabilities within a growing organization.
• Executive-level communication and cross-functional leadership skills with the ability to influence senior leaders and effectively partner across R&D Innovation Marketing Operations Supply Chain Strategic Sourcing Quality and Finance.
• Thrives in a fast-paced entrepreneurial high-growth environment balancing strategic leadership with a willingness to stay close to the work and drive execution.

At Kinders our leaders are expected to think and act beyond the boundaries of their individual function. The Vice President Packaging will model a Makers Mentalitycombining curiosity ownership urgency and a willingness to solve difficult problems.

This leader will bring Craft Pride to the technical quality and consumer experience of our packaging; build Capability Scale by creating the systems talent supplier network and technologies required for continued growth; and demonstrate Collaboration Inclusion by bringing together diverse perspectives across functions to make better decisions for the business.

Success in this role requires a leader who cansetthe strategy buildthe capability and still roll up their sleeves when the business needs it.

Within the first 1224 months the Vice President Packaging will have:

• Established a clear enterprise packaging strategy and multi-year roadmap aligned with Kinders growth plans innovation pipeline manufacturing network and financialobjectives.
• Built greater organizational discipline around packaging development specifications qualification commercialization and change management.
• Created a prioritized packaging productivity and value-engineering pipeline delivering measurable cost savings andgross-marginimprovement.
• Strengthened Kinders strategic supplier network improving visibility into capacity cost innovation performance and supply continuity across critical packaging categories.
• Improved the integration of Packaging into the innovation process allowing technical cost manufacturing and supply considerations to influence decisions earlier in development.
• Identified and advanced packaging technologies equipment and automation opportunities that increase manufacturing capacity throughput reliability and scalability.
• Reduced packaging complexity and improved standardizationwheredoing so creates meaningful operational or financial value without diminishing the consumer experience.
• Established meaningful packaging performance metrics and operating rhythms that provide leadership with visibility into innovation commercialization cost quality supplier performance and risk.
• Built a strong packaging organization with the technicalexpertise leadership depth and cross-functional credibility necessary to support Kinders next stage of growth.

Location and Travel

The position will be based onsite in Walnut Creek CA. We strongly believe in the power of culture and community and have a hybrid work structure with 4 days in the office on a weekly basis to encourage collaboration and personal connections that will allow us to better serve our customers and consumer and to have more fun. Fridays are flex days with employees having the opportunity to choose to be either in the office or to work from home based on what makes most sense for them.

Pay Transparency

The expected starting salary range for this role is $275000 - $300000per salary range posted for this role reflects the good-faith base pay rangeKindersreasonably expectsto offer at the time of posting and may vary based on the location of the role. Individual compensation within the posted range will bedeterminedbased on factors such as relevant education experience qualifications skills and business needs.

• No two days here are the same.
• We try to be good team members and good communicators but we dont live by hierarchy and structure everyone is a difference maker here.
• We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow.
• We believe our job is to take smart risk not to eliminate risk.
• We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart.
• We arent trying to be average we want to do exceptional things and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.

We offer a range of total rewards that may include paid time off 401k bonus / incentive eligibility equity grants competitive health benefits and other family-friendly benefits including parental leave. Kinders benefits vary based on eligibility and can be reviewed in more detail during the interview process.

We believe great culture starts with people. Were a people-first company built on connection collaboration and balance. Most of our work happens in the office to spark creativity and community but we also offer flexibility so team members have the autonomy to work outside the office when needed to support their work-life balance and personal commitments.

Kinders is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color ancestry national origin gender citizenship marital status religion age disability gender identity results of genetic testing veteran status as well as any other legally-protected characteristic. If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law and you need any accommodation during the application process or to perform these job requirements please reach out to us at