Want to help us bring happiness to the world? Want to join an ambitious and fast growing global biscuits and confectionery business investing heavily in iconic global brands, infrastructure and people? Then this is the place for you. As proud bakers and chocolatiers and custodians of iconic global brands, we don't compromise on the quality of ingredients in our products or on the people we hire. We are looking for entrepreneurial spirits who share our passion for bringing happiness to our consumers and who embody our Winning Traits. To succeed at pladis you need to be purpose-led, resilient and positive to succeed here because we expect pace and agility, we insist on collaboration and demand accountability. If that is your thing, then pladis offers global ambition, a clear Vision and roadmap for success, challenge, and unrivalled opportunities to learn and make an impact Click Apply to get started. SUMMARY As a Sr. Packaging Engineer, reporting to the Director of Global Package Development, you will lead packaging development and commercialization of new materials with a focus on NPD including package material and package system sustainability over a variety of formats. You will provide technical support to several key Global areas in a cross-functional team environment by working with Procurement, Operations/Supply Chain, Product R&D, Quality, Marketing, Design, and material suppliers. You will support and lead packaging-driven projects and new start-ups including equipment qualifications; lead line trials and/or start-ups and perform package performance testing with key partners. This position reviews current packaging materials for cost reduction and performance efficiencies. You will have the opportunity to establish packaging quality control, activities, and procedures to resolve packaging issues during the implementation of new products into production. The ability to effectively communicate across technical and non-technical backgrounds is essential. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTABILITIES
- Specify and design product packaging to ensure product integrity and appeal under varying shipping and display conditions, applying understanding of the correlation between material performance specifications and final package performance.
- Develop technical specifications of all packaging components, including paper, board, pads, and corrugated plastic trays.
- Test, analyze, and select materials for packaging based on durability, sustainability, function, aesthetics and cost effectiveness.
- Estimate production costs, cost saving methods, and the effects of packaging design changes on expenditures for management review, action, and control.
- Analyze and test packages and packaging material in accordance with ASTM and ISTA standards.
- Contribute to the development of structural and protective packaging components for secondary, tertiary, and bulk packaging.
- Support/maintain company-wide global specification management system.
- Estimate and prepare bills of material (BOM) and product master data (PMD) for packaging projects.
- Monitor new/modified packaging performance on high-speed chocolate packaging machines
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED Essential Criteria Qualifications: Minimum education required: BS Packaging Engineer degree/Engineering or related Technical Discipline Experience: 5+ years within a corporate Package Development environment preferably within CPG/Food industry Knowledge, skills, and abilities required:
- Tests, analyzes, and selects materials for packaging based on performance and cost effectiveness.
- Thorough knowledge of packaging, product, and bills of materials to successfully produce packaging specifications.
- Functional participant in project teams; capable of working with a large cross section of plant management.
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
- Ability to problem solve and implement solutions with management support
- Capable of identifying problems and seeking appropriate resources for solution
- Understands situations requiring escalation or need to seek out assistance
- Sound organizational and time management skills with the ability to effectively prioritize and manage multiple priorities
- Proficient knowledge of food packaging material science
- Proficient knowledge of packaging converting technology
- Proficient knowledge of distribution methods
- Fundamental knowledge of printing processes and color management
- Fundamental knowledge of profit and loss factors
- Functional knowledge of packaging operations
- High level of analytical ability
- Effective oral and written communication skills with internal and external resources
WORKING CONDITIONS
- Normal office working environment in Reading PA
- Significant interaction and time in pladis' manufacturing and distribution facilities; travel up to 25%, predominantly in Northeast, USA.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED
- Customer focus: Demonstrates service-oriented attitude under all situations
- Leadership: Takes over, rally, guide and motivate people to results in a changing and ambiguous environment
- Communication: Good communication skills including listening, verbal and written. Ability to lead cross-functional meetings and drive decisions and actions
- Multi-tasks and sense of urgency: Ability to deal with multi-tasks with effective prioritization, planning and organization with required sense of urgency.
- Process orientated: Recognizes importance of process compliance linked to sound understanding of all aspects of supply chain and product development process. Continuous improvement attitude
- Adaptability and Team working: Flexible, adjust readily to new situations while effectively dealing with ambiguity, stress, and uncertainty. Demonstrated smooth interpersonal relationship.
- Problem solving: Demonstrated capability for problem finding and problem solving and decision making with a win-win approach.
- Superior analytical skills and professionalism: Rigorous, precise, and reliable in data analysis and reporting as well as in respect of procedure, rules and core values
pladis is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law. We operate a strict Preferred Supplier List. If you are a recruitment agency and wish to submit candidate to be considered for this vacancy, you must have agreed to, and signed, our terms of business. We will not accept CVs from any other sources other than those currently on our PSL. We will not pay a fee for any candidate that has not been represented by a provider on our PSL.