Research Lead, R&D - Rigid Packaging

Job Purpose  

As the Rigid Packaging Technical Research Lead, you will provide technical leadership to develop and advance rigid packaging material and format solutions for the North American portfolio. The objective of the role is to develop and lead technical strategies and deliver novel, functional, cost-competitive rigid packaging solutions that meet sustainability requirements, while supporting innovation, compliance, and value engineering initiatives. You will partner with Innovation, Process, and Platform packaging teams and cross-functional stakeholders to translate technical and sustainability requirements into commercially manufacturable solutions, including identifying material/polymer/packaging technology solutions and research pathways, leading proof of concept, technology scale-up, and transition to business units. 

Essential Functions & Responsibilities  

• ​​Lead and prioritize rigid packaging technical initiatives, balancing technology exploration with proof of concept of novel technologies and building clear business cases for applications that address technical hurdles, drive speed to market, and enable competitive advantage. 

• ​Build, coordinate, and manage external partnerships across the value chain (e.g., resin, coating, material suppliers; universities; institutes; start-ups; open innovation networks; scouting partners) to support rigid packaging technology development and external industry partnerships to influence recycling standards. 

• ​Provide technical leadership and oversight to ensure design decisions align with enterprise standards, manufacturability, sustainability needs, and long-term platform strategy. 

• ​Develop and lead North American R&D rigid packaging training, and act as a technical expert for packaging developers and direct technical problem solving as needed on rigid packaging projects. 

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

• ​Partner with Legal to build robust IP strategies, including exploration to build an IP portfolio to drive competitive advantage. 

• ​Apply Design of Experiments (DoE) and statistics and strong technical problem-solving practices to research, development, and validation work. 

• ​Support prototyping development for consumer testing, pilot line setup and scale-up to industrial production as required to enable commercialization.​ 

People Management Responsibilities 

• Individual Contributor 

Key Outputs & Deliverables  

• Deliver and execute rigid packaging technology strategy and help prioritize a portfolio of complex packaging technology/format initiatives supporting sustainability, innovation, and value engineering initiatives. 

• Lead technical delivery of complex rigid packaging projects from concept through proof of concept and handover, meeting committed timelines, budgets, and technical performance targets. 

• Ensure full compliance with evolving sustainability and regulatory requirements, including: 

• Minimizing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees 

• Designing solutions that avoid material bans and regulatory risks 

• Advancing recyclable, reusable, and compliant packaging formats aligned with enterprise sustainability goals and legislative requirements 

• Deliver packaging designs to Performance-Based Specifications (PBS) to meet defined functional, quality, shelf-life, consumer experience, and manufacturing performance outcomes. 

Expected Experience & Required Skills 

• BS/MS/PhD degree in Engineering, Materials, Chemical or Packaging Engineering preferred, or related discipline. 

• Minimum 11 years of R&D technology development and commercialization experience with extensive experience in rigid packaging and project leadership (consumer goods, food & beverage, pharma or similar preferred).  Experience working at converter or upstream resin or technology provider ideal. 

• Demonstrated experience managing end-to-end development projects, identifying and driving packaging technology initiatives, leading external partnership relationships, and coordinating cross-functional teams. 

• Strong technical knowledge of materials (polymers, barriers and additives, etc.) and manufacturing constraints, including converting processes (e.g., filling, labeling, molding, injection molding, extrusion blow molding, thermoforming), bottle closure and dispensing systems 

• Proven project management/PMO skills, including project governance, risk management, budget management, and stakeholder reporting. 

• Expert knowledge of design of experiments and statistics and technical problem solving. 

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

• Previous experience leading complex, multisite or global packaging or technology launches. 

• Advanced knowledge of sustainable packaging solutions, material/package industry standards and regulations. 

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

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

Work Environment & Schedule 

This position operates primarily 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 (Glenview, IL).  

Physical demands include 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 or contain all duties or responsibilities that are required of the role. Duties or responsibilities may change or be added with or without notice.