Assoc Sci, R&D - Packaging Dev
About The Position
The Kraft Heinz Away from Home R&D team is hiring an Associate Scientist, R&D – Packaging Development to support innovation, renovation, and brand maintenance initiatives across its North American Away from Home business, while leading lower-complexity projects. The role offers opportunities to build technical packaging capability and leadership through cross-functional collaboration and hands-on work bringing packaging solutions to market. The position supports and leads packaging commercialization for new and renovated launches, from concept through implementation. Work includes developing material specifications, conducting trials and testing, preparing technical drawings, supporting artwork and graphics development, and creating start-up procedures. The Associate Scientist assesses project risks and feasibility, designs and executes plant trials, leads packaging performance testing, prepares technical documentation, and maintains packaging and product specifications and related database records. The role manages multiple assignments with supervisor guidance and applies scientific learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving to varied business initiatives. The position is based at the Glenview R&D Center and requires willingness to travel 30% based on business needs, including visits to internal plants, co-manufacturers, suppliers, and other R&D sites. The new-hire base salary range is $68,900 to $86,100, and the role is eligible for a performance-based bonus. Kraft Heinz describes benefits and wellbeing programs that may vary by role and other employment factors, including healthcare coverage, paid time off, holidays, flexible work arrangements, training, employee assistance and wellbeing programs, family support, 401(k), life and disability coverage.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Packaging, Engineering, Material Science, or an adjacent technical discipline.
- Experience or strong interest in the food or consumer packaged goods industry.
- Foundational knowledge of packaging science, materials, and testing protocols, with hands-on application through academic or industry experience.
- Understanding of packaging functionality and the interaction between packaging, product, and processing.
- Ability to work effectively in office, laboratory, and manufacturing environments.
- Strong verbal and written communication skills.
- Self-motivated approach, strong attention to detail, sense of urgency, and eagerness to learn.
- Willingness to travel 30% based on business needs, including visits to internal plants, co-manufacturers, suppliers, or other R&D sites.
Responsibilities
- Support and lead packaging commercialization activities for new and renovated package launches from concept through implementation, including material specifications, trials and testing, technical drawings, artwork and graphics development, and start-up procedures.
- Serve as a proactive technical resource by leading lower-complexity initiatives and supporting more complex projects.
- Partner with cross-functional teams to execute projects involving innovation, renovation, sustainability, brand maintenance, cost optimization, and other strategic priorities.
- Assess project risks and feasibility to support technical decision-making.
- Design and execute plant trials across products and packaging materials.
- Develop and lead packaging performance testing and evaluations to analyze packaging variables.
- Write technical trial plans, testing protocols, and summary reports.
- Create and maintain packaging specifications, manufacturing procedures, finished product specifications, and related database documentation.
- Manage multiple assignments simultaneously with supervisor guidance and prioritize among business initiatives.
- Apply scientific learning, critical thinking, and problem-solving to new situations.
Benefits
- Performance-based bonus.
- Healthcare coverage for employees and eligible dependents, including medical and prescription drug coverage.
- Dental insurance.
- Vision insurance.
- Paid time off.
- Company holidays.
- Leave of absence programs.
- Flexible work arrangements.
- Recognition programs.
- Training.
- Employee Assistance Program.
- Wellbeing programs.
- Family support programs.
- 401(k).
- Life insurance.
- Accidental death and dismemberment coverage.
- Disability coverage.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Entry Level
