Director, Packaging Materials Engineering Group

Constellation Brands•San Antonio, TX

5d•$147,500 - $240,700•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Packaging Materials Engineering Group, is a senior strategic leader with deep expertise in the high-speed beverage packaging manufacturing space. This role carries responsibility for setting the vision, strategy, and governance of all packaging material structures and specifications for CBI’s Beer Division. This leader oversees a team of Managers, each accountable for specific packaging material categories, and ensures fully aligned, forward-looking material strategies across the organization. The Director defines and drives the roadmap for the development, standardization, and continuous advancement of packaging material technologies, enabling both operational excellence and breakthrough product innovation. Critically, this role serves as a catalyst for innovation within the packaging materials domain, championing and advancing differentiated material solutions that elevate product quality, sustainability, and consumer experience. The Director actively identifies and leads the development of next-generation packaging materials that create competitive advantages, strengthen brand distinction, and expand CBI’s portfolio of differentiated SKUs in the marketplace. Equally important, the Director leads cost innovation initiatives within packaging materials—strategically driving value creation through material optimization, design efficiency, and supplier collaboration—while maintaining uncompromising standards for quality and performance across the entire supply chain. The Director partners closely with executive leadership across Production, Quality Assurance, Engineering, and Commercial functions to ensure packaging materials not only meet but consistently exceed performance expectations from manufacturing through to the end consumer. As a key architect of CBI’s material engineering capabilities, the Director, Packaging Materials Engineering Group, plays a pivotal role in building a high-performing organization and institutionalizing innovation, ensuring sustained leadership in how CBI’s products are packaged, protected, and experienced in the market.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Packaging, Engineering, or a related field (MBA or equivalent preferred).
12+ years of relevant experience, including 8+ years in leadership roles.
Proven track record delivering complex, cross-functional high-speed beverage packaging equipment or materials initiatives on time and within budget.
Deep expertise in high-speed beverage packaging processes, including equipment capabilities, packaging material design, and supplier management.
Experience leading teams to develop, present for approval, and implement innovative packaging solutions.
Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to analyze issues and implement flexible, effective solutions.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring delivery against timelines and budgets.
Strong organizational skills with high attention to detail and ability to prioritize.
Proven leadership capability, including team development, coaching, and motivation to drive high performance.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders and drive change across all organizational levels and external partners.
Highly self-driven with strong results orientation and business acumen.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
Strong financial, analytical, and project management skills, including familiarity with project management methodologies.
Experience operating in complex, customer-focused environments with a service-oriented mindset.
Valid passport and ability to travel domestically and internationally (including Mexico and the U.S.).

Nice To Haves

Fluent in English and Spanish
Beverage Alcohol Packaging experience

Responsibilities

Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of Packaging Materials Engineering Managers, establishing a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous capability building across all material categories.
Define and execute the packaging materials strategy, aligning long-term material roadmaps with business objectives, innovation priorities, and new product and packaging initiatives.
Serve as a key strategic partner to Production, Quality Assurance, Engineering, R&D, and Commercial leadership, ensuring strong alignment and integration of packaging material strategies across the value chain.
Champion the identification, development, and advancement of innovative packaging material concepts; build compelling business cases and partner with Commercial teams to translate ideas into differentiated market offerings.
Own the development, validation, standardization, and governance of all packaging material structures and specifications to ensure best-in-class performance from production through consumer use.
Establish and enforce robust governance frameworks for packaging materials, ensuring full compliance with regulatory requirements and adherence to internal standards for quality, safety, and sustainability.
Drive cross-functional problem-solving to address material-related performance issues, utilizing data-driven root cause analysis and implementing sustainable corrective and preventive actions.
Continuously assess emerging technologies, materials, and industry trends, integrating leading-edge solutions to strengthen CBI’s packaging innovation capabilities and competitive position.
Build and lead strategic partnerships with material suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and industry stakeholders to accelerate innovation, enhance supply resilience, and unlock value.
Lead enterprise cost innovation initiatives across packaging materials, driving material optimization, design efficiency, and total cost improvements while maintaining uncompromising standards for quality, performance, and supply chain reliability.
Champion external benchmarking and adoption of best practices to ensure packaging materials deliver competitive advantages across cost, performance, sustainability, and consumer experience.
Oversee structured performance monitoring, including production lines and in-market evaluations, leveraging insights to continuously enhance material specifications and operational outcomes.
Provide executive-level oversight and communication on all packaging material initiatives, ensuring transparency, alignment, and disciplined execution across key programs.
Maintain a strong operational presence, providing on-site leadership and support at breweries to rapidly resolve material performance challenges and ensure business continuity.
Ensure rigorous qualification, testing, and approval processes for all new materials and suppliers, proactively managing risk and safeguarding product quality and supply chain performance.