Director, VRO & Packaging Agility

Estée Lauder Companies • , NY

5d • $124,200 - $214,450

About The Position

The Director, VRO & Packaging Agility leads the development and execution of enterprise-wide packaging agility initiatives to accelerate speed to market, enable supply chain flexibility, and strengthen competitive advantage. The role drives innovation in packaging technologies, materials, digital printing, automation, and Print on Demand solutions, applying packaging expertise to deliver technically robust, consumer-centric, and cost-effective packaging systems. It partners across Packaging, Engineering, Supply Chain, R&D, Manufacturing, and Brand teams to build scalable capabilities that improve responsiveness, efficiency, and business growth.

The Director leads global programs focused on speed to market, packaging simplification, business continuity, automation, and value engineering. The position identifies opportunities to reduce packaging complexity, material usage, waste, and cost while improving manufacturability, quality, and operational efficiency; evaluates and introduces new packaging technologies and capabilities; and advances Print on Demand for market-specific, event-driven, and personalized consumer experiences. It also develops business cases, feasibility assessments, and commercialization strategies, and leads solutions from concept through validation, scale-up, and implementation.

The role establishes packaging validation strategies, assesses technical risks and trade-offs, and supports packaging strategies that advance agility, innovation, sustainability, cost savings, and operational resilience. It manages project timelines, KPIs, stakeholder communications, and governance. The Director mentors team members, provides technical guidance to project teams, builds partnerships across global functions, and influences senior stakeholders to align on strategic programs.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.
• At least 8 years of experience in Packaging Development, Packaging Engineering, Manufacturing, or related CPG industries.
• Proven experience leading complex packaging innovation and commercialization programs.
• Demonstrated project management experience leading global cross-functional teams and influencing senior stakeholders.
• Deep knowledge of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging systems, including plastics, glass, metal, paperboard, corrugate, labels, folding cartons, rigid boxes, pumps, airless systems, and dispensing technologies.
• Expertise in package design, materials, component engineering, decoration technologies, digital printing, automation readiness, and package validation.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, including injection molding, extrusion, metal forming, glass forming, assembly operations, and printing technologies.
• Proven ability to evaluate supplier capabilities, line performance, package specifications, technical drawings, testing protocols, and commercialization requirements.

Nice To Haves

• Experience in prestige beauty, personal care, or consumer packaged goods.
• Experience with digital printing, Print on Demand, and emerging packaging technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead global packaging agility programs focused on speed to market, packaging simplification, business continuity, automation, and value engineering.
• Identify and implement opportunities to reduce packaging complexity, material usage, waste, and cost while improving manufacturability, quality, and operational efficiency.
• Evaluate and introduce packaging technologies, materials, decoration methods, digital printing solutions, and automation capabilities to improve supply chain agility.
• Drive the expansion and technical execution of Print on Demand capabilities for market-specific, event-driven, and personalized consumer experiences.
• Develop business cases, feasibility assessments, and commercialization strategies for packaging concepts, technologies, and capabilities.
• Lead cross-functional teams through concept development, validation, scale-up, and implementation of packaging solutions.
• Establish packaging validation strategies that address company standards, manufacturing requirements, consumer expectations, and brand equity objectives.
• Assess technical risks, trade-offs, and opportunities and translate complex packaging considerations into recommendations for leadership.
• Support category and enterprise packaging strategies that advance agility, innovation, sustainability, cost savings, and operational resilience.
• Manage project timelines, KPIs, stakeholder communications, and governance for strategic initiatives.
• Mentor and develop team members, fostering technical excellence and career growth.
• Provide packaging expertise and technical guidance on design, testing, manufacturability, supplier capability, and risk management.
• Build partnerships across Global Supply Chain, R&D, Manufacturing, Procurement, and Brand teams to deliver strategic programs.
• Influence senior stakeholders and drive alignment across global cross-functional teams.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage, including medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Wellness and family support programs.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Paid leave programs.
• Education-related programs.
• Paid holidays and vacation time.
• Eligibility for a highly competitive bonus program, with potential for overachievement based on performance and company results.
• Eligibility to participate in the share incentive plan.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director