Manager, Close Loop Recycling

Pregis•Chicago, IL

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Manager, Closed Loop Recycling is responsible for leading the strategy, development, commercialization, and execution of Pregis' circular economy and recycling. This role serves as a key leader within the Sustainability organization, driving the integration of closed-loop recycling programs and recycled content utilization across all business units and manufacturing facilities. The successful candidate will work at the intersection of sustainability, operations, manufacturing, supply chain, procurement, engineering, product development, and commercial teams to accelerate circularity, increase recycled-content utilization and deliver measurable business, environmental, and customer value. This leader will develop scalable solutions that support Pregis' sustainability commitments while driving operational performance, cost savings, supply resilience, and growth opportunities.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Packaging Science, Polymer Science, Sustainability, Environmental Science, Supply Chain, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.
10+ years of progressive experience in packaging, plastics, recycling, manufacturing, sustainability, operations, supply chain, product development, or related industries.
Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide sustainability, circular economy,
Strong understanding of flexible packaging, polymers, film extrusion, converting, recycling systems, reclaimed materials, and manufacturing operations.
Proven experience managing complex cross-functional programs and influencing senior leadership.
Strong business acumen with experience building business cases and evaluating investment opportunities.
Excellent communication, presentation, stakeholder management, and leadership skills.
Ability to travel as required.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Sustainability, Packaging, Operations Management, or Business Administration (MBA).
PMP, Lean Six Sigma, or equivalent project management and continuous improvement certifications.
Experience with PCR, PIR, recycling technologies, material recovery systems, and circular economy programs.
Knowledge of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), greenhouse gas accounting, renewable energy procurement, and corporate sustainability reporting.
Established relationships within the plastics, packaging, recycling, sustainability, or manufacturing industries.

Responsibilities

Lead the development and execution of Pregis' enterprise-wide closed-loop recycling, recycled content utilization, zero waste, and operational sustainability strategies.
Establish long-term roadmaps, objectives, and implementation plans that support corporate sustainability goals and business growth.
Align business units and manufacturing operations around a common vision for circular economy, waste reduction, resource efficiency, and carbon reduction.
Identify, prioritize, and lead high-value sustainability projects and investments that generate measurable environmental and financial returns.
Develop and maintain sustainability KPIs, performance scorecards, and reporting mechanisms to track progress against company objectives.
Design, implement, and scale end-to-end closed-loop recycling programs for flexible packaging, plastic films, foam, and related products.
Lead initiatives to increase utilization of reclaimed, post-consumer recycled (PCR), and post-industrial recycled (PIR) materials across product portfolios.
Develop material traceability, mass balance, and recovery systems to support circular economy programs.
Identify opportunities to improve recycling yields, material recovery rates, waste diversion, and overall program economics.
Quantify and communicate environmental impacts, cost savings, and business value generated through recycling and circularity initiatives.
Identify and develop commercial opportunities related to recycled-content packaging and circular economy solutions.
Build and manage strategic partnerships with customers, brand owners, recyclers, converters, retailers, resin suppliers, waste management providers, and industry organizations.
Support customer sustainability initiatives through the development of value propositions and circular economy solutions.
Develop business cases and financial models supporting investments in recycling infrastructure, material sourcing, technology, and sustainability projects.
Potentially represent Pregis at customer meetings, sustainability forums, industry conferences, and trade associations.
Partner with Product Development, Engineering, Category Management, and Technical teams to develop recyclable and recycled-content packaging solutions.
Evaluate, qualify, and commercialize recycled materials for new and existing applications.
Support material testing, manufacturing trials, performance validation, and commercialization activities.
Monitor developments in recycling technologies, processing systems, material streams, and emerging circular economy business models.
Improve recyclability, recycled-content utilization, product performance, and overall cost competitiveness across product portfolios.
Serve as the company's internal expert on plastics recycling, recycled content utilization
Monitor regulatory developments related to recycling, packaging waste, recycled-content mandates, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), carbon reduction, and sustainability reporting.
Track market trends, emerging technologies, and competitive developments that impact sustainability and recycling programs.
Identify future growth opportunities and innovations that strengthen Pregis' market leadership.