Manager Packaging Development

Morgan Street•Chicago, IL

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

tms unites technology, marketing, and sourcing to drive transformational change for the world’s leading brands. With more than 1,400 employees across 28 countries, we offer an impressive range of solutions – from inspiration and innovation to category management and delivery. Operating as a creative agency, a strategic consultancy, a sourcing business, and a technology provider, we engage with over 110 million customers every single day for our clients, including McDonald’s, T-Mobile, O2, Starbucks, and adidas. Most importantly, we're a place where you can achieve great things, and be recognized as the best. WHAT MATTERS THE MOST Breakthrough, business-driving ideas come from extraordinary people with the freedom to be their most authentic selves at work. Authenticity and diversity are critical elements of our business. They can only be realized when we create access and equity for all. We foster a culture of inclusion and belonging and aspire to be ever-evolving. tms is a place where brilliant people are better together. If you want your ideas to be heard and to contribute to a culture of inclusion and authenticity, bring us your voice! Visit us at tmsw.com. WHY WE THINK YOU WILL LOVE THIS ROLE High impact, real ownership – You’ll lead packaging development initiatives that directly influence product performance, sustainability, and customer experience across North America and Europe. Work at the intersection of strategy and execution – This role blends technical expertise with cross-functional leadership, giving you visibility into business decisions while staying hands-on in development. Collaborative, global environment – You’ll partner closely with teams across regions, functions, and suppliers, making your work dynamic, diverse, and highly visible. Opportunities to innovate – From material optimization to new packaging concepts, you’ll have the freedom to challenge the status quo and drive meaningful improvements. Career growth and leadership exposure – You’ll build leadership capability, influence key stakeholders, and play a critical role in shaping future product development direction. Fast-paced, problem-solving culture – If you enjoy tackling complex challenges and seeing ideas come to life quickly, this environment will keep you engaged and energized.

Requirements

12+ years of relevant experience in packaging development & engineering
Bachelor’s degree in Science/Engineering (packaging, material science, paper science, chemical, or mechanical, polymer science preferred)
Experience in the foodservice, food, consumer goods, or packaging material supply industries
Analytical approach to problem-solving and decision making
Strong communication and presentation skills
Customer relationship management experience
Proficient with Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams
Strong organization and project management skills

Responsibilities

Identify and drive new to market strategic technology platforms, managing through ambiguity to build technical points of view to align recommendations, working both independently and indirectly through others.
Independently lead packaging development initiatives in-line with the needs and expectations identified by tms managers and customers.
Identify innovative solutions with attention toward benefit, sustainability, risk, and cost.
Build and present business cases for packaging programs supported by financial assessments, technical feasibility, customer benefit impact analysis, and risk assessments.
Acting technology leader in the field of fiber-based packaging technology OR thermoformed plastics, aligning strategic direction with suppliers, managing and maintaining technical networks, coordinating new technology immersions, and providing mentoring support to tms engineers.
Advise and collaborate with tms leaders, strategic suppliers, customer stakeholders, and gatekeepers to build alignment against strategic initiatives.
Proactively drive future consumer and market needs, structuring planned technology evolution and changes through collaboratively developed detailed roadmaps and pipelines.
Develop and maintain knowledge of critical consumer and operational issues as well as key packaging technologies relevant to tms customers’ packaging.
Continue to expand your technology skillset through developing technical depth while continuing to work with a breadth of materials and processes.
Build your business and leadership skillsets through developing business knowledge and awareness while working toward developing leadership skills to further progress the organization.
Demonstrate technology leadership by managing supplier technical relationships, coordinating new technology immersions, and providing mentoring support to tms engineers.
Assist with department continuous improvement, identifying and driving opportunity for departmental changes which enable speed to market, innovation, and growth through improvements to training, technology transfer, and process.
Active membership representative in strategic consortiums and networking organizations, influencing market changes in positive alignment with customer objectives, maintaining a pulse on the evolution of technology, and leveraging relationships and insights to drive strategic packaging initiatives within tms and our customers.
Develop and maintain appropriate packaging specifications within the designated specification system.
Display thought leadership with conviction and ability to take managed risks, and demonstrate aptitude for innovation, inspiring others to align against a strategic vision.