Packaging Category Lead

Emmi Roth USA•Stoughton, WI

About The Position

The Packaging Category Lead serves as the technical and commercial packaging expert for North America, providing leadership in packaging design, development, commercialization, and performance optimization across all packaging categories. The role partners with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Manufacturing, R&D, Sustainability, Procurement, and suppliers to implement packaging solutions that improve product protection, manufacturing efficiency, sustainability, and total cost. It also maintains responsibility for strategic supplier relationships and designated procurement activities, with a primary focus on packaging technology, innovation, and supporting business growth through technical packaging expertise. The role leads the packaging agenda for U.S. operations and supports alignment and rollout across South American entities. It develops category strategies and multi-year roadmaps for corrugated, rigid plastics, and flexible packaging, covering innovation, sustainability, supply continuity, and cost competitiveness. The Packaging Category Lead also analyzes spend and supplier data, conducts sourcing events and negotiations, acts as International Lead Buyer for assigned categories, and manages supplier performance and risk mitigation. The position requires a relevant technical bachelor's degree and at least five years of packaging engineering, development, or technology experience. Experience in food, dairy, beverage, consumer packaged goods, or manufacturing environments is required, along with knowledge of food safety, regulatory requirements, HACCP principles, and labeling compliance.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Packaging Science, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, Food Engineering, or a related technical discipline.
At least 5 years of packaging engineering, packaging development, or packaging technology experience.
Experience in food, dairy, beverage, consumer packaged goods, or manufacturing environments.
Experience leading packaging qualification, validation, and cost optimization projects.
Strong understanding of packaging materials, package performance, and manufacturing processes.
Knowledge of food safety standards and regulatory requirements.
Familiarity with Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) principles.
Understanding of labeling regulations and compliance requirements.

Nice To Haves

Certified Packaging Professional (CPP).
Experience supporting packaging operations in a manufacturing environment.
Experience working directly with packaging suppliers to develop new materials and technologies.
Experience with sustainability-driven packaging initiatives.
Procurement or strategic sourcing experience.

Responsibilities

Serve as the technical packaging subject-matter expert across U.S. entities and support alignment and rollout across South American entities.
Lead packaging development, optimization, qualification, and cost management for corrugated, rigid plastic, and flexible packaging.
Partner with R&D, Quality, Operations, and Sustainability teams to improve packaging performance, manufacturability, sustainability, and total cost.
Challenge and harmonize packaging specifications, standards, and material selections across regions.
Drive packaging innovation initiatives, including recyclability, recycled content, carbon reduction, and new materials.
Lead packaging trials, supplier qualifications, and implementation of new packaging solutions.
Monitor packaging technologies, market trends, and regulatory requirements and provide technical expertise to the business.
Lead the packaging agenda for U.S. operations and support alignment across South America.
Develop and execute category strategies for corrugated, rigid plastics, and flexible plastics.
Create multi-year roadmaps focused on innovation, sustainability, supply continuity, and cost competitiveness.
Analyze spend and supplier data to identify optimization and standardization opportunities.
Lead sourcing events, negotiations, and supplier selection activities.
Act as International Lead Buyer for assigned packaging categories.
Manage strategic supplier relationships and performance across cost, quality, service, innovation, and sustainability.
Develop supplier strategies and risk mitigation plans to ensure supply continuity.
Collaborate with Procurement, Operations, Quality, R&D, and Sustainability teams to execute packaging initiatives.
Serve as the key link between Group Procurement and regional stakeholders.
Deliver packaging technology, innovation, and sustainability roadmaps across the Americas.
Achieve cost, quality, service, and sustainability objectives.
Drive packaging specification optimization and standardization.
Manage strategic supplier partnerships and sourcing governance.
Provide technical, commercial, and market expertise for packaging materials and technologies.