Packaging Design Manager

Unilever•Trumbull, CT

About The Position

Shape the Future of Packaging for Some of the World's Most Recognized Brands At Unilever, we create products that are part of billions of consumers' daily lives. From Dove and Dove Men+Care, our brands are trusted around the world—and packaging plays a critical role in creating meaningful consumer experiences. We are seeking a highly creative and technically skilled Packaging Design Manager to join our Global Skin Cleansing Packaging Team. This role offers a unique opportunity to influence the future of packaging innovation, translating consumer insights into compelling, sustainable, and manufacturable packaging solutions that drive brand growth. As a key member of the global packaging organization, you will partner with cross-functional teams to define and execute packaging design strategies, bringing breakthrough ideas from concept through commercialization. You'll combine design excellence, engineering expertise, and consumer-centric thinking to create packaging that enhances brand desirability while advancing Unilever's sustainability ambitions.

Requirements

6+ years of packaging design, industrial design, or packaging engineering experience within consumer goods, personal care, beauty, food, beverage, or related industries.
Experience leading packaging development projects from concept through launch.
Proven ability to manage multiple complex projects in a fast-paced environment.
Experience collaborating with cross-functional teams and external partners to deliver innovation at scale.
Strong knowledge of: 3D CAD design tools (Siemens NX preferred)
KeyShot, Adobe Creative Suite, and rapid prototyping technologies
Packaging materials, including HDPE, PET, PP, and recycled materials
Blow molding, injection molding, ISBM, extrusion, and other packaging manufacturing processes
Closures, pumps, dispensing systems, tubes, rigid packaging, and complex assemblies
Packaging decoration technologies and emerging packaging innovations

Nice To Haves

Combines creativity with strong engineering and problem-solving skills
Is passionate about packaging innovation and consumer-centered design
Thrives in highly collaborative, global environments
Can influence without authority and build strong partnerships across disciplines
Brings an entrepreneurial mindset and a bias for action
Leads with curiosity, resilience, and a commitment to excellence

Responsibilities

Lead Packaging Innovation: Drive the development of innovative packaging concepts for global and regional product launches.
Shape packaging design direction from early-stage ideation through final commercialization.
Translate consumer insights, market trends, and brand strategy into impactful packaging solutions.
Design with Creativity and Purpose: Create packaging experiences that strengthen brand equity, improve usability, and delight consumers.
Develop visually compelling and technically robust packaging systems across a variety of formats and materials.
Champion design thinking and human-centered design throughout the innovation process.
Partner Across the Business: Collaborate closely with Brand, R&D, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, Planning, and external partners.
Influence decision-making by balancing consumer needs, sustainability goals, commercial priorities, and manufacturing requirements.
Build strong partnerships with design agencies, component suppliers, and technology providers to unlock new capabilities.
Deliver Scalable Solutions: Ensure packaging designs are optimized for manufacturing, performance, quality, and cost.
Incorporate Design for Manufacturing (DFM) principles early in development.
Support seamless scale-up and implementation across Unilever's global manufacturing network.