Packaging Development & Sourcing Specialist

Hunkemöller • Deerfield, IL

11d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Packaging Development & Sourcing Specialist is responsible for the end-to-end development, sourcing, and optimization of packaging solutions. This role ensures packaging is commercially viable, cost-efficient, sustainable, and aligned with brand and product strategies. You work at the intersection of design, sourcing, and supply chain—translating creative concepts into scalable packaging solutions while driving innovation and supplier performance. You act as a key decision-maker within the development process, ensuring timelines, cost targets, and quality standards are met.

Requirements

• Strong experience in packaging development, sourcing, or product development (ideally in retail or fashion)
• Solid knowledge of international sourcing and country-specific supplier markets
• Proven negotiation experience, including open costing and cost breakdowns
• Strong stakeholder management skills across multiple departments
• Experience working with suppliers and managing long-term relationships
• Commercial mindset with strong analytical and forecasting capabilities
• Awareness of sustainability, materials, and compliance requirements

Nice To Haves

• Agile thinker with a proactive and hands-on mentality
• Curious and forward-looking—always asking “what’s next?”
• Strong communicator with the ability to influence decisions
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment
• Solution-oriented with a focus on continuous improvement
• Takes ownership and actively contributes to business decisions

Responsibilities

• Manage and develop relationships with packaging suppliers across key sourcing countries, including supplier contract ownership
• Build and maintain a strong second-tier supplier base
• Drive supplier performance, compliance, and innovation
• Lead packaging development from concept to production
• Translate design briefs into technical and commercially viable solutions
• Ensure alignment with product requirements and brand identity
• Take ownership of open costing, cost breakdowns, forecasting, and price negotiations
• Drive cost optimization while maintaining quality and innovation
• Own forecasting and cost planning across seasons
• Identify and implement new packaging materials, techniques, and sustainable solutions that contribute to HKM’s ESG targets
• Proactively research trends and attend trade fairs to bring new ideas into the business
• Challenge current ways of working and continuously improve packaging approaches
• Work closely with Buying, Design, CSR, Marketing, VM, Ecom, Retail, and Compliance teams to ensure a full concept-to-consumer approach
• Work closely with the Senior Graphic Designer to align packaging design concepts with technical feasibility, brand identity, and production requirements.
• Ensure alignment on timelines, critical path (CP), and delivery milestones
• Act as a key stakeholder in decision-making across packaging topics
• Manage critical path timelines and ensure on-time delivery
• Support accurate forecasting and capacity planning
• Ensure packaging developments meet operational and commercial deadlines

Benefits

• 25 days of annual leave, with the option to buy or sell up to 4 additional days
• Hybrid work model, combining office and remote working
• Possibility to work from abroad for up to 2 weeks per year
• An international work environment, working with teams across different countries
• Travel allowance to support commuting costs
• Access to the Hunkemöller Academy for professional development
• 25% employee discount on all Hunkemöller products

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed