Packaging Engineer

Smithfield Foods, Inc. • Suffolk, VA

56d

About The Position

As a Packaging Engineer at Smithfield Foods, you'll play a crucial role in ensuring our packaging systems not only guarantee food safety but also add value for our customers and showcase our products positively-all while keeping costs in check. In this role, you'll collaborate closely with Suppliers, Strategic Sourcing, Business Management Teams, Production Plants, Marketing, and other cross-functional team members. You'll lead projects related to new product development and the optimization of current products. Additionally, you'll be responsible for identifying and implementing cost-saving opportunities, ensuring that our packaging solutions are both innovative and efficient. Join us in delivering excellence from production to presentation!

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree from an accredited four-year college or university and 2+ years' relevant experience in Research and Development or Packaging Development; or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
• Energized by collaboration through travel to other locations 50% of the time depending on the initiative being executed.

Nice To Haves

• Broad knowledge of packaging materials, equipment and manufacturing processes.
• Experience in the food industry, preferred.
• General knowledge of food science, processing and manufacturing, preferred.
• Strong oral and written communication skills.
• Strong time management, project management, organizational skills and the ability to work independently.
• Possesses good research and development capabilities, including experimental design, familiarity with packaging testing methodology and experience in commercialization.
• Ability to plan, lead and implement projects successfully which may involve internal and external resources.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and still meet critical project milestones.
• Ability to present conclusions and recommendations to management team.
• Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

Responsibilities

• Project Development and Implementation: You will be responsible for evaluating, researching, and developing new packaging for multiple project types including growth initiatives, quality improvements, and productivity/cost-reduction activities. You will promote innovative thinking to generate unique and value-added packaging ideas for existing or new products and utilize packaging knowledge to develop and maintain packaging specifications to gather supplier data.
• Operational Support: You will identify opportunities for continuous improvement to franchise across the operational network and will troubleshoot activities and provide general packaging support to operations as needed.
• Collaboration and Relationship Management: You will be accountable for building and maintaining relationships with internal and external resources in order to cost-effectively implement packaging initiatives. You will routinely communicate with key stakeholders to report project progress and receive feedback to deliver according to expectations.
• Best Practices and Technology: You will leverage best practices and capitalize on technologies with cross-functional and cross-site business applications.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Industry: Social Assistance
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees