Packaging Manager North America – Rigids, PCR & Global Molds SME

Unilever • Hoboken, NJ

12d • Onsite

About The Position

The Packaging Manager leads procurement for the North America rigid-packaging portfolio and PCR agenda, translating business, portfolio, regulatory and sustainability priorities into a multi-year commercial roadmap across approximately €110+ million in managed spend. The role also serves as the Global Molds subject-matter expert, establishing sourcing standards, supplier strategies, should-cost models, asset governance and lifecycle-value approaches across injection- and blow-molding applications.

Working in close partnership with R&D, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, Legal, Sustainability, global portfolio teams and markets, the role delivers competitive sourcing, verified recycled-material supply, mold investment and health, innovation, supplier transitions and on-time industrialization. The manager leads a procurement team of two FTEs, including the role holder and one directly reporting Assistant Manager.

The position is part of Procurement, at Work Level and Grade WL2C, with North America and global scope. The stated location and worksite is Unilever’s Hoboken US HQ. Unilever welcomes applicants from all walks of life, is committed to equal opportunity and inclusion, and offers reasonable adjustments during recruitment upon request.

Requirements

• University degree and 7–10 years of relevant experience in Procurement, Supply Chain, Packaging or Engineering within an international FMCG or manufacturing environment, including strategic sourcing responsibility.
• Demonstrated success leading regional packaging procurement strategies and complex sourcing programs, with experience operating at comparable spend and organizational scale.
• Deep knowledge of rigid-packaging value chains, injection and blow molding, resins, PCR materials, packaging technologies, recycled-content compliance and circular-economy opportunities.
• Strong technical and commercial understanding of mold design, manufacture, ownership models, qualification, maintenance, validation, capacity, cost drivers and lifecycle management.
• Strong strategic-sourcing, negotiation and contracting capability, supported by financial acumen, should-cost modelling, market analysis, price forecasting and supplier-performance management.
• Enterprise leadership mindset, with the ability to set clear priorities, lead through ambiguity and packaging-market change, balance strategic thinking with execution, build trusted senior stakeholder relationships, develop the Assistant Manager and contribute to broader procurement capability development.

Nice To Haves

• Relevant technical, engineering, packaging or commercial postgraduate qualification.
• Experience developing PCR supply markets, including certification, chain-of-custody, food-contact, regulatory, traceability, quality and supplier-performance requirements.
• Experience leading global mold programs, tooling governance, supplier transitions, innovation or change programs across functions and geographies.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop and empower the North America Rigids, PCR and Global Molds Procurement team of two FTEs, including one directly reporting Assistant Manager, responsible for approximately €110+ million in managed spend.
• Own the North America rigid-packaging, PCR and Global Molds procurement portfolio, translating business, growth, regulatory and sustainability priorities into a multi-year category strategy and value-creation roadmap.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies informed by resin and feedstock dynamics, conversion economics, should-cost models, supplier capability, regional demand, technology developments and regulatory requirements.
• Lead supplier selection, negotiation, contracting and performance governance to deliver competitiveness, cash, working capital, innovation, quality, service and resilient supplier capacity.
• Own the North America PCR sourcing and supplier-development roadmap, securing competitive and scalable recycled-material supply with robust chain-of-custody, certification, traceability, food-contact compliance, quality controls and performance standards.
• Act as the Global Molds subject-matter expert, setting sourcing and ownership standards, supplier strategies, cost models and governance across mold design, build, qualification, maintenance, health, capacity, refurbishment, replacement and decommissioning.
• Build strategic partnerships with resin suppliers, converters, recyclers and mold makers to unlock value engineering, specification optimization, technology adoption, cycle-time improvement, circularity and speed to market.
• Partner with R&D, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, Legal, Sustainability, global portfolio teams and markets to govern mold investment, support innovation and trials, manage supplier transitions, and deliver on-time industrialization and launches.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager