R&D Manager – Printing & Platform Innovation
About The Position
MCC is the global leader in premium labels, helping brands stand out and inspire positive consumer experiences. With over a century of printing expertise, we’re focused on the future—developing consumer-driven innovations and sustainable packaging solutions. Join our team and make a real impact. (Printing Industry Experience Required) We are seeking a hands-on R&D Manager with deep printing industry experience to accelerate platform innovation and bridge technical understanding across printing, equipment, materials, and production environments. This pivotal role requires a leader who can confidently operate at the intersection of pressroom realities, material science, and structured project execution. You will partner closely with senior chemists and cross-functional teams to scale proprietary technologies, bring rigor and structure to R&D workflows, and enable seamless transfer of innovations from lab to press. This is a high-impact role where your printing knowledge and project management expertise will directly shape the future of our platforms.
Requirements
- Direct printing industry experience (flexo, digital, gravure, or offset) with strong understanding of press operations, ink systems, curing/drying, tension control, and print quality parameters.
- Bachelor’s degree with 5–10 years of R&D or technical printing experience; Master’s with 3–5 years; Ph.D. with 1–3 years.
- Proven experience leading projects, managing timelines, and coordinating cross-functional activities.
- Strong proficiency in experimental design, process documentation, and translating R&D work into scalable operations.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
- Working knowledge of inks, coatings, adhesives, substrates, and label construction fundamentals.
- Ability to work hands-on, including time in lab, pilot, and press environments.
- Heavy travel required ~60%
Nice To Haves
- Degree in Packaging Science, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Printing Technology, or related discipline.
- Experience in the packaging value chain or food & beverage manufacturing.
- Demonstrated ability to build productive cross-functional relationships.
Responsibilities
- Serve as a printing subject matter expert within R&D, ensuring all developments are optimized for flexographic, digital, rotogravure, or offset printing processes.
- Partner with operations to trial, validate and troubleshoot.
- Translate proprietary label constructions into scalable, repeatable processes ready for production and process engineering.
- Support pilot or press‑side validations, documenting learnings to strengthen platform robustness.
- Create, maintain, and continually improve SOPs, process instructions, experiment templates, and knowledge‑transfer documentation.
- Ensure rigorous recordkeeping that supports reproducibility, scale‑up, and cross-functional understanding.
- Own project timelines, priorities, and deliverables across multiple initiatives.
- Lead structured project reviews, proactively identify risks, and ensure cross-functional alignment with Operations and Commercial teams.
- Build strong partnerships across Operations, Marketing, Sales, and Supply Chain to support technology transfer, customer problem-solving, and commercialization success.
- Mentor junior scientists, technicians, and interns, fostering a culture of curiosity, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Present experimental work, data summaries, and project updates to leadership, project teams, and customers.
- Support regulatory readiness and sustainability initiatives within R&D.
- Champion safety standards that align with facility expectations and best practices.
Benefits
- Generous benefits package including medical, dental, vision, disability, life insurance and 401(k)
- Paid Holidays: New Years, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Day after Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, plus 2 floating Holidays
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
