Senior Manager, Packaging Development

Coca-Cola•Atlanta, GA

10d•$120,000 - $149,000

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Packaging Development at The Coca-Cola Company identifies and creates new packaging solutions by applying packaging and consumer trends, technical research, and system capabilities. The role re-applies ideas from the global packaging network and collaborates with external resources, including design agencies, consultants, universities, and suppliers. Projects may span idea generation, proof of concept, design, development, pilot, and trial activities. The position builds and manages the Package RDI pipeline for a category in alignment with Operating Unit strategic objectives. It requires packaging expertise spanning materials, production and conversion processes, material compatibility, machine interfaces, supplier processes, standards, specifications, printing, application, and distribution. The role scales technologies from bench to plant and optimizes material, product, and machine interfaces to reduce costs and waste, with particular attention to sustainable materials and recycling systems. The Senior Manager manages project priorities, schedules, budgets, scopes, suppliers, and cross-functional teams, including bottling partners. The role communicates technical information clearly, develops technical elements of business cases, and brings feasible, practical, cost-effective packaging innovations to market. The position leads pilot and trial activities to validate concepts and support successful market introduction. Candidates must have demonstrated success developing and commercializing packages and be able to build strong working relationships across functional areas. The role is based in Atlanta, United States, with 0%–25% travel. The Coca-Cola Company will not sponsor employment-based visas for this position; applicants must already be authorized to work full time in the United States without company sponsorship.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Material Science, or a related field.
5–10 years of Packaging Development experience in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to explain complex technical information clearly and concisely.
Knowledge of packaging trends, consumer trends, and technical research methodologies.
Ability to work with external resources, including design agencies, consultants, universities, and suppliers.
Strong problem-solving skills and a creative mindset for identifying and developing packaging solutions.
Demonstrated success developing and commercializing packages.
Ability to lead cross-functional teams and foster strong working relationships across functional areas.
Applicants must be currently authorized to work full time in the United States and must not require The Coca-Cola Company’s sponsorship to continue working legally in the United States.

Nice To Haves

Post-graduate degree.
Experience in the beverage sector.
Experience working in a global packaging network and familiarity with re-applying ideas within a large organization.
Change management skills.
Continuous improvement experience.
Experience with sustainable packaging solutions and understanding of environmental impacts.

Responsibilities

Build and manage the Package RDI pipeline for a category in alignment with Operating Unit strategic objectives.
Manage large budgets, broad project scopes, multiple suppliers, and team members from partner companies.
Import and export best-in-class packaging ideas from other Operating Units and external partners.
Apply knowledge of packaging materials, production processes, design development, material compatibility, machine interfaces, conversion processes, engineering, supplier processes, standards, and specifications.
Scale new technology into viable commercial propositions from bench to plant.
Apply end-to-end packaging-industry knowledge, from raw materials and conversion through printing, application, and distribution.
Use insight into sustainable materials, recycling systems, and new technologies.
Optimize material, product, and machine interfaces to reduce costs and waste.
Manage project priorities and planning to achieve desired outcomes.
Create and manage project schedules with internal and external cross-functional team members, including bottling partners.
Disseminate key facts and communicate complex information concisely and clearly.
Document and communicate routine technical data within R&I and business teams.
Use scientific, consumer, and economic data, influence, and negotiation to develop persuasive business cases for packaging projects.
Lead the technical portion of business-case development for routine projects.
Generate and translate innovative ideas into feasible, practical, and cost-effective packaging solutions.
Use technology and supply-base knowledge to bring innovations from inception through implementation using known technologies.
Lead pilot and trial activities to validate packaging concepts and support successful market introduction.