The Kraft Heinz Company

Manager, R&D – Packaging Margin Enhancement

The Kraft Heinz Company

full-time

Posted on:

Location Type: Hybrid

Location: Glenview • Illinois • United States

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Salary

💰 $104,200 - $130,200 per year

About the role

  • Lead medium-to-high complexity packaging productivity projects across all categories and provide technical direction to developers from concept through commercialization
  • Design and oversee plant-scale packaging tests and guide developers in data analysis, conclusions, documentation, and results communication
  • Translate R&D findings into quantifiable business opportunities and present recommendations to cross-functional and BU leadership
  • Partner with suppliers, plants, co-manufacturers, and internal technical experts to evaluate and implement packaging technologies and materials
  • Ensure quality requirements are clearly defined and embedded into specifications, delivering consistent, consumer-ready products
  • Serve as a primary R&D point of contact for BU R&D Leads, maintaining regular, transparent communication on project status and risks
  • Support cross-functional teams (Marketing, Supply Chain, Procurement, Operations) to drive speed-to-market on packaging initiatives
  • Own project timelines, risk assessments, issue escalation, and contingency planning across a portfolio of concurrent initiatives
  • Manage team budgets and resource allocation to ensure delivery of in-year and pipeline projects
  • Guide developers through project commercialization activities with strong technical rigor, ensuring statistical tools, technical excellence methods, and documentation best practices are consistently applied
  • Lead, coach, and develop a team of junior packaging developers through structured development plans, workload balancing, and performance feedback
  • Elevate team capability through training, stretch assignments, and external industry networking
  • Foster a culture of inclusion, sustainability, continuous learning, and owner-mentality

Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related field required; Master’s degree preferred
  • 6+ years of experience in CPG packaging R&D, with demonstrated progression in technical and leadership scope
  • Proven track record of leading packaging commercialization projects end-to-end with high autonomy
  • Experience managing or mentoring direct reports, with strong coaching and development skills
  • Proficiency in Design of Experiments (DoE) and data-driven decision-making
  • Strong understanding of packaging materials, structures, and their interactions with food products
  • Exceptional project management skills and able to manage competing priorities across a complex stakeholder network
  • High learning agility with the ability to adapt quickly in a dynamic, ambiguous environment
  • Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with demonstrated ability to influence without authority
  • Willingness to travel up to 30% domestically (U.S. and Canada), including visits to internal plants, co-manufacturers, and suppliers
Benefits
  • Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare
  • Protection and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs
  • Wellbeing: We offer events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families
  • Paid Time Off
  • Company Holidays
  • Leave of Absence
  • Flexible Work Arrangements
  • Recognition, Training
  • 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability
Applicant Tracking System Keywords

Tip: use these terms in your resume and cover letter to boost ATS matches.

Hard Skills & Tools
packaging engineeringmaterials sciencechemical engineeringDesign of Experiments (DoE)data analysisproject managementstatistical toolstechnical excellence methodspackaging commercializationpackaging materials
Soft Skills
leadershipcoachingcommunicationteam developmentproblem-solvingadaptabilityinfluence without authorityworkload balancingperformance feedbackcross-functional collaboration
Certifications
Bachelor’s degreeMaster’s degree