Senior Partnership Manager

Senior Partnership Manager – Packaging Innovation Lab @ PepsiCo Location: Plano, TX – Must be on‑site, 40 hours per week. The Packaging Innovation Lab (PIL) is a facility inside PepsiCo R&D Center in Plano, TX, servicing R&D Packaging. It utilizes state‑of‑the‑art prototyping and 2D and 3D printing equipment to provide new-to‑the‑world packaging concepts and innovation. WovenWorks runs the facility under a partnership agreement with PepsiCo. The Senior Partnership Manager leads the facility, manages the four full‑time staff, and directs day‑to‑day operations. Key Responsibilities Partnership Team Oversight & Quality Control: Provide leadership to ensure onsite staff deliver quality work based on client and contractor specifications and comply with employment and contractor policies. Equipment & Material Recommendation: Recommend equipment and materials for R&D foods packaging, integration of digital support and appropriate fidelity of prototypes; oversee maintenance, repairs, consumables procurement, calibration, EHS readiness, and workshop safety protocols. Coordinate Partnership Requests: Align with the client on deliverables, timing, and resources; use Monday to create work orders, manage a first‑come, first‑serve deliverables queue, prioritise PepsiCo‑prioritised work, and handle multiple live parallel workstreams. Partnership Management: Develop and implement partnership strategies, pursue new opportunities, strengthen relationships, manage communication, and drive continuous growth. Backup & Augmentation: Direct remote team(s) in Fairfield, Cincinnati or Chicago to provide backup when onsite employees are unavailable, estimate time and materials, and ensure seamless delivery. Lead: Promote the PIL, lead in‑person tours and ideation sessions, guide the team through corporate dynamics, and communicate key messages. Required Skills & Experience Industrial Design with a bias for structural packaging design and packaging development experience; preference for CPG food and snacking experience; proficiency in SolidWorks for detailed 3D CAD models. Advanced solid and surface modeling techniques to create complex, manufacturable geometries. Translate design intent into prototypes suitable for production. Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to ensure feasibility and alignment with project goals. Integrate 2D and 3D printing into the prototyping workflow, selecting appropriate methods, technologies, and materials. Work efficiently under tight timelines and adapt to changing project requirements. Participate in design reviews and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives. Prototyping Specialist with experience in rapid 2D and 3D prototyping, workshop machinery, materials, maintenance, and calibration. Team Leader with 8+ years of progressive professional experience. Strong communication and interpersonal skills; ability to build and maintain relationships with key partners and clients. Strong problem‑solving and decision‑making skills; thrive in fast‑paced environments with multiple concurrent projects. Passionate about branding & packaging; strong presentation and collaboration abilities. Design Leadership experience in Design Thinking and Front‑End Innovation; comfortable navigating ambiguity and complex evolving tasks. Flexibility to shift seamlessly between leading, planning, doing, and managing throughout projects. Preferred Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in engineering, industrial design, or related field. Expert in 3D CAD surface modelling and Solid modelling, SolidWorks preferred. Experience with project management software – Monday preferred. Experience with Adobe Creative Suite, KeyShot, or similar tools. Experience with prototyping and product development cycles. Understanding material behaviour in additive and moulding processes. Microsoft 360 proficiency. #J-18808-Ljbffr Design Observer