Packaging Engineer Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Packaging Engineer Manager

Job Description

This Packaging Engineer role leads complex packaging projects and teams to design, develop, optimize, and specify packaging materials that deliver clear consumer benefits through new products, quality improvements, and cost-saving initiatives. The position applies industry-leading technologies and tools, leverages strong supplier relationships, and effectively manages intellectual property while ensuring projects are delivered on time and on budget. The role also provides technical leadership in packaging development and technologies by continuously enhancing business-relevant expertise, mentoring and developing others, and influencing the technical direction of the business.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end packaging projects, from concept through commercialization, to deliver new products, quality enhancements, and cost-saving opportunities.
• Design, develop, and optimize packaging materials and solutions that provide tangible consumer benefits and support brand and product strategies.
• Apply industry-leading packaging technologies, tools, and methodologies to create innovative, efficient, and sustainable packaging solutions.
• Leverage and manage relationships with suppliers to identify new materials, technologies, and processes that improve performance, quality, or cost.
• Effectively manage intellectual property related to packaging designs and technologies, ensuring appropriate protection and compliance.
• Use project management methodologies to plan, execute, and track packaging projects, delivering results on time and within budget.
• Provide regular status updates and clear communication to stakeholders at all levels of the organization, ensuring transparency and alignment.
• Offer technical leadership for packaging development by defining and sharing best practices, standards, and guidelines across the team and broader organization.
• Continually update and expand business-relevant technical expertise in packaging, materials, and related technologies.
• Drive the technical development of team members through teaching, coaching, mentoring, and identifying future technical leaders.
• Influence the technical direction of the business by contributing packaging insights and recommendations to strategic decisions.
• Lead and manage a small team, including 2–3 direct reports, providing day-to-day guidance, performance feedback, and development support.
• Collaborate effectively with cross-functional partners, including R&D, manufacturing, quality, procurement, and commercial teams, to ensure packaging solutions meet all requirements.
• Support commercialization activities in biscuit or similar product environments, ensuring packaging is robust, scalable, and ready for full production.
• Prioritize multiple projects and manage complexity, balancing short-term deliverables with long-term strategic initiatives.
• Demonstrate executional excellence by consistently following through on commitments, resolving issues quickly, and driving projects to completion.
• Model and promote company values by leading through example, fostering a culture of collaboration, integrity, and continuous improvement.
• Use analytical tools and software, including Word, Excel, and Minitab, to document, analyze, and communicate packaging data and project outcomes.

Essential Skills

• B.S. or M.S. degree in Packaging or a technical discipline such as Mechanical, Industrial, Chemical, or Food Engineering.
• Approximately 8 years of experience in packaging development.
• Demonstrated leadership experience, including leading projects and/or teams.
• Strong technical foundation in packaging science, materials, and packaging technologies.
• High level of technical curiosity and willingness to continually learn and apply new concepts.
• Proven ability to work effectively with all levels of the organization, from technical teams to leadership.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex technical information clearly to diverse audiences.
• Proficiency in software tools including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Experience using Minitab or similar statistical/analytical software.
• Ability to influence others and achieve results by working with diverse, cross-functional teams.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize tasks and manage complexity across multiple projects.
• Strong executional excellence, personal leadership, time management, and problem-solving skills.
• Experience with commercialization in a biscuit or similar food manufacturing environment.
• Proven capability in people coaching and development.

Additional Skills & Qualifications

• Experience in the food industry, particularly in biscuits, baked snacks, or similar product categories.
• Experience in packaging engineering leadership or packaging engineering management.
• Demonstrated leadership development experience, including mentoring and growing technical talent.
• Experience in people management and leading small technical teams.
• Ability to define, document, and share technical best practices in packaging.
• Track record of living company values and leading by example in day-to-day work.
• Comfort working in a large, global organization with diverse teams and stakeholders.

Work Environment

This role is based at a large site in East Hanover that employs roughly 400 people and operates within a hybrid work model. Most employees work onsite 2–3 days per week, with remote options typically available on Mondays and Fridays. The Packaging Engineer is expected to be local to the East Hanover area and to come onsite regularly to collaborate with cross-functional partners and manage 2–3 direct reports. The broader organization is a global snacking leader with operations in more than 80 countries and a diverse workforce engaged in factories, offices, research and development facilities, and distribution activities. The culture emphasizes innovation in snacking, strong brands, and a commitment to quality and growth. Employees and consultants enjoy complimentary lunch Monday through Friday, supporting a collaborative and inclusive office environment.

This is a Permanent position based out of East Hanover, NJ.

The pay range for this position is $135000.00 - $145000.00/yr.

Will provide to candidates after resume submission due to confidential nature of the search.

This is a hybrid position in East Hanover,NJ.

This position is anticipated to close on Jul 16, 2026.

About Actalent

Actalent is a global leader in engineering and sciences services and talent solutions. We help visionary companies advance their engineering and science initiatives through access to specialized experts who drive scale, innovation and speed to market. With a network of almost 20,000 consultants and 5,000 clients across the U.S., Canada, Asia and Europe, Actalent serves many of the Fortune 500. We are proud to be an Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 500 Design Firm for our engineering design services and a ClearlyRated Best of Staffing® winner for both client and talent service.

The company is an equal opportunity employer and will consider all applications without regard to race, sex, age, color, religion, national origin, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information or any characteristic protected by law.

If you would like to request a reasonable accommodation, such as the modification or adjustment of the job application process or interviewing process due to a disability, please email View email address on ziprecruiter.com for other accommodation options.

San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance: Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, for all positions located in the city and county of San Francisco, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.

Massachusetts Lie Detector: It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI): We may use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support parts of our hiring process, including sourcing, screening, and evaluating candidates. AI helps assess applications and qualifications, but final decisions are made by our hiring team. By applying, you acknowledge and agree that your application may be reviewed using AI tools.