Director, Packaging Innovation

BUILT ON FLAVOR. FUELED BY PEOPLE.

Whats it like to work at Kinders Well theres a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that theres also plenty of hard work. Because we dont just like flavor were obsessed with it.

With over 100 products sold nationwide were now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco Walmart Whole Foods and more. Were not your typical CPG company. Privately held and founder-led we like to think of ourselves as a pirate ship in a sea of cruise ships . Our crew is adventurous and fearless. We chart our own course and chase big ideas to make food unforgettable.

As we expand globally and approach $1 billion in revenue we need more smart-and-scrappy flavor-obsessed people to come aboard. If youre looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work... this is it! Every day youll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.

About The Role:

The Director of Packaging Innovation at Kinders will play a pivotal role in bringing new products to life as we move beyond our dry seasonings packets and sauce bottles into new categories and in rethinking packaging materials formats and the overall packaging experience across our existing portfolio. You will partner with the Innovation team to think about packaging early starting as soon as we begin exploring a new category and lead packaging from exploration and design through partner research and supplier selection before handing over to Packaging Engineering and Packaging Sourcing to take it through launch. You will also help shape our vision for the future of packaging at Kinders including sustainability and alternative materials.

This role requires a hands-on leader with deep packaging design and development expertise an established network of packaging partners and the ability to work closely with a multifunctional group of partners especially Packaging Engineering and Packaging this role you will report to the VP of Innovation starting as a player-coach with the expectation of building and leading a team over time.

Key Responsibilities Include:

Packaging Innovation Strategy & Early Exploration

• Lead packaging exploration for the Innovation team from the earliest stages of category and product ideation
• Explore packaging formats shapes and forms to unlock new categories and innovative product formats
• Shift from exploration into design using human centered principles as the guide for delivering winning propositions for our consumers
• Screen packaging concepts early for cost and executability and frame the feasibility questions Packaging Engineering will answer helping the team make informed decisions about which opportunities to pursue
• Bring a point of view on how packaging can create consumer value differentiate on shelf and support brand permission in new spaces
• Collaborate with Finance Co-manufacturing and other cross-functional partners to frame packaging investment needs (tooling materials equipment partner capabilities) and trade-offs as part of fit-for-purpose business cases ensuring packaging execution is considered at the start
• Lead the renovation and reframing of packaging materials and formats across our existing portfolio from consumer-facing format changes to new material systems

Design Prototyping and Internal & External Partnerships

• Lead partner research: get out and meet new packaging partners (suppliers converters co-manufacturers design agencies and technology partners) push our standards and bring new options into our process. Select suppliers for new formats once Packaging Engineering (tooling and manufacturing partners) and Packaging Sourcing (material inputs) have confirmed partners can deliver.
• Drive packaging design and development for new formats across primary and secondary packaging through prototyping and consumer testing and define the requirements Packaging Engineering needs for feasibility and scale-up
• Work with a multifunctional group of partners including Product Development Operations Sourcing Supply Chain Commercialization Creative Sales Regulatory and Finance to ensure relevant development considerations retailer requirements and execution trade-offs are built into the overall structural design materials restrictions (e.g. due to product formulation requirements) space for branding packaging claims and more
• Hand selected designs and partners to Packaging Engineering for qualification technical validation and trials staying consulted on design requirements through scale-up

Sustainability & Future of Packaging

• Help define the vision for the future of packaging and build a multi-year packaging innovation roadmap connected to our innovation pipeline that feeds into Kinders overall packaging strategy
• Maintain line of sight into sustainability exploring next-generation and alternative materials and evaluating their executability for new product lines designing sustainability into new formats from the start where it makes sense
• Identify where Kinders should invest in new packaging capabilities materials or partners and build the case for those investments with leadership
• Stay ahead of packaging trends technologies and regulations bringing that outside-in perspective back into the organization

Packaging Innovation Tools & Ways of Working

• Build practical tools that help the Innovation team evaluate and advance packaging opportunities (e.g. early feasibility screens partner evaluations format libraries cost and timing guides)
• Define what a successful handoff to Packaging Engineering looks like (e.g. drawings prototypes selected partners test results partner contacts open risks) aligned with Kinders packaging specifications and balanced with our entrepreneurial pace
• Grow into building and leading a packaging innovation team as the function scales

Skills Experience:

• 15 years of experience in packaging innovation packaging development packaging engineering or a related role
• CPG food or beverage experience preferred; we welcome experience from other categories (e.g. beauty personal care) where format innovation moves fast
• Demonstrated experience thinking about packaging formats in many ways shapes and forms with a track record of taking new formats from concept to launch
• A network of packaging partners you have worked with in the past to help bring new ideas to reality
• Experience with both primary and secondary packaging
• Experience with sustainable packaging and alternative materials including trade-offs and what it takes to execute them
• Working knowledge of food packaging regulations food-contact requirements and labeling and claims considerations
• Demonstrated ability to lead and influence cross-functional stakeholders communicate complex issues clearly and build alignment around decisions
• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint; experience in project management tools a plus (we currently use Wrike)
• Familiarity with packaging design and development tools a plus such as 3D CAD (e.g. SolidWorks) structural design (e.g. Esko ArtiosCAD) pallet and case optimization (e.g. Cape Pack TOPS Pro) and specification/PLM systems
• Hands-on experience with rapid prototyping methods (e.g. 3D printing sample cutting tables) to bring early concepts to life
• Bachelors degree in Packaging Engineering Materials Science Food Science or a related field (advanced degree a plus)

Pay Transparency:

The expected starting salary range for this role is $215000- $240000 per salary range posted for this role reflects the good-faith base pay range Kinders reasonably expects to offer at the time of posting and may vary based on the location of the role. Individual compensation within the posted range will be determined based on factors such as relevant education experience qualifications skills and business needs.

SEASONED FOR SUCCESS:

• No two days here are the same.
• We try to be good team members and good communicators but we dont live by hierarchy and structure everyone is a difference maker here.
• We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow.
• We believe our job is to take smart risk not to eliminate risk.
• We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart.
• We arent trying to be average we want to do exceptional things and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.

BENEFITS THAT BRING MORE TO THE TABLE:

We offer a range of total rewards that may include paid time off 401k bonus / incentive eligibility equity grants competitive health benefits and other family-friendly benefits including parental leave. Kinders benefits vary based on eligibility and can be reviewed in more detail during the interview process.

OUR RECIPE FOR BALANCE:

We believe great culture starts with people. Were a people-first company built on connection collaboration and balance. Most of our work happens in the office to spark creativity and community but we also offer flexibility so team members have the autonomy to work outside the office when needed to support their work-life balance and personal commitments.

WHERE EVERY INGREDIENT MATTERS:

Kinders is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color ancestry national origin gender citizenship marital status religion age disability gender identity results of genetic testing veteran status as well as any other legally-protected characteristic. If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law and you need any accommodation during the application process or to perform these job requirements please reach out to us at

Required Experience:

Director