Our client, Suave Brands Company is looking for an Associate Principal Packaging Engineer to join their growing team. This beloved brand offers consumers quality product at value pricing. The new Suave team will drive growth through enhanced brand positioning and innovation at an entrepreneurial pace with executional excellence. The Associate Principal Packaging Engineer role will be critical in bringing new innovations to market and ensuring business continuity while collaborating with various external stakeholders and vendors in the execution.

Position Summary

The Associate Principal Packaging Engineer will report to the Head of Packaging. The candidate will support on the day-to-day development activities of innovation launches as well as base business support. They will work closely with SBC’s cross functional partners as well as the external network of suppliers to bring product ideas to life from concept to execution. This individual will have a technical competency and be responsible for the creation and upkeep of packaging specifications, coordinating package line trials with external partners, and developing package testing plans to support flawless NPDs.

Primary Responsibilities Include the Following:

• Partner with Marketing, Operations, Procurement, Quality and Finance on developing new packaging through external suppliers.
• Ensure that projects meet the brand’s needs while meeting cost, quality, design and functional requirements.
• Manage the creation and upkeep of bills of materials and packaging component specifications in Suave’s specification system.
• Develop testing plans for NPDs and execute with third party testing labs and component suppliers.
• Identify and implement cost savings initiatives.
• Attend on-site production startups and line trials to qualify new packaging componentry, first production, and troubleshoot issues.
• Maintain knowledge of external vendor capabilities.
• Stay current with new packaging material regulations and industry trends.
• Support ongoing base business to ensure stock coverage.

Required Qualifications Include the Following:

• Bachelor's degree in Packaging/Plastics/Mechanical/Industrial/Chemical Engineering, or related field.
• 5-8 years of proven experience in package engineering & development in consumer products, beauty, or related industry.
• A technical acumen with the ability to read and interpret technical drawings for components and assemblies, as well as creating specifications for manufacturing.
• Demonstrated knowledge of various manufacturing processes including extrusion blow molding, ISBM, injection molding, printing and filling.
• Knowledge of various packaging materials and their physical properties, chemical properties and applications.
• Ability to partner effectively across a diverse set of business partners and customers to deliver key results in a timely manner.
• Ability to tackle complex problems through critical thinking.
• Excellent communication skills, including spoken and written English.
• Ability to travel Domestic and International up to 25%.

Personal Attributes Include the Following:

• Positive and energetic individual with a strong business acumen and an abiding sense of urgency to achieve results.
• Entrepreneurial; Business owner mentality, willing to be hands-on and contribute as one team.
• Invokes trust, collaboration, shared accountability, and continuous improvement with the ability to quickly develop trust and loyalty at all levels in the organization and with external partners.
• Knows what excellence looks like and how to get there.