Job Information
Wellness Pet Company Packaging Development Manager in Burlington, Massachusetts
Packaging Development Manager
Department:Product Development
Location:Burlington, MA
About the Wellness Pet Company
The Wellness Pet Company crafts and produces premium natural pet food, treats, and dental chews. We believe that natural, premium nutrition focused on proven health outcomes is the foundation of creating a mutual wellbeing for pets and their families. As a community of people, Wellies are positively obsessed about how to win for pets and their parents. We believe in the difference we make every single day, and we know that when we work collaboratively, Wellies are unstoppable -- Not only in providing the best nutrition to pets, but in building a better tomorrow for pets, their parents, and the world.
Your #lifeatwellnesspet
When you join Wellness Pet, you join a team whose aligned values and purpose create a unique and exciting place to work every day. Join us on our adventure to fulfill a life of wellbeing together with pets and their parents. Come for a walk with us today!
This position is based out of our Burlington, MA headquarters location, where we work a required hybrid schedule of in-office on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays and remote on Wednesdays and Fridays.
This role provides a unique opportunity to stretch between transformational and more transactional activities, and act as a functional leader in a broader business context. The job holder will represent the Packaging Development unit in our x-functional innovation pods where the innovation strategy of WPC is developed and our x-functional capacity to execute is discussed and aligned. This role will provide exposure for our selected team member to a wide breadth of packaging projects, from concept to launch and with an eye toward investigating sustainable solutions within the portfolio. This role will also lead trials and qualification work.
The Packaging Development Manager should have a well-developed business acumen and external packaging supplier network combined with an established expertise in new product commercialization related to packaging development, established experience in food packaging materials, technologies, and pricing models. The candidate should be comfortable working independently and with cross functional team members. They will bring a business-minded, rigorous problem-solving mindset to the role that considers leadership qualities (vision setting, prioritization, influence) and functional competencies (manufacturing, transportation, sustainability, cost, design, shelf life, and sales in the final packaging solutions). This individual will also be charged with continuing to develop and setting standards around specifications and specification management, introducing innovation and design to value solutions, and sharing these solutions with our customers and business partners.
What You-ll Accomplish
Be the voice of Packaging in the creation our near and long-term product innovation and packaging sustainability roadmaps
Lead multiple projects, including support for new product launches, existing portfolio updates, and sustainability initiatives while building a reputation for on-time execution of packaging activities for projects
Develop a solid knowledge of different packaging structures and applications
Build industry relationships through supporting supplier transitions for new packaging and/or materials and by supporting 3rd party manufacturers and co-packers
Hold expertise in the management of packaging information inputs for finished goods
Be involved in and support trials and first production runs with manufacturing plants
Flex your process management skills by creating protocols and success criteria for trials and first production runs
Hone your excellent project management skills: Properly plan, coordinate, and report each trial, while providing technical support and expertise as needed to execute trial objectives and ensure proper documentation of each activity
Who We-re Looking For
Team Wellie is a group of people who are truly obsessed with all the best ways about winning for the consumer and the pets they love. And so, we are seeking an individual who:
Is consumer focused on all they do
Can set a vision for where we can play to win
Continually challenge themselves to go the extra mile to get the job done, and ensure it-s done the right way as opposed to the easy way
Hold themselves and others accountable
Embraces continual development through the sharing of feedback and investment in learning opportunities.
Is a true collaborator, sharing resources, and engages in healthy debate
Celebrates differences and strives to learn from others who are different from themselves
Gives back to their community and supports sustainable practices
In addition, we are looking for someone who meets the following criteria:
Degree in Bachelor of Science, Packaging Science or related
Minimum 5 years of experience in a packaging development and engineering role
Packaging experience in the fast-moving consumer goods industry, ideally human or pet food flexible packaging
Passion for packaging sustainability with experience collaborating with external partners
Experience in packaging development from concept to launch
Experience leading the design of packaging solutions while keeping in mind sustainability, shelf presence, machine-ability, shelf life, and product protection
Experience managing a portfolio of packaging projects, creating synergies
Possesses a working knowledge of Cape and TOPS software
General knowledge and understanding of package testing methodologies, such as ISTA and ASTM
Experience building out, organizing, and managing specifications within a database
Experience with commercialization projects, and managing multiple projects while maintaining deadlines
The ability to travel up to 25% of the time
Why Work for Wellness Pet
We care about the wellbeing of our people, their families, and their pets. So, we treat every Wellie to a comprehensive benefits package full of extras to support their health, pets, passions, and professional Development. More information about our benefits can be found on our website (https://www.wellnesspet.com/#join-our-pack) . The Wellness Pet Company is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace. We celebrate diversity and are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, or veteran status.
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