POSITION DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Packaging Development Manager
Department: Research & Development (R&D)
Reports To: Senior Manager, Packaging Development
FLSA Status: Exempt

POSITION SUMMARY

The Packaging Development Manager is a manager-level individual contributor responsible for technical ownership and execution of Barr Brands's plastic bottles, metal cans and dispensing packaging systems (bottles, closures, trigger sprayers (including aerosol), and molded plastic devices components) that interact with chemical formulations. This role is accountable for driving current business packaging performance improvements and ensuring packaging solutions perform reliably for consumers and run robustly on manufacturing and packing lines. A significant portion of the role includes maintaining and improving packaging specifications and documentation discipline to enable strong change control and scalable supply.

This role supports bottle and dispensing packaging across key brands including Mold Armor, Home Armor, Spray and Forget, Microban 24, and CitriStrip, as well as the broader Barr Brands portfolio.

This role also owns the current and future evolution of the Home Armor Wand packaging and device system, leading on-going performance improvements and enabling future upgrades. R&D owns chemistry and performance specifications; this role translates those requirements into packaging/device design, supplier execution, qualification, and design freeze readiness.

ROLE SCOPE AND DECISION AUTHORITY

• Translates program requirements into packaging strategy and execution plans, balancing performance, quality, cost, manufacturability, and timing.
• Provides technical input for external partner selection and leads supplier co-development.
• Holds approval accountability for tooling readiness, design freeze, and packaging sign-off for assigned programs.
• Helps define budget scope required to deliver packaging program needs (e.g., prototypes, testing, tooling, trials) in partnership with cross-functional stakeholders.
• Partners closely with Sourcing, Operations, QA/QC, Regulatory, Artwork, R&D (testing), and Commercial functions to deliver compliant, manufacturable, launch-ready packaging.
• Balances three primary workstreams: (1) supplier-led packaging development oversight, (2) improvements to current business packaging, and (3) internal packaging design where appropriate - including accountability for maintaining and updating internal packaging specification systems.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Current business improvements (primary focus)

• Own and drive performance, robustness, and manufacturability improvements for existing bottle, closure, trigger sprayer, and dispensing/device systems, including issue resolution, complaint reduction, and continuous improvement initiatives across the portfolio (notably Mold Armor, Spray and Forget, and CitriStrip bottle platforms).

• Partner with Operations, QA/QC, and manufacturing partners to improve line performance and quality, including supporting trials and changes that improve runnability, reduce scrap or downtime, and strengthen dimensional control against approved tolerances.

• Lead supplier technical engagement to execute improvements, ensure accountability, and deliver validated outcomes.

• Apply practical understanding of packaging tolerances, critical-to-quality dimensions, inspection plans, and quality control methods to diagnose defects, prevent recurrence, and ensure components consistently meet functional and manufacturing requirements.

Specification systems and documentation (secondary focus)

• Own accountability for maintaining and updating internal packaging specification systems, including controlled specifications, drawings, component records, and change documentation.
• Maintain packaging master data integrity and enable clean cross-functional execution using SpecRight and Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365).

• Ensure specifications and drawings define appropriate dimensional tolerances, critical quality attributes, acceptance criteria, inspection methods, and change-control requirements for packaging components and systems.

New development and platform evolution (third focus; includes Wand ownership)

• Own the current and future evolution of the Home Armor Wand packaging and device system, driving on-going performance improvements and enabling future upgrades through disciplined technical execution and supplier co-development.
• Partner with R&D (chemistry and performance specifications) to ensure package/formulation compatibility and consumer-relevant performance; translate performance requirements into packaging/device technical requirements and validation plans.
• Lead supplier co-development and governance for new or upgraded packaging components: coordinate prototyping, tooling, technical reviews, and iterative design improvements to meet functional, aesthetic, and cost requirements.
• Design and execute qualification/validation plans for bottle + dispensing/device systems using a combination of external testing capabilities and internal testing resources; author and maintain packaging test methods and specifications.
• Support secondary packaging (e.g., cartons, shippers, displays, bundling, protective packaging) and tertiary packaging (e.g., pallet patterns, unitization, stretch wrap, distribution robustness) as required to enable efficient warehousing and transportation.
• Identify and evaluate responsible packaging opportunities where feasible (material optimization, lightweighting, recyclability improvements, PCR evaluation) while maintaining performance, compliance, and supply robustness.

ENGINEERING ENVIRONMENT

• Leverages a combination of external testing partners and internal testing capabilities to validate packaging and dispensing performance.
• Partners with in-house CAD capability and guides supplier/external CAD development to accelerate design cycles.
• Co-located at a manufacturing site where some packaging operations occur, enabling rapid support for trials and improvements.
• Uses SpecRight and D365 to manage specifications, documentation, and packaging master data.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE (Experience-Forward)

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline.
• 5+ years of progressive Packaging R&D / Packaging Development experience in CPG or adjacent packaged goods industries, with demonstrated ownership from concept through commercialization and post-launch improvement.
• Proven experience developing plastic bottle and dispensing systems, including trigger sprayers, closures, and/or molded plastic device components.
• Demonstrated experience with packaging that interfaces with chemical formulations, including material compatibility considerations and performance validation.
• Experience supporting or leading secondary and tertiary packaging to enable efficient distribution performance.

• Working knowledge of dimensional tolerancing, critical-to-quality attributes, quality control plans, component inspection methods, and supplier/manufacturing quality systems as applied to packaging components and dispensing systems.

• Strong track record leading supplier co-development and cross-functional execution (Sourcing, Ops, QA/QC, Regulatory, Artwork, Commercial).

Preferred Qualifications

• Demonstrated packaging development experience with plastic bottles, trigger sprayers, and molded plastic device components, including qualification of components exposed to or interacting with chemical formulations (compatibility, seal integrity, long-term performance).
• Experience developing and qualifying secondary packaging and tertiary packaging solutions to improve distribution robustness and supply efficiency.
• Experience with specification management and ERP systems (e.g., SpecRight, D365) or comparable systems.
• Experience with CAPE, SolidWorks and ESKO Graphic is a plus.
• Understanding DOT packaging regulations.
• Experience working in or closely with manufacturing environments, including line trials and technical troubleshooting.
• Familiarity guiding CAD workflows (internal and supplier/external) and using structured problem-solving approaches for performance/quality improvements.

• Experience using tolerance analysis, quality data, inspection results, statistical process control, capability analysis, gauge/measurement systems, and root-cause problem solving to improve packaging robustness, supplier capability, and manufacturing consistency.

KEY COMPETENCIES

• Technical packaging leadership: deep understanding of rigid plastics, trigger sprayer/dispensing performance, and manufacturability.
• Execution excellence: disciplined prioritization and delivery across multiple initiatives.
• Supplier co-development: drives clarity, accountability, and results through external partners.
• Influence without authority: aligns cross-functional stakeholders and makes sound technical trade-offs.
• Systems discipline: maintains accurate, controlled specifications and change documentation.

• Quality and tolerance discipline: understands how dimensional tolerances, critical quality attributes, inspection methods, supplier quality controls, statistical process control, capability analysis, and gauge/measurement systems affect packaging performance and manufacturability.

ROLE COMPETENCIES:

• Work Excellence: Sets high standards of performance for own work and demonstrates an ownership mindset by taking responsibility for delivering reliable, high-quality results. Holds themselves accountable for outcomes, follows through on commitments, and takes pride in doing work the right way
• Self-Awareness and Collaboration: Builds effective working relationships by understanding one's own emotions, reactions, and impact on others. Demonstrates empathy, self-control, and openness to collaborate in ways that align with Barr's values and support positive outcomes.
• Managing Priorities: Effectively manages time, priorities, and resources to ensure the most important work is completed efficiently and commitments are consistently met.
• Innovation: Generates and applies new ideas to improve work, solve problems, and create value. Approaches challenges with curiosity, experiments thoughtfully, and takes action to advance ideas that lead to better outcomes.
• Customer Ownership: Considers the impact of work on customers and consumers, whether directly or through internal stakeholders, and takes ownership for delivering outcomes that support customer satisfaction and business results.

WORK ENVIRONMENT AND TRAVEL

Hybrid office/manufacturing/supplier environment. Up to 10-20% travel to suppliers and manufacturing partners to support trials, qualifications, and scale-up activities.