Full Job Description
As the Regional Packaging Engineer for the T&W Division across the Americas (LATAM & NOAM), you will lead and oversee all technical aspects of the regional packaging portfolio. In this strategic role, you will drive compliance, performance, cost optimization initiatives standardization and sustainability while acting as the key regional interface with the Global Packaging organization.
You will ensure packaging excellence across primary, secondary, and tertiary materials, while enabling business growth through innovation, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency.
The position is based at one of our major Americas production sites (MX: Cuernavaca or USA Cincinnati, OH or East Hanover, NJ) and reports directly to the Regional Head of Operations Excellence T&W, with a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Head of Packaging Center of Excellence.
If you are passionate about building strong cross-functional relationships, anticipating customer needs, and driving technical excellence, this role offers a high-impact opportunity within a global environment.
Impact of the Role
This position plays a critical role in safeguarding regulatory compliance, enabling sustainable growth, improving operational efficiency, and delivering cost savings across the Americas region. Your leadership will directly influence product integrity, customer satisfaction, and overall manufacturing excellence.
Key responsibilities
Regional Leadership & Cross-Functional Partnership
• Serve as the primary packaging expert and regional point of contact for all T&W packaging activities across the Americas.
• Lead regional packaging projects and deploy standardized processes, best practices, and global guidelines though the Americas & local factories, in close collaboration with Regional Procurement.
• Lead and coordinate packaging validation activities, ensuring proper documentation and qualification with project teams.
• Develop site packaging champion network and enhance organizational packaging core competency
• Drive packaging trials in line with validation plans and contribute to manufacturing cost analysis and CapEx planning.
• Collaborate closely with Global Packaging, Process Engineering, Ops Excellence, Procurement, IM&S, Safety, Quality, and Supply Chain teams.
• Support regional teams in vendor evaluation, selection, and periodic performance reviews.
• Own performance management and continuous improvement of inbound and outbound packaging processes
• Contribute to broader manufacturing excellence initiatives, including filling & packing operations, material handling, storage, and transportation processes.
Safety, Quality & Regulatory Compliance
• Ensure full compliance of packaging materials and processes with regional legal and regulatory requirements (e.g., Dangerous Goods, Food Contact Materials).
• Identify, address, and report regulatory exposure risks.
• Support Operations and Quality teams in resolving packaging material and equipment-related issues.
• Lead resolution of packaging challenges, including customer-specific requirements.
• Ensure data integrity/accuracy of packaging specifications within ERP systems and the global packaging repository.
Continuous Improvement & Innovation
• Drive regional packaging optimization initiatives focused on cost efficiency, performance, and standardization.
• Partner with the business to develop innovative packaging solutions for new product categories and integrated offerings.
• Support the implementation of alternative materials aligned with the company's Plastic Circularity strategy and 2030 sustainability targets.
• Promote a customer-first mindset in packaging development and strengthen organizational knowledge through Learning from Events and Best Practice Sharing
• Strengthen supplier capabilities and drive innovation in collaboration with IM&S and Procurement.
You Have:
• Preferably Masters degree in packaging engineering, industrial engineering, or relevant experience in packaging engineering and processes
• More than 5 years of operational / R&D experience in a packaging position
• Significant record of results driven by leadership of cross-functional, geographically disperse teams. PMP and Lean Six Sigma a plus
• Experience in Packaging in a B2B industry with experience in food ingredients or related industry
• International exposure
• Expertise in IATA, EHS, & Food Safe packaging requirements
• Exposure to Dangerous Goods transportation norms
• Experienced working and communicating in a matrix organization
• Proficiency in English; additional language skills are an advantage
• Required knowledge about Packaging for Food content (Oral Care ,Food Compliance) and cosmetics (Active Beauty, Liquid Compounding)
Givaudan takes into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, qualifications/certifications and education, and internal equity.