Mars Inc

Sr. Packaging Engineer - America's

Mars Inc • $90K — $120K *
Franklin, TN 37064In-Person
Food & Beverages
5 - 7 years of experience
Today
Be an Early Applicant
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical engineering, or related discipline.
  • 5+ years in project engineering focused on packaging, ideally within food, pharma, or FMCG sectors.
  • Foundational knowledge of safety, quality, and food safety principles in manufacturing.
  • Strong project management skills and experience in leading cross-functional teams.
  • Experience with budgeting and scheduling, including contractor management.
  • Proven decision-making skills in complex environments.
  • Exceptional communication skills for influencing stakeholders at all levels.
  • Up to 50% travel required.

Responsibilities

  • Lead safety culture, ensuring training and engagement for all stakeholders involved in projects.
  • Champion compliance with safety and environmental regulations and Mars standards.
  • Conduct risk assessments and implement safety measures prior to project execution.
  • Design and execute packaging projects meeting food safety and quality standards.
  • Manage end-to-end project oversight from concept to execution and handover.
  • Establish packaging management programs for the Americas region, collaborating with vendors and teams.
  • Identify performance improvements in packaging operations through data analysis.

Benefits

  • Work with a diverse team guided by strong principles.
  • Be part of a purpose-driven company focused on impactful goals.
  • Access best-in-class learning resources and support, including Mars University.
  • Enjoy a competitive benefits package that includes bonuses.
Full Job Description
Job Description:

The Sr. Packaging Engineer is responsible for leading, executing projects and providing program management in relation to packaging assets ensuring adherence to Mars Standards for Safety, Asset Conservation and Quality & Food Safety.

This role requires advanced packaging technical leadership experience, with strong project management capability and cross-functional collaboration to lead the packaging asset plans for the America's region.

What are we looking for?

Minimum:

  • Bachelor's degree in engineering - Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, or a related field.
  • Minimum 5 + years' experience in project engineering with a packaging focus, preferably in food manufacturing, pharmaceutical or FMCG.
  • Strong foundational understanding of safety, quality and food safety principles and standards, regulatory compliance and HSE and Q&FS systems within manufacturing operations.
  • Strong project management credentials, with experience leading cross-functional teams.
  • Experience with budgeting, scheduling, and contractor management.
  • Proven ability to make sound decisions in complex and/or ambiguous business environments.
  • History of building internal and external relationships and interaction with management at all levels.
  • Exceptional communication skills with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
  • Work history and exposure across diverse geographic markets is advantageous.
  • Up to 50% travel.


Preferred:

  • A Postgraduate or master's degree in business administration or related field


What are your key responsibilities?

Associate Safety & Asset Conservation - Your First Responsibility

  • Provide visible leadership to foster a strong safety culture, ensuring all contractors, suppliers, and project stakeholders are properly trained, actively engaged, and held accountable for safe behaviors.
  • Champion a zero-incident environment by ensuring that all projects fully comply with all local safety and environmental regulations as well as Mars HSE and Asset Conservation Standards.
  • Ensure all contractors and suppliers on site follow site safety procedures and permit-to-work systems.
  • Conduct risk assessments and implement mitigation measures for all engineering works prior to any project execution.
  • Lead safety reviews and toolbox talks for project teams and contractors.
  • Integrate safety-by-design principles into all engineering solutions and drive improvements in machine safety, ergonomic design, and hazard elimination.
  • Lead incident investigations related to engineering projects, corrective actions, and risk mitigation processes to prevent recurrence.
  • Protect site assets by ensuring proper installation, commissioning, and validation of equipment.


Quality & Food Safety - Site's License to Operate

  • Design and execute projects in compliance with local food safety and quality regulatory requirements as well as Mars Quality and Food Safety Standards
  • Partner with Site Q&FS teams to assess project-related food safety risks and implement change management processes to avoid product contamination or quality impact.
  • Ensure all equipment and installations meet Mars facility and hygienic design standards.
  • Coordinate validation activities with Site Operations, R&D and other stakeholders during FAT, SAT, IQ/OQ where required.
  • Support internal and external audits by ensuring engineering compliance documentation is complete.
  • Maintain accurate documentation including P&IDs, SOP updates, and technical files.


Project Management

  • Support/Lead end-to-end project management using RC PMP process for assigned engineering projects, from concept through execution, commissioning and handover.
  • Support/Manage budgets, forecasts, and cost control measures for some projects.
  • Track project progress, identify risks, and implement corrective actions to ensure successful delivery.
  • Ensure all project documentation is complete, accurate, and compliant with Mars standards.
  • Communicate project status, risks, and achievements to stakeholders and leadership teams.


Technical Leadership & Engineering Excellence

  • Program Management - Establish a program to manage packaging needs in the America's region by vendor performance management and leading a COP with site PPI's. Strong collaboration with GTL is a must.
  • Packaging Expertise - Must have knowledge of packaging line design, installation and startup. Preferably Dry Petfood packaging.
  • Network Performance - Understand America's packaging line performance. Collaborate with IE team and sites on where we can improve performance and where to focus using data and expertise.
  • CI - Develop and lead the regions needs for standard improvements. Support deployment of the Packaging Cockpit. Research and co-develop with GTL packaging automation and innovation.
  • CAB Projects - Provide guidance and support to project engineers during MPAR development and installation. Take lead on developing/executing IQ/OQ and collaborate with R&D deploy team on validation plan/execution. Partner with sites on startup plans.
  • AHC - collaborate with AHC program owner and sites to ensure packaging assets are accounted for correctly in the program.


Stakeholder Management

  • Present program/project updates, risks, and financial summaries to site, regional and global leadership teams.
  • Build strong vendor and contractor relationships.


What can you expect from Mars?

  • Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles
  • Join a purpose driven company, where we're striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today
  • Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University
  • An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus


#on-site

#LI-MP1

About Mars Inc

Mars, Incorporated is an American multinational manufacturer of confectionery, pet food, and other food products. It was founded in 1911 and is headquartered in McLean, Virginia. Mars operates in six business segments: Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, and Symbioscience. Some of its most popular brands include M&M's, Snickers, Twix, Milky Way, Skittles, and Pedigree. The company is known for its commitment to sustainability and has set a goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 67% by 2050.
Learn more about Mars Inc
Size
125,000 employees
Industry
Food & Beverages
Founded
1911
* Ladders Estimates

Similar Jobs

Ad banner background

Get Ready For Your
Next Interview

More Jobs at Mars Inc

More Food & Beverages Jobs

Find similar Sr. Packaging Engineer - America's jobs:

NationwideFranklin, TN