Director, Packaging Innovation

THE ROLE:

The Director, Packaging Innovation will direct and provide the vision for the activities related to Packaging Innovation and lead packaging driven product innovation. You will support, guide, and work with Global teams of Marketing, Manufacturing (inclusive packaging engineering), Quality, Supply Chain, and Strategic Sourcing ensuring realization of packaging innovation ambition for Herbalife.

 

As a member of Central Product Innovation leadership team, you will be expected to develop short- and long-term strategies for Packaging Innovation discipline and work with Packaging Engineering team in support of Herbalife Global Businesses Worldwide by driving Innovation in new packaging equipment and materials to support Herbalife’s long term and sustainability goals.

 

Responsibilities include developing and owning technology plans for the Packaging and Design Engineering Function, development of performance metrics (quality, service, cost, compliance) in driving continuous improvement of packaging component in Herbalife products, and developing leadership culture within the team.

 

HOW YOU WOULD CONTRIBUTE: 

• Executes the Herbalife innovation lifecycle from ideation/idea collection to productizing go/no-go for selected/vetted ideas (from 1 to 4 prototypes per quarter depending on complexity)
• Partners with various Herbalife teams as well with selected external partners to collect new ideas, execute prototypes and transition those which pass agreed criteria into PM roadmaps
• Maintains an external lens into scouting, scoping and identifying incremental or disruptive market opportunities 
• Participates to the definition, maintenance and evolution of the Innovation sharepoint portal assets and process
• Develops product innovation as a platform to enhance Herbalife’s distributor experience.
• Analyze category, ingredient trends, and dynamics leading to key conclusions, implications and recommended action plans
• Responsible for external product development plans, formulation scale-up and implementation with external manufacturing partners where needed.
• Work with cross functional team to lead projects from concept to commercial feasibility.
• Continually enhance the front-end process and conduct effective research to uncover insights to drive development of concepts, packaging offerings, rapid prototyping, and developing product elements

 

 

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead team of 2-3 Engineer/Sr Engineer 
• Matrix leadership of other functions as vital

 

WHAT’S SPECIAL ABOUT THE TEAM: 

The Central Product Design team works on exciting food, beverage and dietary supplement technologies to bring delightful consumer product experiences that makes a difference for Herbalife Distributors. We are part of Global R&D team of diverse and talented scientists who are skilled in product formulation, sensory, manufacturing and processing technologies. 

SKILLS AND BACKGROUND REQUIRED TO BE SUCCESSFUL: 

• Direct and lead Packaging Innovation functions to ensure “Best in Class/World Class” performance through implementation of key initiatives and strategies..
• Develop and maintain systems and procedures to ensure that packaging testing, trials and validations are conducted to cGMP standards and are effectively documented when adapting a new technology.
• Develop an environment which fosters innovation for development of unique packaging which addresses business needs for delivery, stability, sustainability, transportation, cost effectiveness and consumer functionality.
• Ensure compliance with internal and external regulatory entities, including regional requirements; in partnership with Global Regulatory Affairs.
• Develop and maintain systems for continuous improvement of personnel through technical and business training.
• Provide effective reporting for accountability to performance goals and provide accurate data analysis to help drive decisions to present to management to support relevant initiatives.
• Provide support to regional operations/marketing/sales departments to ensure that existing/new product needs are met in an expeditious manner. 
• Develop plans for new innovative processes/technology/systems. 
• Assist and contribute to Engineering with development of short- and long-term capital plan when executing new technology.
• Guide Strategic Sourcing in development of business strategy for Packaging Components including supplier selection when executing Innovation products.
• Participate in Corporate Sustainability initiative and lead packaging driven sustainability planning.
• Lead team through ambiguity to problem-solve in brand-new domains
• Partner with global and regional Marketing to cultivate, develop, and deliver innovative products to meet the shared category strategic vision and innovation pipeline.

 

 

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging, Mechanical, Industrial, Chemical Engineering or similar field

Preferred
• Advanced Engineering degree
• MBA preferred 

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS: 
• 10+ years of experience in relevant manufacturing/ Engineering Management functions
• 5+ years of progressive team and people management responsibilities (preferably Global teams)
• Experience in a regulated industry preferred
• Experience and aptitude in Engineering operations management environment
• Experience with Food and/or Nutraceutical type Packaging
• Working knowledge of materials/process/equipment i.e. characterization/effect on manufacturing environment
• Ability to plan organize and manage geographically dispersed engineering staff
• Production/Packaging/Equipment troubleshooting/optimization abilities
• Developing/writing/revamping procedures
• Establishing engineering systems and organizations
• Demonstrated relationship-builder, artfully articulate, and captivating communicator from elevator chats to boardroom meetings.
• Strong collaboration skills, good business acumen and effective communicator
• Self-driven, able to remove uncertainty rapidly (“fail fast fail cheap”) and deliver high-quality results speedily
• Experience in Food/Dietary/Nutritional/Pharmaceutical kindred product industries with working knowledge of cGMP other regulatory environments 

 

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Herbalife offers a variety of benefits to eligible employees in the U.S. (limited to the 50 States and the District of Columbia), which includes Group Health Programs, other Voluntary Benefit Programs, and Paid Time Off. Group Health Programs include Medical, Dental, Vision, Health Savings Account (HSA), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), Basic Life/AD&D; Short-Term and Long-Term Disability, and an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). Other Voluntary Benefit Programs include a 401(k) plan, Wellness Incentive Program, Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP), Supplemental Life/Critical Illness/Hospitalization/Accident Insurance, and Pet Insurance. Paid time off includes Company-observed U.S. Holidays, Floating Holidays, Vacation, Sick Time, a Volunteer Program, Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave, Bereavement Leave, Personal Leave and time off for voting.