Director of Packaging and Operations

Director of Packaging Programs & Operations

Location: Livonia, Monroe & Dearborn, MI (Travel Required)
Job Type: Full-Time | In-Person

Director of Packaging Programs & Operations – Automotive Packaging Jobs in Michigan

Are you an experienced automotive packaging professional with expertise in project management, supplier coordination, OEM relations, purchasing, and packaging engineering? Our client is seeking a Director of Packaging Programs & Operations to lead packaging initiatives, manage cross-functional projects, collaborate with automotive OEMs, and drive continuous improvement throughout the supply chain.

This is an exciting opportunity to work directly with automotive manufacturers, suppliers, purchasing teams, IT, engineering, and executive leadership to improve packaging operations, reduce costs, standardize processes, and support new product launches.

If you thrive in a fast-paced automotive environment and enjoy leading complex projects from concept through implementation, we'd like to speak with you.

Key Responsibilities

Packaging Program Management

• Lead automotive packaging projects from planning through execution.

• Serve as the primary Purchasing and Packaging Project Coordinator.

• Manage daily packaging initiatives and special projects.

• Partner directly with OEM Packaging Managers to review project priorities and timelines.

• Support packaging standardization across multiple programs and global operations.

• Drive packaging optimization, damage reduction, and cost-saving initiatives.

OEM & Supplier Management

• Serve as the primary liaison between customers, suppliers, purchasing, engineering, and operations.

• Interface regularly with automotive OEMs regarding packaging concerns, project updates, and continuous improvement efforts.

• Coordinate supplier documentation, compliance requirements, and issue resolution.

• Track supplier performance and packaging deliverables.

Purchasing & Documentation

• Manage purchase orders, amendments, approvals, and tracking.

• Oversee packaging documentation and PPWR compliance.

• Maintain project documentation, action items, schedules, and status reporting.

• Ensure supplier compliance documentation is complete and accurate.

IT & Process Improvement

• Partner with internal IT teams to define requirements for new applications.

• Support development of packaging-related software and workflow improvements.

• Identify opportunities to improve reporting, automation, and packaging processes through technology.

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across packaging operations.

Team Leadership & Operations

• Coordinate activities across multiple customer support locations.

• Assist with onboarding, training, and assigning responsibilities to new team members.

• Monitor project ownership, deliverables, and departmental performance.

• Support internal process improvements and operational excellence initiatives.

Executive Reporting & Customer Communication

• Develop executive presentations, project updates, dashboards, and customer reports.

• Prepare Quarterly Business Review (QBR) presentations.

• Present project updates to leadership and customer management.

• Participate in customer, supplier, and internal meetings.

• Support dealer visits, benchmarking activities, and packaging reviews.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree preferred or equivalent industry experience.

• Experience in:

  • Automotive Packaging Engineering

  • Packaging Operations

  • Project Management

  • Purchasing

  • Supply Chain

  • Logistics

  • Automotive Manufacturing

• Strong knowledge of automotive packaging systems and supplier management.

• Proven experience managing multiple projects simultaneously.

• Experience working directly with automotive OEMs (strongly preferred).

• Excellent communication and relationship management skills.

• Strong organizational and project coordination abilities.

• Experience with supplier compliance documentation.

• Experience with packaging standardization initiatives.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

• Continuous Improvement mindset.

• Advanced Microsoft Office skills including:

  • Excel

  • PowerPoint

  • Outlook

• Experience collaborating with IT teams on application development or system enhancements.

Preferred Experience

Candidates with experience in the following areas are highly encouraged to apply:

• Automotive OEM packaging programs

• Returnable packaging

• Expendable packaging

• Packaging engineering

• Packaging cost reduction

• Material flow analysis

• Carton consolidation

• Material transition projects

• Packaging validation

• Damage reduction initiatives

• Packaging procurement

• Supplier quality

• Lean Manufacturing

• Continuous Improvement

• Packaging compliance

• Automotive launches

• Benchmarking studies

• Dealer support

• Cross-functional leadership

Work Environment

• In-person position

• Work locations include:

  • Livonia, MI

  • Monroe, MI

  • Dearborn, MI

• Travel required between customer locations

Benefits

• Competitive salary (based on experience)

• 401(k) with 4% company match

• Paid Time Off

• Long-term career opportunity with an established automotive organization

Why Join?

This leadership role offers the opportunity to work with major automotive OEMs while driving innovative packaging programs that improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance supply chain performance. You'll collaborate with engineering, purchasing, IT, suppliers, and executive leadership while making a measurable impact on automotive packaging operations.