R&D Innovation Strategist

About Us 

PV & COHO is a newly integrated powerhouse in brand packaging, combining world-class structural design and consumer insight with exceptional creative strategy and visual identity. Following our recent acquisition, our team has doubled in size, and with this exciting growth, we’re looking for a Consumer-Centric Packaging Experience Lead to support one of our key client partnership.

The client is the leading global food and beverage manufacturer. Their diverse portfolio includes a wide array of snack foods, carbonated and non-carbonated drinks, juices, and breakfast items. Many of their brands are household names with a global presence. The role will report to the Dallas campus in a dynamic work environment to drive packaging innovation.

This role is ideal for a consumer-centric person who thrives at the intersection of packaging design, research, and strategy, and who is comfortable navigating both creative processes and operational execution. Candidate should have experience in, and an understanding of, the processes from both an Agency and a Corporate (client) Perspective. The ideal candidate will be an organized, curious, and articulate collaborator with a strong understanding of qualitative research, project management, agency dynamics, and the nuances of navigating a highly matrixed corporate environment.

• Partner closely with our internal team and the client to drive strategy and execution across design and innovation initiatives.
• Work closely with vendor partners to design studies, debrief findings, and translate insights into action.
• Manage timelines, deliverables, and budgets to ensure projects stay on track and within scope.
• Act as the main point of contact for vendors, writing briefs, aligning methodologies, and ensuring deliverables meet expectations.
• Translate research findings into compelling stories and strategic recommendations.
• Maintain clear documentation and status reports to drive alignment across all stakeholders.

• 3+ years of experience in design strategy, insights, innovation, or a related field (preferably at a large CPG organization).
• 2+ years of project management experience
• Experience and comfort working in a corporate environment, managing expectations and relationships, and exercising creativity within the business context.
• A passion for packaging and creating meaningful consumer experiences.
• An understanding of packaging, ensuring packaging programs and projects align with business goals, brand identity, and consumer needs.
• An understanding of consumer research methods (e.g., IDIs, ethnography, co-creation) and the ability to synthesize complex inputs into a clear direction.
• Excellent project management, client communication, and attention to detail skills.
• An understanding of the skills of the trade (digital, physical, virtual) for packaging design, development, and commercialization.
• Ability to work effectively, balancing the Corporate and Client worlds daily.
• Experience working with or within agencies, comfortable managing vendors and internal/external stakeholders.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to zoom out for big-picture thinking and zoom in on execution details.
• Ability to build and maintain strong client relationships. 
• Must be located in the Dallas area and willing to report to the office as needed (hybrid flexibility offered).

• Be part of a growing organization where strategy, design, insights and execution come together to drive meaningful innovation. You’ll gain exposure to cross-functional teams and have the chance to shape bold ideas applying our holistic design approach for large global brands.
• 12-month contract
• Primarily in-office at our client’s Dallas campus
•  401K enrollment, health benefits, PTO, and additional holidays including Dec 24-Jan 1, where PV&COHO offices are closed.