Truvant is seeking a Packaging Development Manager to partner with Sales, Operations, customers, suppliers, and external partners to develop innovative, practical, and cost-effective packaging solutions. This role supports packaging concepts from early customer conversations through validation, implementation, and continuous improvement, helping deliver solutions that meet customer needs while aligning with operational capabilities.

The ideal candidate brings strong packaging development experience, technical design knowledge, project leadership skills, and the ability to collaborate effectively across commercial, technical, operational, and customer-facing teams 

POSITION OBJECTIVE:

The Packaging Development Manager partners closely with Sales, Operations, customers, and external partners to develop innovative, operationally feasible, and cost-effective packaging solutions that support business growth. This role provides packaging expertise from concept development through validation, implementation, and optimization, supporting both new business opportunities and existing customer programs. As US operations expand, responsibilities may evolve from a stronger commercial focus toward increased operational and continuous improvement support.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Partner with the US Customer & Market Success Organization, EI&S team, and customers on RFQs/RFPs by providing packaging design concepts and technical input early in the commercial process.
• Develop packaging solutions across folding carton, corrugated, flexible packaging, and retail display formats.
• Support the development of sustainable packaging solutions that meet customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and company sustainability objectives.
• Coordinate with external partners and suppliers to deliver prototypes, mock-ups, and packaging visualizations.
• Coordinate packaging performance testing, including ISTA, vibration, compression, and drop testing, through qualified external laboratories as required to validate packaging solutions.
• Ensure proposed packaging solutions are aligned with operational, logistical, and supply chain capabilities.
• Identify and implement packaging improvements that reduce costs, improve operational efficiency, and enhance customer value.
• Support the implementation, validation, and continuous improvement of packaging solutions across customer programs and co-packing operations.
• Serve as the primary packaging subject matter expert for customers during development discussions, ideation sessions, design reviews, and technical evaluations.
• Manage multiple packaging development projects simultaneously, ensuring delivery within agreed timelines.
• Maintain alignment with the European Packaging Development team regarding standards, tools, processes, and best practices.
• Other duties as assigned.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE & ABILITIES:

• Knowledge of packaging materials, technologies, industry trends, and market dynamics.
• Proficiency with ArtiosCAD or an equivalent 2D packaging design tool with integrated 3D visualization.
• Ability to develop commercially viable packaging concepts that support customer and operational needs.
• Strong project management, organizational, communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and priorities while meeting agreed timelines.
• Ability to work effectively with customers, suppliers, external partners, Sales, Operations, Procurement, Engineering, and Packaging Development teams.
• Ability to identify packaging improvements that reduce cost, improve efficiency, and enhance customer value.
• Knowledge gained through on-the-job training of company products, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to pay close attention to detail.
• Skill in multitasking and time management.
• Ability to function cooperatively and effectively in a team environment with peers and personnel in other departments.
• Ability to keep company and customer information that is discussed or viewed while under employment with Truvant confidential.
• Ability to adhere to all regulatory and company policies, procedures, and work instructions, including but not limited to Truvant policies, customer-specific policies, ISO, GMPs, USDA, regulatory food safety, and food defense.

Physical and Environmental Requirements:

• Ability to read documents, printouts, computer screens, and other communication, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to communicate effectively with co-workers, customers, suppliers, and external partners, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to reach, touch, and grasp materials or equipment as needed to perform job duties, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to sit, stand, and walk for extended periods as business needs require, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to climb, stoop, kneel, lift, pull, and push as needed when visiting production, warehouse, customer, or supplier environments, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Ability to follow safety procedures and conduct work in a safe manner while on the production floor or in customer, supplier, laboratory, warehouse, or plant environments.
• Ability to work in various environments based on building location, products, customer sites, supplier sites, laboratories, and plant operations, with or without reasonable accommodation.
• Physical demand level: sedentary to medium work. This role may require lifting, pushing, pulling, or positioning materials weighing up to 35 pounds as needed to perform job-related duties, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Travel Requirements:

• Up to 25% - Travel will be required to support business needs, including customer visits, workshops, supplier meetings, external testing support, and plant support.

UNDERSTANDING OF JOB ESSENTIALS:

I fully understand the contents of this job description, have had the opportunity to ask questions regarding this job description, and have had the job duties and responsibilities, requirements, physical demands, and working conditions explained to me. I understand that Truvant is an equal opportunity employer and that this job description is not a contract of employment. Its purpose is to define, though not exhaustively, the essential functions of the job.

Truvant provides equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees and does not discriminate in employment decisions. Truvant will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the job, unless doing so would create an undue hardship. Applicants and employees who need a reasonable accommodation are encouraged to contact management or Human Resources.