Principal Scientist, Package Development-Frozen Handheld & Spreads Research & Development Team
Hostess Brands, LLC

Your Opportunity as the Principal Scientist, Package Development-Frozen Handheld & Spreads Research & Development Team

In this role you will use your technical mastery of Packaging Science or Engineering to provide packaging related business building opportunities. As a Packaging Principal Scientist, you will be an expert in the formats currently used for FH&S packaging, the high speed packaging equipment leveraged within the business and identify breakthrough packaging technologies and solutions for the category! Your input into project briefs will shape its evolution. Packaging Principal Scientists also recommend, plan, and execute a broad range of technical development activity and must be able to work effectively independently or within a team. Your work can also include "hands on" in a lab, in a plant or pilot plant, at a critical site, on a computer, or with consumers for all FH&S product formats.

Location: Corporate Offices in Orrville, Ohio

Work Arrangements: Ability to travel up to 30% on an ongoing basis (travel frequency dependent on projects and product launch pipeline). Expected time in the Orrville Discovery Building is between 40% - 60%.

In this role you will:

• Be a leader, packaging subject-matter expert, and the "voice of packaging" within the FH&S business.
  

• Collaborate with Product R&D, Creative Services, Brand Management, Supply Chain, and Suppliers in early-stage new package and/or new product design. Lead discussion on brief design for packaging material and functionality. Bring forward new ideas and technologies that could improve products or create new avenues or revenues.
  

• Utilize conceptual and innovative thinking to champion the design, develop and implement new packaging based upon consumer and business need, utilizing formats such as blow molding, injection stretch blow molding, injection molding, thermoforming, film/laminate, paperboard, and/or corrugated materials and technologies.
  

• Leverage knowledge of high-speed carton and flow wrap automation equipment to identify roadmap of material solutions within Uncrustables product line.
  

• Fill role as project Technical Readiness Leader for cross discipline project teams in the development and launch of new products.
  

• Proactively propose and lead breakthrough packaging technologies and capabilities that meet or exceed project objectives.
  

• Communicate effectively to dimension risk, resolve technical and organizational issues at multiple levels of the organization.
  

• Lead projects with notable risk and complexity: develop the strategy for project execution.
  

• Define and conduct package development testing to ensure readiness for production, distribution, package stability, shelf life, sustainability, and consumer use independently.
  

• Design and execute package qualifications with Suppliers and production facilities independently.
  

• Plan, execute, analyze and summarize plant trials independently by collaborating with manufacturing and site technical resources.
  

• Create performance-based specifications for upload into electronic database specification system.
  

• Advise and recommend equipment Suppliers and service providers to the cross functional organization in support of new product launches.
  

• Look for and advise on legal and environmental aspects of projects that could provide a potential benefit to the company. Be aware of patent landscape in technical areas with expertise. Lead patent opportunities for new packaging.
  

• Champion innovative ideas leading to the application of new packaging, sustainable technologies, cost savings/efficiency, and solving packaging-related challenges to all levels of the organization including management.
  

• Partner with packaging technical support organization as needed to resolve packaging supply chain or production technical issues. Have the ability to lead problem solving sessions with cross functional team members.
  

• Create close contacts with strategic packaging suppliers. Act as a JMS packaging representative at seminars and conferences.
  

• Coach and train other packaging team members in their technical training and development.
  

The Right Place for You

We are bold, kind, strive to do the right thing, we play to win, and we believe in a strong community that thrives together. Our culture is rooted in our Basic Beliefs, and we believe in supporting every employee by meeting their physical, emotional, and financial needs.

What we are looking for:

Minimum Requirements:

• B.S. Degree, preferably in Packaging Science/Engineering or 15+ years of directly relevant experience in packaging development and/or operations technical support within CPG (food, beverage, or medical).
  

• 10+ years of experience in package development or operations technical support from full-time employment within a CPG (food, beverage, or medical)
  

• Experience with material and equipment suppliers in the Food Packaging industry.
  

• Experience with installing and commissioning high speed packaging lines.
  

• Widely recognized as a Subject-Matter Expert with packaging materials, technology platforms, and equipment
  

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written
  

• Excellent organizational, critical thinking, and creativity skills
  

• Project management experience is highly valued, as individual will collaborate cross functionally to manage costs, schedules, and resources for the work.
  

• Effective presentation, verbal, and written communication skills. Able to distill complex technical issues and communicate to non-technical cross functional team members.
  

• Comfortable in ambiguous situations and able to provide leadership and direction on projects even if outside of technical expertise.
  

• Lead by example and willingness to teach and mentor others.
  

• Can work with personal and food safety in mind.
  

• Ability to travel up to 30% on an ongoing basis (travel frequency dependent on projects and product launch pipeline).
  

• Ability to lift up to 30 lbs.
  

Learn more about working at Smucker:

• Our Total Rewards Benefits Program

• Our Thriving Together Philosophy Supporting All Impacted by Our Business

• Our Continued Progress on Inclusion, Diversity and Equity

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