Associate Engineer Packaging Development - Chicago, IL

Job description

A mutually rewarding experience.

Work. Realize your ambitions. And realize there's more to being in business than just making a profit. That's the Mars philosophy. And the opportunity we offer every one of our Associates. An opportunity to take what you do and make it mean more for you, for those around you and for the planet. What you get here is challenging, interesting work. You get the tools you need to do a great job and you get to have the best possible people on your side to help you do it. And at the same time as getting to find ways to do business better today than we did it yesterday and driving a great career, you also get to build a more enlightened business and drive sustainability.

Because it's never just about a single person, a single project or a single brand. It's about how you can grab everything that's within your reach here and use it to pursue mutual, long-term gain. It's about having ideas. And ideals. Being prepared to risk failure because the promise of success means we'll all be a little better off. It's that mix of integrity and ambition that makes Mars such a special place to work. And why working here is always about more than just a job.

Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, operates five business segments including Pet care, Mars Wrigley Confectionary, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital, CESAR®, SHEBA®, DREAMIES® and NUTRO®; Confectionary – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY®, TWIX®, DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints. Food – UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA® and WISDOM PANEL®.

Mars Wrigley Confectionary is looking for an Associate Engineer, Packaging Development in Chicago, IL.

The Associate Engineer, Packaging Development is an important role to build future pipeline talent capability within the Gum & Mints Packaging Development Team. It is responsible to support the design, development, and translation of packaging innovations for the Expand core, Adjacency and Disrupt areas of growth. This role will be part of a team that will provide deep technical packaging material and process understanding and will work with Marketing and local markets, Operations, Commercial, and consumer research agencies to develop Packaging from concept to finished goods to drive innovation. The incumbent will on a continual basis support and develop a range of Consumer relevant, value added packaging with specific focus on gum & mints category. They are responsible for delivering packaging development activities and are accountable for the execution of the programs and work streams developed by the global team. This position requires technical know how and tactical execution to define and execute a portfolio of projects, looking at new perspectives to solve existing and new brand solutions within the Gum & Mints team.

Key Responsibilities:

New Packaging development: Responsible for executing the design, development, and translation of new and innovative packaging concepts. The key outputs from this role include delivering consumer relevant value added packs, ensuring pack design meets the global consumer insights and fitting business strategy and technical needs, and achieving a high quality Packaging solution in a timely and cost effective way.

·  Responsible for executing packaging development activities and is accountable for the delivery of the assigned programs and work streams to bring project through to commercialization in partnership with regional team following Global-Regional R&D operating model.
·  Ensures that the packaging development for extending core, and breakthrough product designs are delivered for the brands and that they are designed to meet the brand specifications.
·  Ensures that the packaging development process is carried out such that timelines are met to market products.
·  Ensures that the packaging specifications are as accurate as possible and relevant to ensure correct costing.
·  Ensures that packaging quality and manufacturing quality performance measures standards and corrective actions are specified for each new and current packaging to ensure performance at the required level for all manufactured products.
·  Works with cross-functional teams in a design thinking way of working to deliver new and novel innovation for the brand.
·  Works with the Global Packaging teams to help to develop technology required by the gum & mints category, with emphasis on new benefits.
·  To develop knowledge and support departmental knowledge on consumer profiles, brand frameworks, major competitors, markets, process, packaging, quality and new developments in food technologies, packaging, design, category trends and related fields.
·  Initiate and evaluate pilot line trials with some guidance during development for new Packaging/varieties when existing production lines are not available. This will involve close co-operation with PPTS (Product & Process Translation & Support Team).
·  Work with suppliers: Working with Commercial team to develop both material and creative design suppliers to provide input and be guardian of relevant packaging key business data (e.g. FEF, Pack KQA, Project plans, etc) Quest stage gate responsibility tbc.
·  To ensure Intellectual Property risks & opportunities derived from projects are proactively managed.
·  Support the Viability and Feasibility of the Desirable concepts delivered by the Brand Boards and Design Team.

Value Creation: Support consumer acceptance research, cost savings and quality improvement activities on gum and mint brands and challenge the business with ideas for new packaging.

Minimum Qualifications:

·  Bachelor's Degree in Packaging Engineering or Packaging Science
·  In lieu of Packaging Degree, a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering with relevant Packaging work experience
·  1 year Packaging R&D experience in a fast moving consumer goods company
·  Some experience working on cross function teams and in matrix environment.
·  Basic knowledge in Packaging constructions, materials and machine interaction.
·  Some experience within the consumer products/food industry.
·  Basic knowledge of food safety and food hygiene programs, packaging, printing and legislation and raw material.
·  Understanding of packaging sciences, packaging development, Packaging legislation and laws, Food processing and production knowledge.
·  Able to set priorities and support execution of multiple projects concurrently.
·  Good listening and communication skills and works effectively with others.
·  Successful Completion of a drug and background screen

Desired profile

Key Responsibilities:

New Packaging development: Responsible for executing the design, development, and translation of new and innovative packaging concepts. The key outputs from this role include delivering consumer relevant value added packs, ensuring pack design meets the global consumer insights and fitting business strategy and technical needs, and achieving a high quality Packaging solution in a timely and cost effective way.

·  Responsible for executing packaging development activities and is accountable for the delivery of the assigned programs and work streams to bring project through to commercialization in partnership with regional team following Global-Regional R&D operating model.
·  Ensures that the packaging development for extending core, and breakthrough product designs are delivered for the brands and that they are designed to meet the brand specifications.
·  Ensures that the packaging development process is carried out such that timelines are met to market products.
·  Ensures that the packaging specifications are as accurate as possible and relevant to ensure correct costing.
·  Ensures that packaging quality and manufacturing quality performance measures standards and corrective actions are specified for each new and current packaging to ensure performance at the required level for all manufactured products.
·  Works with cross-functional teams in a design thinking way of working to deliver new and novel innovation for the brand.
·  Works with the Global Packaging teams to help to develop technology required by the gum & mints category, with emphasis on new benefits.
·  To develop knowledge and support departmental knowledge on consumer profiles, brand frameworks, major competitors, markets, process, packaging, quality and new developments in food technologies, packaging, design, category trends and related fields.
·  Initiate and evaluate pilot line trials with some guidance during development for new Packaging/varieties when existing production lines are not available. This will involve close co-operation with PPTS (Product & Process Translation & Support Team).
·  Work with suppliers: Working with Commercial team to develop both material and creative design suppliers to provide input and be guardian of relevant packaging key business data (e.g. FEF, Pack KQA, Project plans, etc) Quest stage gate responsibility tbc.
·  To ensure Intellectual Property risks & opportunities derived from projects are proactively managed.
·  Support the Viability and Feasibility of the Desirable concepts delivered by the Brand Boards and Design Team.

Value Creation: Support consumer acceptance research, cost savings and quality improvement activities on gum and mint brands and challenge the business with ideas for new packaging.

Minimum Qualifications:

·  Bachelor's Degree in Packaging Engineering or Packaging Science
·  In lieu of Packaging Degree, a Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering with relevant Packaging work experience
·  1 year Packaging R&D experience in a fast moving consumer goods company
·  Some experience working on cross function teams and in matrix environment.
·  Basic knowledge in Packaging constructions, materials and machine interaction.
·  Some experience within the consumer products/food industry.
·  Basic knowledge of food safety and food hygiene programs, packaging, printing and legislation and raw material.
·  Understanding of packaging sciences, packaging development, Packaging legislation and laws, Food processing and production knowledge.
·  Able to set priorities and support execution of multiple projects concurrently.
·  Good listening and communication skills and works effectively with others.
·  Successful Completion of a drug and background screen

Preferred Qualifications:

·  Master's Degree in Packaging Engineering or Packaging Science
·  2+ years Packaging R&D experience in a fast moving consumer goods company
·  Experience working on Global teams and suppliers based outside US
·  Basic Understanding of Project Management and Statistical analysis
·  Experience with packaging development, including 1st wraps and films, cartons, and cases

Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.