VP, Packaging and Process Development #1620

Sara Lee Corporation is a global manufacturer and marketer of high-quality, brand-name products for consumers throughout the world. The Corporation has operations in 58 countries and markets branded products in nearly 200 nations. Sara Lee Corporation employs 137,000 people worldwide.



Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

Direct new packaging development staff in applying technological innovation in equipment, materials, processing or package design including packaging development specifications.
Participate on the R&D leadership team and assist in the development of R&D vision and creative solutions to technical hurdles.
Develop and monitor partnerships with suppliers to create new and unique packaging and processes. Develop full scope of project such as feasibility, costing/investing and testing with Supply Chain Engineering and in-plant installation.
Manages and directs staff in all phases of employments such as hiring, performance management, career development, training and coaching.
Develop and manage departmental budget through cost analysis and controlling and approving expenses.
Develop and drive cost reduction identification/implementation for processing and packaging technology.
Initiate, direct and implement cross-functional packaging and processing project teams to support new products and increase efficiencies of current products.
Recommend capital packaging and processing equipment justification, selection and CER development.
Provide technical assistance to marketing and multifunctional partners on packaging innovation, design and technical requirements.
Maintain current knowledge base on FDA/state regulations concerning packaging materials.
Identify and capture synergies from the R&D transformation to one integrated R&D Center
Identify internal customer satisfaction and define improvements to better meet customer needs.
Participate in the design and setup of the new Innovation Center.
Provide technical leadership in the deployment of new process innovations that are designed to meet consumer and/or customer requirements.
Lead the centralized technical R&D resources in the plants to efficiently implement product, package, and process changes consistently through the Supply Chain. 
Lead the design process through the innovative use of process engineering, food science and statistical resources including management of all pilot plant operations.

Serve on the R&D leadership team which develops the R&D vision, sets priorities, and find creative solutions to technical hurdles.

Partner with suppliers to create new & unique processes to deliver new, superior products, packagings and processes at lower costs. 

Work with supply chain Engineering to develop and justifying capital investment projects, and then the installation of the new process into the plants.

Oversee the Technical Services function which provides leadership in manufacturing process change, new process implementation, master specifications, and process capability studies.

Manage and directs staff in all phases of employments such as hiring, performance management, career development, training and coaching.

Responsible for supporting a dual career path managerial and technical ladder based.

Drive and manage integrated departmental financial plan achieving financial objectives. Manage R&D budget as part of R&D LT.

Develop and maintain excellent working relationships with operations/divisional management and external customers.

Work globally with R&D teams to implement best practices and leverage technology platforms from a packaging development.

Facilitate cross-functional teams in alignment and execution of development packaging optimization.
Other duties as needed and/or assigned.

Bachelor’s degree in business, management and/or package engineering required.  Masters degree preferred. 15 years relevant and progressively responsible experience in meat or food packaging development. 15 years in the Food Industry with an emphasis in Process Design/ Process Engineering related activities. 10+ years in an advanced leadership role directing others and managing cross-functional teams. 10+ years experience working with legal and state/federal regulatory agencies. 10+ years managing departmental budgets, cost justification for CERs and forecasting future expenditures and capital projects.