Sr. Packaging Engineer, Sustainability & Enterprise Productivity

Beam Suntory is seeking a Senior Packaging Engineer for Sustainability & Enterprise Productivity in Shepherdsville, KY. The role focuses on developing sustainable packaging solutions to meet 2030 goals while enhancing productivity. Responsibilities include researching new materials, collaborating with cross-functional teams, leading sustainability initiatives, and ensuring compliance with industry standards. The position emphasizes innovation and effective communication within the Packaging R&D and Supply Chain teams.
At Suntory Global Spirits, we craft spirits of the highest quality and deliver brilliant experiences to people around the world. Suntory Global Spirits has evolved into the world's third largest leading premium spirits company ... where each employee is treated like family and trusted with legacy. With our greatest assets - our premium spirits and our people - we're driving growth through impactful marketing, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit.

Suntory Global Spirits is a place where you can come Unleash your Spirit by making an impact each and every day.

What makes this a great opportunity?

The Senior Packaging Engineer-Sustainability & Enterprise Productivity is responsible for ensuring that the Packaging R&D team is creating sustainable packing options that support the 2030 sustainability goals. In addition to sustainability, this role will support enterprise productivity, finding opportunities in the existing packaging portfolio. This role will need to be able to evaluate data, consumer trends and research packaging materials to propose new packaging materials or components.

This role is responsible for ensuring SGS packaging is offering cost effective, sustainable packaging solutions for the business. Create an environment of collaborative team spirit with the Sustainability team and Supply Chain Solutions through timely and effective communication and collaboration. Role Responsibilities
• Packaging leader for researching new packaging materials. Focusing on enhancing sustainability, functionality, cost and consumer appeal while ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations.
• Liaison between the Packaging R&D team and the Supply Chain Solutions team and Sustainability team. Ensuring all teams are aligned on goals, projects and cost targets.
• Innovation facilitation (with Procurement and brand teams). Staying informed on key trends in packaging sustainability and partnering with cross functional teams to develop creative and innovative solutions to technical challenges.
• Partner with cross functional teams to identify design improvement opportunities focusing on sustainability that should be integrated into future design work with our supplier's.
• Support technical timelines by raising issues and risks, leveraging strong packaging development skills.
• Co-lead packaging positive (sustainability) meetings, bringing cross functional team members along the Suntory Global Spirits sustainability journey.
• Lead sustainability packaging component work streams, researching alternate packaging materials.
• Lead and/or support the development and changes of packaging specifications for productivity or sustainability projects, including both internal and external manufacturing sites.
• Create BOM and Case Finished Good specification including all weights, dimensions, and pallet patterns.
• Utilize spec system and SAP to identify new platform initiatives. Work cross functionally on viability of the initiative.
• Responsible for testing and qualifying all new packaging components, to ensure compatible with our products.
• Lead Technical Risk Assessments for high-risk projects as needed.
• Provide on-site support for all first productions at Internal and external locations where applicable, including suppliers if necessary.
• Identify and implement process improvements to increase efficiency and reduce costs.

Qualifications
• Bachelor's Degree in Packaging Engineering, Packaging Technology, Material Science or related field required. Equivalent experience may be accepted for certain attributes of the position. Master's degree would be a plus.
• A minimum of 6 years of packaging engineering experience, previous cost savings, value engineering or sustainability roles would be ideal.
• Must be able to influence without authority.
• Technical knowledge of packaging materials: cans, glass, PET, cartons, closures, corrugated packaging, and labels
• Must be fluent in English; second language is a plus, but not required. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and written, and explain technical concepts or innovations to technical and non-technical employees.
• Advanced computer…