Packaging R&D Director

Job Description

Job Description

Del Monte Fresh Produce Company Inc. is a global leader in fresh fruits and vegetables, delivering quality products from farm to table. With a strong commitment to safety, sustainability, and operational excellence, we take pride in supporting our people and investing in the teams that keep our operations running safely and efficiently every day.

Benefits We Offer Include:

• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Employer-paid life & disability insurance
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 7 Company Paid Holidays
• 24/7 Telemedicine & Employee Assistance Program
• Optional voluntary benefits (legal, accident, identity protection)
• Eligibility on the first of the month following your hire date

Purpose of Position:

Del Monte Foods (DMC Foods Inc.), the Foods Division of Fresh Del Monte, is seeking a Packaging R&D Director. The Packaging R&D Director is responsible for setting and executing the packaging development strategy that supports current operations while enabling growth through innovation, renovation, and productivity. This role leads packaging design, qualification, and commercialization across new product development, artwork and specification governance, and manufacturing scale-up. The Director will lead Value Engineering projects to reduce costs as well as manage risks by ensuring packaging legislation compliance.

Accountabilities:

This role will partner closely with Procurement, Operations, QA, Marketing, and Co-Man and external manufacturers to deliver technically sound, cost-effective, and compliant packaging solutions. Additionally, this role provides strategic oversight of sustainability and regulatory considerations, ensuring packaging decisions balance performance, cost, risk, and compliance. The Director will ensure the successful execution of project plans aligned with Vegetable, Tomato and Produce business, while also handling resourcing and budgetary oversight.

• Lead packaging development activities across innovation, renovation, and commercialization projects, from concept through launch and scale-up
• Lead packaging input into early-stage innovation and concept development, ensuring feasibility, cost targets, and speed-to-market are addressed upfront
• Support packaging performance in market through post-launch evaluation, consumer feedback, and continuous improvement
• Establish and own packaging development standards, governance, and stage-gate expectations across innovation, renovation, and productivity initiatives
• Own packaging design, dieline development, specification creation, and approval processes, ensuring technical accuracy and operational readiness
• Oversee artwork routing and approval workflows in partnership with Marketing, Regulatory, and external agencies to support on-time launches
• Serve as the technical packaging authority for internal teams, co-manufacturers, and external suppliers, ensuring alignment with specifications and standards
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, and Quality to ensure packaging solutions perform effectively in manufacturing environments and meet food safety and quality requirements
• Drive value engineering and cost savings initiatives through material optimization, structural redesign, alternate supplier qualification, and process improvements
• Coordinate packaging development and change management with co-manufacturers and external manufacturing partners to ensure seamless execution
• Establish and maintain packaging specifications, bills of material, and data accuracy within enterprise systems
• Identify, evaluate, and champion new packaging materials, technologies, processes, and equipment to enhance performance, sustainability, and total cost
• Develop and defend business cases for packaging investments, changes, and innovation, including cost, risk, and return considerations
• Partner with Finance to track realized savings, productivity benefits, and ongoing cost impacts tied to packaging initiatives
• Support capital planning related to packaging equipment, tooling, and manufacturing capabilities
• Provide technical leadership for troubleshooting packaging performance issues and conducting root cause analysis
• Collaborate with Procurement on supplier strategy, technical negotiations, and cost transparency related to packaging materials and services
• Partner with Legal and Regulatory teams to ensure compliance with applicable packaging regulations, including EPR, recycled content mandates, labeling requirements, and packaging-related legislation
• Support sustainability initiatives by integrating compliance, recyclability, and material reduction considerations into packaging design decisions
• Build packaging technical capability across the organization through coaching, training, and clear career development pathways
• Develop succession plans and technical depth to support long-term business growth and resiliency
• Prepare and present packaging strategy updates, risks, and recommendations to senior leadership
• Lead cross-functional packaging forums to prioritize workload, manage trade-offs, and align resources with business needs
• Serve as escalation point for packaging-related risks, timeline conflicts, and technical decisions
• Represent the company externally with suppliers, industry forums, and trade organizations to stay ahead of emerging packaging trends and technologies
• Leverage supplier and industry partnerships to accelerate innovation, improve cost structures, and mitigate supply risk

Minimum Skills Required:

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Materials Science, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field
• 10-15 years of extensive experience in Packaging R&D, including considerable managerial experience
• Proven track record of leading innovative packaging projects from concept to commercialization
• Deep technical expertise in packaging materials, structures, processes, and equipment across food and CPG applications
• Strong leadership capabilities with experience building and developing high-performing technical teams
• Solid understanding of manufacturing operations, co-manufacturing models, and scale-up challenges
• Proven ability to lead packaging projects from early concept through commercialization
• Experience with artwork, specifications, and packaging governance processes
• Demonstrated success driving cost savings and value engineering initiatives
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including root cause analysis and technical risk assessment
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and senior leaders
• Ability to balance innovation, speed, cost, quality, and compliance in packaging decision-making
• Working knowledge of SAP, specification systems, and bill of materials management

***Please note: This position does not qualify for relocation expenses.***

Fresh Del Monte Produce Inc. is a global leader in the production, distribution, and marketing of fresh and freshcut fruits and vegetables. Our diverse product portfolio also includes prepared fruits and vegetables, juices, beverages, snacks, and desserts—available in over 80 countries worldwide. With operations spanning more than 35 countries, we’ve proudly been nourishing families for over 135 years.

We are committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace and are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Fresh Del Monte and its affiliates do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, gender, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We also participate in E-Verify* where applicable, to ensure employment authorization eligibility. Driven by our core values—Excellence, Care, Passion, Trust, and Creativity—we invite you to explore our career opportunities and join our FRESH team.