Product Development Manager
Job in
Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, 28273, USA
Listed on 2026-01-26
Listing for:
Genpak
Full Time
position Listed on 2026-01-26
Job specializations:
-
Engineering
Product Engineer, Manufacturing Engineer, Packaging Engineer, Process Engineer
Job Description & How to Apply Below
Research and Development
Position Title: Product Development Manager
Position Reports To: Director of Research and Development
Position Summary: The Product Development Manager will lead the design, development, and commercialization of innovative material, novel package manufacturing, and thermoformed food packaging solutions. This role requires strong technical knowledge of packaging manufacturing methods: thermoforming processes, injection molding, wet fiber molding. Additionally, the role requires comfort working with different materials (plastics, biopolymers, and potential natural raw materials), and their requirements for food safety compliance.
The manager will combine project management skills and cross-functional leadership skills to deliver cost-effective, sustainable, and high-performance packaging products.
Key Responsibilities
- Product Development & Innovation
- Lead concept-to-launch development of new materials and process for food packaging products.
- Identify market trends and customer needs to drive innovation in packaging design and materials.
- Ensure compliance with food safety regulations (FDA, USDA) and sustainability standards.
- Project Management
- Manage multiple development projects, timelines, and budgets.
- Assist in the management of the Pilot Plant production team to meet project objectives.
- Coordinate with cross-functional teams (Sales, Product Management, Engineering, Quality, Operations) to ensure successful product launches.
- Maintain accurate documentation for all development activities.
- Technical Expertise
- Oversee material selection, tooling design, and thermoforming or other process optimization.
- Collaborate with suppliers on resin and material innovations.
- Troubleshoot technical issues during development and production scale-up.
- Customer Engagement
- Work directly with customers to understand packaging requirements and provide technical solutions.
- Support sales team with product presentations and technical information.
- Continuous Improvement
- Drive cost reduction and sustainability initiatives in packaging design.
- Stay current on industry trends, emerging technologies, and regulatory changes.
Education
- Bachelor's degree in Packaging Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Polymer Science, or related field (Master's preferred).
- 5+ years of experience in product development within thermoforming or food packaging industry.
- Strong knowledge of thermoforming processes, tooling, and materials.
- Familiarity with food safety regulations and packaging standards.
- Excellent project management and leadership skills.
- Strong communication and customer-facing skills.
- Experience with sustainable packaging solutions (bioplastics, recyclable materials).
- Knowledge of CAD software and design tools.
- Understanding of cost analysis and manufacturing economics.
To View & Apply for jobs on this site that accept applications from your location or country, tap the button below to make a Search.
(If this job is in fact in your jurisdiction, then you may be using a Proxy or VPN to access this site, and to progress further, you should change your connectivity to another mobile device or PC).
(If this job is in fact in your jurisdiction, then you may be using a Proxy or VPN to access this site, and to progress further, you should change your connectivity to another mobile device or PC).
Search for further Jobs Here:
×