Director, Packaging Engineering

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Have a seat at our table. When you join Smithfield, you become part of something special – a company that's sustainably feeding people around the world, producing good food the right way with respect for our people, animals, communities and planet. With opportunities across locations and functions, a culture grounded in our Core Four values - gratitude, communication, respect and accountability - and a strong commitment to learning, collaboration, and innovation, Smithfield offers challenging and rewarding careers where you can grow, contribute and make a real impact. Apply Now!

THE VALUE YOU’LL BRING:

The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section.

Shape the future of packaging innovation at Smithfield Foods, where a wide array of materials and processes drive industry-leading solutions. As the Director of Package Engineering , you will lead a team of subject matter experts, ensuring successful project execution and impactful results.

Your leadership will be instrumental in identifying, developing, and commercializing new, improved, and cost-efficient packaging solutions that enhance product performance and sustainability. In addition to driving innovation, your team will collaborate on cross-functional projects, supporting key business platforms, new product development, cost-saving initiatives, and core business strategies.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to influence packaging excellence, optimize efficiency, and contribute to Smithfield’s commitment to quality and innovation.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

The below statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified. May perform other duties as assigned.

Packaging Engineering Leadership and Strategy: You will lead packaging engineering initiatives to drive savings through waste reduction, material optimization, and innovative solutions while managing a high-performing team to achieve strategic objectives. Additionally, you will stay ahead of market trends, shaping long-term strategic plans for Smithfield’s products, and actively champion packaging expertise across the organization to foster collaboration and advancement.

New Product Development and Process Optimization: You will oversee all aspects of packaging engineering related to new product development, collaborating with R&D Managers, Business Managers, and Process Engineering Managers to design efficient packaging solutions within tight deadlines. Additionally, you will provide ongoing support for packaging on existing products, leveraging your knowledge of Smithfield plants and processes to educate cross-functional teams and lead impactful projects. You will also research new technologies, drive their implementation when beneficial, and use your expertise to support and identify future capital investments in packaging.

Project and Operations Management: You will lead packaging projects from concept to implementation, ensuring alignment with Smithfield’s business requirements while effectively managing incoming requests from both business and plant operations. Additionally, you will navigate complex, multi-stream projects by fostering cross-functional relationships and alliances, driving collaboration, and delivering innovative solutions across departments.

Technical Expertise and Compliance: You will successfully navigate Smithfield’s operating systems, software, and procedures while developing a deep understanding of the company’s corporate structure, products, and processes. In addition, you will apply your expertise in packaging dielines and their technical relationship to equipment, independently conducting plant trials at manufacturing locations. You will effectively communicate packaging information across all levels of the organization, identify innovative solutions with financial feasibility in mind, and proactively anticipate and resolve potential roadblocks based on project experience.

Leadership: Drives a positive employee experience through leadership by way of employee development and coaching.

WHAT WE’RE SEEKING:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals to perform the essential functions.

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited four-year college or university and 10+ years of relevant experience; or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.

5+ years of demonstrated experience in team management/development is required.

Ability to demonstrate proven results with fundamental packaging knowledge, plant testing, and project management.

Experience with “complex packaging strategies” such as lean manufacturing, corporate purchasing agreements, and strategic sourcing.

Progressive experience utilizing packaging software, specification databases and SAP.

Extensive knowledge of packaging lab testing and techniques.

Excellent PC skills: MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint).

Strong communication skills, verbal and written.

Strong project management skills in support of cross functional team activities.

Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.

Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

Must be willing to travel a minimum of 50%.

OTHER SKILLS THAT MAKE YOU STAND OUT:

Enterprise Process Transformation: Demonstrated ability to lead large-scale process improvement initiatives that deliver measurable gains in efficiency, cost, quality, and service across multiple plants, lines, or product categories.

Customer-Back Innovation Leadership: Proven success translating customer and consumer insights into scalable packaging solutions that enhance product protection, performance, and overall user experience.

Cross-Functional Leadership & Influence: Strong ability to lead across FSQA, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Commercial teams—aligning priorities and driving decisions that balance quality, cost, and operational performance.

Strategic External Partnerships: Experience developing and leveraging supplier and equipment vendor partnerships to enable innovation, enhance capabilities, and accelerate speed-to-market.

Standards, Simplification & Automation: Expertise in establishing packaging standards, driving SKU and specification simplification, and enabling automation to improve scalability and operational consistency.

Packaging Systems Innovation: Track record of advancing packaging systems, tools, and processes to drive step-change improvements in cost, quality, and speed.

Advanced Materials & Application Expertise: Deep knowledge of resin and fiber-based systems, with the ability to guide material selection based on performance, cost, manufacturability, and sustainability considerations.

Manufacturing Systems & Equipment Integration: Strong understanding of packaging equipment and processes (e.g., rollstock, rotary, shrink, case packaging, palletization), with the ability to design solutions that perform reliably at scale across diverse operating environments.

Operational Excellence & OEE Improvement: Proven ability to improve line performance and throughput by aligning packaging design with operational capabilities, with a strong understanding of system-level OEE drivers.

Sustainability & Regulatory Strategy: Experience leading packaging strategies that proactively address sustainability goals (includ