Associate R&D Principal Packaging Engineer - Pet - Golden Valley, MN

JOB OVERVIEW

General Mills is seeking an Associate Principal Packaging Engineer in their Pet Segment Operating Unit. This role will have Packaging R&D accountability for iconic brands, including BLUE Buffalo and EdgardCooper. You will serve as the direct Packaging R&D business interface across these key brands to deliver the current plan and partner on growth strategies, and build packaging capability to enable the future growth for Pet. This role will coordinate across a talented team of technical leaders, execute against innovation growth ideas, core renovation levers, and advance our digital transformation capabilities.

This role will create and translate a Packaging modeling framework to help accelerate our flexible format across all of Pet, including supporting our international portfolio. This responsibility spans across a large raw material cost of goods sold spend and requires strong activation and leadership to deliver against innovation and cost savings goals. Critical thinking, thought leadership, and strong collaboration with Product R&D Marketing, Sourcing, Operations, and Engineering will be essential to driving next-level cost savings impact.

You will manage a portfolio of products through a complex manufacturing network, temperature states, and channels, providing opportunities to lead new ways of working with a variety of cross-functional partners.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Develop a flexible technology framework through new digital ways of working across the entire Pet portfolio.
• Act as a mentor to a high-performing team of packaging developers with diverse expertise across key materials, brands, and technical areas to deliver research and develop new products, cost savings, and core innovation plans and pipeline sufficiency
• Support and activate a packaging cost savings strategy to unlock fewer and bigger end-to-end cost savings initiatives.
• Steer the activation of Functional and Business strategies by driving moments of truth levers, tapping into subject matter experts, external partners, and brand remarkability tools to drive a packaging growth agenda.
• Advance a Circular Future through business management and collaboration with central technology resources on new packaging material technologies to drive advancement of Global Responsibility commitments for packaging sustainability.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's Degree in Packaging Engineering or other related degree fields
• 7+ years of packaging experience working in a pet packaging organization or pet industry business
• Comprehensive understanding of consumer product development processes, encompassing all stages, including translating consumer insights into design and scaling solutions through a supply chain.
• Experience and technical acumen across a variety of packaging materials, including flexible films and thermal rigid plastics.
• Demonstrated knowledge of business processes and ability to develop relationships with cross-functional partners.
• Demonstrated strong people skills, strategic planning, and leadership skills.
• Desire to challenge assumptions, identify new opportunities, and create new ways of working & capabilities.
• Effective communication skills and a global mindset.
• Depth and experience in the e-commerce supply chain and operations relating to bulk packaged goods
• Depth and experience in designing, qualifying, and commercializing dry pet food packaging across an array of size offerings for all channels.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Takes accountability to win, has a bias for action, and can deliver results through others.
• Mentoring and coaching others for growth.
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and organizational complexity.
• Demonstrated strong agile leadership & ability to pivot quickly.
• Exceptional multi-tasking, follow-up, and prioritization skills.

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS

• Applicants for this position must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis, and General Mills will not sponsor applicants for this position for work visas.
• This role is open to relocation, but international relocation and remote assignments will not be considered.