Head Global Package Development & Industrial Design

Head Global Package Development & Industrial Design

Our client is a well respected multi-national Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) company that has been ranked: Fortune’s Top 25 "Global Companies for Leaders," Fortune’s "World's Most Admired Companies" and Fast Company's "Most Innovative Companies.”

Title:               Head Global Package Development & Industrial Design (JH13489)            
Reports to:   SVP/Global Head Research & Development              
Location:       New Jersey

The VP/Head Global Package Development & Industrial Design will define and execute a strategic plan for package development and industrial design that supports the Global R&D Innovation strategy. Will identify consumer driven structural package and dispensing opportunities, develop the programs and organization to leverage those opportunities and take the appropriate actions to deliver high impact structural and aesthetic package contributions on holistic product development results that build the business on a sustained basis.

Major Accountabilities and Responsibilities

• Formulates strategic plan for Global Package Development organization to meet five year product pipeline deliverables, on time, and within budget.
• Defines an innovation program that provides superior consumer use experiences which either justifies capital investment and cost up charges or provides cost advantages vs. competition.
• Provides effective strategic and operational leadership for and guidance to the groups in Europe and the US and collaboration with Marketing and MS&T packaging (Tech Ops) around the world.
• Build overall organizational capabilities and the development of people, processes and systems to deliver strategy which includes the start-up and leadership of an industrial design function within R&D.
• Leads and drives the development and adoption of global, performance-based specifications and assembly standards.
• Demonstrates cross –functional leadership which positively influences business and technical management to achieve new levels of package performance and contribution.

Key Performance Indicators

• Delivery of innovation, organization and execution project milestones with superior quality.
• Consistent track record of identifying and delivering meaningful package innovations across the business and geographies.
• Increase in capacity/efficiency/productivity of the organization and development plans in place, audited and acted upon for direct reports
• Contributes to the achievement of overall business,  financial, organizational, functional and consumer acceptability metrics (to be defined)

 Experience & Key Competencies Required

• MS or BS in Package Engineering , Mechanical or Materials  Engineering with extensive packaging experience
• 15+ years experience in similar R&D role in world class fast moving consumer goods e.g. personal care/cosmetics, food/beverage, household products and/or OTC pharmaceutical
• Diverse and extensive understanding of consumer package and industrial design technologies
• Experienced with globally standard designs and developing the specifications necessary to execute those designs with quality
• Proven track record of developing and launching new, innovative, and business building packages in aggressive timeframes
• Excellent leadership, communication and influencing skills in a complex and matrix environment
• Entrepreneurial spirit, strong sense of urgency & drive, results-oriented
• Ability to realize a vision by inspiring others
• Strong competencies in leading diverse disciplines in a team and matrix environment to deliver outcomes
• Able to interact effectively with the most senior levels of management both internally and externally

It order to capitalize on the tremendous opportunities that exist within the company, the candidate must be a multitalented leader in the following three dimensions.

• Technically Competent; having been through the battles of the ranks and successfully dug through the details necessary to build the strong technical foundation we need.
• Strategic; will have needed to grow beyond just technical competence to someone who can envision what the future should be and how to take a competent, but young organization and make them productive within the total R&D and marketing environment.
• Organizationally Savvy; be able to influence the cross functional partners within the enterprise, through excellent communication skills, and develop the organization that they lead.

 Critical Competencies for Success

• Technical Expertise/ Package Development
• Strategic Agility (Planning)
• Innovation Management
• Directing and Developing Others
• Organizational/Cross-functional Leadership (Courage)
• Energy & Drive
• Global Business Acumen
• Influencing/Interpersonal Savvy (Broad Collaboration)

If you or anyone you know are qualified and meet the requirements outlined in this executive summary, please contact:  Hunt Executive Search, Inc. at research@huntsearch.com