About Tropicana Brands Group

The launch of Tropicana Brands Group represents an exciting fusion of some of the world's most beloved and up-and-coming brands in the juice category, including Tropicana, Naked, KeVita, Izze, Dole, Copella and Punica. Established in 2022 as a joint venture between PAI Partners and PepsiCo, our new company blends the best of two worlds: one steeped in industry-leading expertise and the heritage of prestige juice brands, and another rooted in a true entrepreneurial, agile mindset.

With a global footprint of more than 2,000 associates that spans North America and Europe, we are proud of our industry-leading capabilities in areas that include innovation, R&D, manufacturing, distribution, sales, marketing and nutrition expertise.

The company’s focused on the vision to quench the world's thirst for more delight and nourishment, while continuing to build upon the many important diversity, sustainability, local community and philanthropic activities that our people and brands have historically supported.

Key Responsibilities:

Tropicana Brands Group is looking for a highly qualified Principal Packaging Engineer to lead package innovation to ensure the company’s goals and initiatives are met. This role supports new product development teams as an integral team member, providing design development, qualification, and validation of new and/or improved packages for our chilled and ambient juice portfolios. The ideal candidate will be a critical thinker with exceptional communication, influencing, and relationship management skills who thrives in a fast-paced environment. 

At TBG R&D, we foster a safe space for entrepreneurial ideation, while also practicing radical candor and showing respect for what each R&D function brings to our organization. As a part of the nimble R&D team, you will be given opportunities to stretch, lead, and learn that many other larger organizations do not offer.

As a member of an entrepreneurial culture, the ideal candidate will possess an ownership mindset and a focus on the consumer. Comfort with ambiguity, a focus on agility, and appropriate risk-taking is a must. Strong R&D and cross-functional collaboration and communication skills required. If you are looking to act like an entrepreneur in a multibillion-dollar company with well-established and loved brands, TBG is the ideal place for you.

The position is based in Chicago, IL.

Additional responsibilities:

• Identify, evaluate, and develop packaging solutions that meet business, manufacturing, customer, and consumer needs.
• Maintain open communication and build strong relationships with internal & external teams from suppliers to cross functions.
• Innovative thinking and solution-oriented problem-solving skills. Knowledge of troubleshooting tools/techniques desired.
• Must demonstrate an ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial and consumer-driven environment.
• Leads as an active member of cross-functional business development teams comprised of individuals from a variety of disciplines, including Marketing, Purchasing, Engineering and other groups.
• Provide support to manufacturing teams during the implementation of commercialization activities and packaging changes.
• Outstanding teamwork, collaboration, communication, and leadership skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and manage risk in a fast-paced environment with ambiguity and change.
• Maintains and leverages external network of material and equipment vendors and co-manufacturing partners.
• Tackle ambiguous problems to determine and prioritize business strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to implement short- and long-term strategies to support organizational operation and transformation.
• Identifies and drives cost savings opportunities, looking both at individual component level as well as process improvements and manufacturing efficiency gains.
• Create "go to market" solutions that deliver product efficiently via multiple distribution platforms.
• Utilize innovative and critical thinking skills to design solutions to for organizational challenges.

Professional Experience / Qualifications:

• BS in Packaging Science/Engineering, Chemical or Mechanical Engineering or equivalent, advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 5-10 years' work experience within food/beverage packaging.
• 25% domestic travel
• Must have experience in the development and execution of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging materials and have knowledge of the interrelationship with equipment.
• Must have experience executing scale up activities; writing plant trial protocols, leading scale up trials at manufacturing sites, and completing trial reports with recommendations for manufacturing to deliver successful production of a finished good.
• Strong project management skills in developing project timelines with multiple cross-functional touchpoints.
• Must have strong conceptual, analytical, and technical skills with excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Proven track record in maintaining good working relationship with cross functional business partners (Marketing, Supply Chain, Sales, etc.)
• Nimble business mind with a focus on developing creative solutions.
• Highly organized with great attention to detail and able to adapt quickly to changing priorities and unexpected requests.
• Must be able to lift product cases unassisted at plant trials and prepare pallets for testing.
• Must be able to sit or work on foot for extended periods of time.

Benefits Overview:

TBG is pleased to offer you a comprehensive benefits package which includes medical, dental, vision, company provided life, STD and LTD insurance. In addition, you may also elect to participate in voluntary life, accident, hospital, and critical illness coverages. 

TBG offers a 401(k) plan administered through Fidelity which allows you to contribute pre- or post-tax dollars and invest as you choose to save for retirement. TBG makes employer matching contributions to your 401(k) account and will contribute 100% of the first 3% and an additional 50% of the next 2% for a total of a 4% company contribution.