Flagstone Foods:

At Flagstone Foods, we believe appreciation grows goodness. We have an appreciation for our customers, our employees, and the communities in which we live. Appreciation is our main ingredient!

Headquartered in the North Loop of Minneapolis with plants in Robersonville, North Carolina, El Paso, Texas, and Dothan, Alabama, we are one of North America’s largest manufacturers and distributors of “feel good snacks,” like flavorful snack nuts, innovative trail mixes and wholesome dried fruits…and we are adding to our team! We hire creative, thoughtful, and entrepreneurial team members. If you share our enthusiasm and appreciation for goodness, you too may find a home with Flagstone Foods.

POSITION: Packaging Engineering Manager

REPORTS TO: Director, Research & Development

Position Summary

Responsible for the direction and management of the packaging engineering department. This role is responsible for leading multiple projects and managing activities of supporting teams and internal development partners and overseeing implementation of projects. The role applies advanced packaging knowledge to solve complex business and technical issues and leverages it to drive innovation and technology integration. The role manages project activities, develops schedules, budgets and resource plans, tracks progress against the established plans and drives best practices while leading packaging engineering team members.

Essential Functions

• Provides leadership and strategic vision for the packaging engineering function.
• Leads and develops team members, providing coaching as needed, both technical and project management.
• Conceptualizes and delivers complete packaging solutions that drive competitive advantage, top-line wins, operational efficiency, and margin improvements.
• Works autonomously or as part of a cross-functional project team to perform complex, high-profile technical assignments under general direction (overall objective achievement).
• Provides technical packaging leadership and subject matter expertise on business initiatives from early concept development through successful commercialization; partners effectively with internal teams (Marketing, Operations, Procurement, Regulatory, Quality and Supply Chain), suppliers and equipment manufacturers.
• Leads, coordinates, or oversees internal and external manufacturing trials and start-ups and provides ongoing technical service to internal and external customers.
• Champions ongoing improvements to function-specific tools and processes, including packaging specification management, in support of company growth objectives.
• Manages both internal and external resources and priorities to meet department and company objectives.
• Influences project direction and contributes to successful project outcomes by providing technical input into the planning and decision-making process.
• Identifies and resolves technical conflicts, including resources, to ensure projects meet or exceed expectations.
• Independently determines and develops technical approach to solutions on product development teams.
• Responsible for issuing and maintaining accurate component packaging specifications, die lines, and finished goods packaging specifications; establishes in-process control points, testing requirements and operating guidelines.
• Continuously seeks out new packaging trends and technologies and is a key contributor to the company’s innovation pipeline development.
• Effectively communicates complex technical information to stakeholders at all levels, in and outside the organization, with varying degrees of technical proficiency.
• Conducts all activities in compliance with established safety standards and Good Manufacturing Procedures (GMP).
• Performs other job-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications (Education/Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.
• At least 8 years of packaging engineering experience in food manufacturing; previous management experience.
• Broad-based technical proficiency and experience partnering with internal stakeholders and vendors to seamlessly implement packaging solutions.
• Expertise in food packaging processes and equipment and all commonly used materials including paperboard, corrugated, film and plastics.
• Proven track record of successfully leading packaging projects from concept to commercialization that drove meaningful top and bottom-line impact.
• Knowledge of shelf-life definition as it applies to packaging, seal integrity (COF, sealing thresholds, and sealing range).
• Knowledge of printing and label application processes
• Demonstrated understanding of capital procurement process. Capable of independently developing capital requests for equipment acquisition.
• Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office with advanced skills in Excel.
• Experience implementing or serving as the SME for a packaging specification management system.
• Competency in the following software preferred: AutoCAD and/or ArtiosCAD, TOPS and/or CAPE.
• Self-motivated, goal oriented, quality driven, and capable of working independently with little supervision.
• Ability to organize and manage multiple projects while maintaining a high attention to detail.
• Strong communication, interpersonal, influencing, and conflict resolution skills.
• Excellent technical trouble-shooting capabilities.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with a high degree of ambiguity.

Supervises

• Packaging Engineer
• Associate Packaging Engineer

Travel

• Up to 50%

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described within the Essential Functions section of this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform this job. Other duties or tasks may be assigned as required. Management may modify, change, or add to the duties of this description at any time without notice.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to:

• Communicate with others both verbally and in writing.
• Be independently mobile.
• Use a computer and keyboard.

FLSA Designation : This position is Salaried Exempt and is not eligible for overtime.

Work Location: Minneapolis, MN

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin.