Packaging Governance Manager

A Day in the Life:

In the position of Packaging Governance Manager, you will ensure all packaging and product specifications are accurate, compliant, scalable, and aligned with business, regulatory, and sustainability requirements. Partner with Product Development, Packaging Engineering, Procurement, Quality, Sustainability, and Supply Chain teams as packaging complexity grows. Govern the specification processes across the full product lifecycle—from concept through commercialization and ongoing maintenance—driving standardization, continuous improvement, and data integrity by ensuring specifications are reliable, accessible, and fit for purpose and improve efficiency, reduce risk, and support innovation and procurement.

The Impact You'll Make:

• Specification Governance and Lifecycle Management: Own the full lifecycle of packaging and product specifications—from creation and approval to change control and archival.
• Maintain accurate, current, and consistent specifications across systems and teams. Establish and enforce standards, templates, and best practices.
• Build data structures linking specifications to drawings, dyelines, images, test reports, validations, and commercialization records. Collaborate with IT/Digital Transformation on system enhancements, role-based access, and integration.
• Maintain classification and standards for polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, closures/finishes, corrugates, trays, carriers, and pallet patterns. Ensure specifications fully define Critical to Quality characteristics (CTQs), materials, performance limits, test methods, and applicability by plant/vendor/line.
• Lead specification governance councils, including change control, deviations, and waivers.
• SAP Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) System and Workflow Management: Own and improve packaging specification processes across PLM/SAP/Spec Management platforms, including creation, harmonization, migration, and lifecycle governance.
• With Tech Ops Project Management Office (PMO), design and maintain the SAP PLM data model and workflows for new development, changes, and qualifications.
• Data Quality, Readiness, and Reuse: Organize specification families and platform libraries to drive reuse and accelerate development. Maintain a capabilities catalog (plants, lines, material constraints) to enable early compatibility checks.
• Cross Functional Leadership and Collaboration: Partners with Product Development, Engineering, Procurement, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, and Marketing to align specifications with business needs. Serve as the point of accountability for specification decisions and issue resolution. Translate technical and regulatory requirements into clear, actionable specifications.
• Cross Functional Enablement and Training: Train Packaging, Engineering, Quality, and Procurement teams on spec authoring, attachments, applicability mapping, and workflow best practices. Publish how to guides and deliver targeted training to improve adoption and data discipline.
• Regulatory, Quality, and Sustainability Compliance: Own internal Can Lacquer Compatibility Program in collaboration with Packaging Development, Quality Assurance (QA), and Quality Control (QC) as well as can companies to validate and verify future lacquers.
• Collaboration with Risk Management and Legal to manage sustainability projects with vendors, and procurement. Ensure specifications meet regulatory, food contact, and material compliance requirements. Integrate sustainability considerations (recyclability, material reduction, and environmental impact) into specifications. Monitor evolving regulations and proactively assess impacts on existing specifications.
• Cost, Risk, and Material Optimization: Partner with Procurement and suppliers to evaluate material and format alternatives balancing cost, quality, and performance. Support cost reduction and value engineering initiatives through spec standardization and optimization. Identify and mitigate risks tied to material changes, supplier variability, and specification gaps.
• Data Management and Technology Enablement: Serve as business owner for specification management systems and packaging data and project management tools. Ensure data accuracy, governance, and usability across digital platforms.
  Partner with IT and vendors to improve system functionality, reporting, and integration.
• Continuous Improvement and Capability Building: Identify process inefficiencies and lead workflow improvements. Develop training and guidance to enhance spec discipline and data quality. Track and report Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) on specification accuracy, cycle time, compliance, and change management.
  
  

Who You Are:

• Bachelor's Degree in the field of Packaging, Mechanical, Industrial, Chemical, or related field of study.
• 5+ years of experience in Product Development, Spec Governance
• 3-5 years of experience in Project Management
• Experience with Smartsheet, Microsoft PM or other project management system. SAP experience preferred. Preferred Certifications: Project Management Professional (PMP) preferred
  
  

For United States applicants:
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
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