[US DC] Associate Director, Packaging

Associate Director, Packaging Science

Function: Packaging Science / Supply Chain / Food Safety/Engineering

Reports to: VP of Engineering and Automation, Hellofresh

Location: Multiple

Role Purpose:

The Associate Director, Packaging Science will provide technical leadership for the development, qualification, specification, and continuous improvement of packaging systems used to safely and efficiently deliver fresh food to consumers.

This role sits at the intersection of packaging engineering, food safety, cold-chain management, product quality, logistics, operations, and supplier technical management. The position will establish and maintain packaging and distribution specifications that protect food quality and safety throughout the delivery network while balancing cost, sustainability, manufacturability, customer experience, and operational performance.

The Associate Director will serve as a technical authority for temperature-controlled food.

You Will...

• Own the technical framework and specifications for packaging systems used to ship perishable food from fulfillment through the customer's doorstep.
• Establish and maintain packaging standards, technical specifications, drawings, performance requirements, qualification protocols, and acceptance criteria.
• Define and validate thermal requirements for insulated shippers, liners, refrigerants, and packaging configurations across seasonal, geographic, and worst-case conditions.
• Lead packaging qualification and validation programs spanning laboratory testing, pilot shipments, real-world distribution trials, commercialization, and post-launch validation.
• Partner with Food Safety and Quality to prevent contamination, leakage, temperature excursions, product damage, tampering, and loss of product integrity.
• Lead the development and commercialization of innovative packaging solutions, including sustainable insulation, reduced-material systems, recyclable/reusable packaging, improved moisture management, leak resistance, and enhanced dimensional efficiency.
• Establish supplier technical requirements, qualification processes, performance expectations, scorecards, and change-control procedures.
• Partner with Operations, Engineering, Logistics, Procurement, Sustainability, R&D, and Customer Experience to translate technical requirements into scalable and practical solutions.
• Develop technical governance systems, including packaging risk assessments, distribution test standards, failure/RCA procedures, seasonal validation programs, and packaging performance dashboards.
• Drive continuous improvement by using performance, temperature, quality, operational, financial, and sustainability data to improve packaging reliability, cost, efficiency, and customer experience.

You Have...

• 8 - 12+ years of relevant experience in packaging, packaging science/engineering, food manufacturing, cold chain, CPG, or a related technical environment.
• A bachelor’s degree in Packaging Science, Packaging Engineering, Food Science, Materials Science, or a related technical discipline; an advanced degree is preferred.
• Deep expertise in packaging materials and structures, including corrugated, paperboard, flexible packaging, films, laminates, insulation, seals, and primary/secondary packaging.
• Strong knowledge of temperature-controlled distribution, heat transfer, thermal testing, refrigerants/phase-change materials, insulated shipping systems, and time-temperature profiles.
• Demonstrated experience developing packaging specifications, technical standards, qualification protocols, test methods, and acceptance criteria.
• Experience with packaging qualification and distribution testing, including thermal, compression, vibration, drop, puncture, leak, seal, moisture, and environmental testing.
• Experience partnering with packaging suppliers and contract manufacturers on specifications, technical assessments, material changes, performance issues, and quality expectations.
• Experience working cross-functionally with Food Safety, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, Logistics, Procurement, Engineering, Sustainability, and other technical teams.
• Strong analytical, experimental design, risk assessment, data analysis, and root-cause problem-solving capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex technical requirements into scalable, practical solutions for high-volume food fulfillment and distribution environments.

You Are...

• A technical leader who can establish standards, governance, and strategy - not simply execute existing specifications.
• Data-driven and comfortable making technical recommendations based on objective performance and validation data.
• A systems thinker who understands how packaging, cold chain, food safety, logistics, operations, cost, sustainability, and customer experience intersect.
• A strong communicator who can translate complex packaging and thermal concepts into clear business and operational decisions.
• Collaborative and influential, with the ability to build alignment across functions and influence senior stakeholders without relying solely on direct authority.
• Curious and innovative, with an interest in developing new packaging solutions that improve performance, sustainability, efficiency, and the customer experience.
• Highly disciplined about food safety, product integrity, risk management, qualification, and change control.
• Comfortable operating in complex, variable environments where shipping duration, weather, geography, carriers, product characteristics, and operational conditions can change.
• A relationship builder who can establish trusted technical partnerships with suppliers, testing laboratories, industry organizations, and subject-matter experts.
• A people leader who can develop and mentor packaging scientists and engineers while building scalable technical capabilities for the organization.

You’ll get…

• Competitive hourly rate, 401K company match that vests immediately upon participation, & team bonus opportunities
• Generous PTO and flexible attendance policy
• Comprehensive health and wellness benefits with options at $0 monthly, effective first day of employment
• Up to 85% discount on subscriptions to HelloFresh meal plans (HelloFresh, Green Chef, Everyplate, and Factor_)
• Access to Employee Resource Groups that are open to all employees, including those pertaining to BIPOC, women, veterans, parents, and LGBTQ+
• Inclusive, collaborative, and dynamic work environment within a fast-paced, mission-driven company that is disrupting the traditional food supply chain

This job description is intended to provide a general overview of the responsibilities. However, the Company reserves the right to adjust, modify, or reassign work tasks and responsibilities as needed to meet changing business needs, operational requirements, or other factors.

Newark, NJ Pay Range$169,650-$230,550 USDIllinois Pay Range$158,600-$215,533 USD