Associate R&D Principal Packaging Engineer - E-Commerce Pet

COMPANY OVERVIEW We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best — bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one another and grow together. Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what’s next.​ 
 JOB OVERVIEW General Mills is seeking an E-Commerce Packaging Engineer in their Pet Segment Operating Unit. This role will have Packaging R&D accountability for iconic brands, including BLUE Buffalo and EdgardCooper. You will serve as the direct Packaging R&D business interface across these key brands to deliver the current plan and partner on growth strategies, and build packaging capability to enable the future growth for Pet. This role will coordinate across a talented team of technical leaders, execute against innovation growth ideas, core renovation levers, and advance our digital transformation capabilities for our e-commerce channel. This role will create and translate a Packaging modeling framework to help accelerate our flexible format across all of Pet with an emphasis on e-commerce. This responsibility spans across a large raw material cost of goods sold and requires strong activation and leadership to deliver against innovation and cost savings goals.  You will manage a portfolio of products through a complex manufacturing network, temperature states, and channels, providing opportunities to lead new ways of working with a variety of cross-functional partners. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES  Develop a flexible technology framework through new digital ways of working across the entire Pet portfolio. Act as a mentor to a high-performing team of packaging developers with diverse expertise across key materials, brands, and technical areas to deliver research and develop new products, cost savings, and core innovation plans and pipeline sufficiency  Support and activate a packaging strategy to unlock fewer and bigger end-to-end cost savings initiatives.  Drive key business initiatives to drive growth for our business in a variety of formats and business sectors, including e-commerce partnerships and non-traditional bag formats  Steer the activation of functional and business strategies by driving moments of truth levers, tapping into subject matter experts, external partners, and brand remarkability tools to drive a packaging growth agenda. Advance a Circular Future through business management and collaboration with central technology resources on new packaging material technologies to drive the advancement of Global Responsibility commitments for packaging sustainability.

Bachelor's Degree in Packaging Engineering or other related degree fields 5 years of packaging experience working in CPG packaging or other relevant industry, with 3+ years working on e-commerce packaging. Experience and technical acumen across a variety of packaging materials, including flexible films and thermal rigid plastics. Demonstrated knowledge of business processes and ability to develop relationships with cross-functional partners. Demonstrated strong people skills, strategic planning, and leadership skills Desire to challenge assumptions, identify new opportunities, and create new ways of working & capabilities. Effective communication skills to influence internal and external stakeholders PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS Takes accountability to win, has a bias for action, and can deliver results through others. Depth and experience in designing, qualifying, and commercializing dry pet food packaging across an array of size offerings for all channels. Mentoring and coaching others for growth. Experience in mentoring and developing other packaging engineers or team members. Comfortable navigating ambiguity and organizational complexity.