Great Lakes Cheese: Engineering Innovation Manager

Job OverviewThe Engineering Innovation Manager will work closely with the sales, marketing, and product development groups and will manage projects that drive higher sales and growth.

The Engineering Innovation Manager will be a key bridge between the sales and engineering teams and will be focused on innovation projects that involve new or changing product/packaging.

The Engineering Innovation Manager will also manage the packaging design lab and oversee use and maintenance of the equipment in the lab, including but not limited to the Kongsberg Cutting Table and Stratasys 3D Printer.Job ResponsibilitiesManage and operate Design Lab Equipment including Stratasys 3D Printer and Kongsberg CAD Table.Research innovations in product and packaging cheese and meat industry and gather info on how/where these changes are being made.Collaborate with the Sales & Marketing teams to leadfeasibility studies for new products.

Oversee special SKU Projects.

Work cross-functionally to ensure performance, product quality, and packaging capability goals are met.

Support sales customer visits and develop presentations to highlight new product and/or packaging capabilities.Plan, execute, and analyze plant/pilot plant/lab trials.

Prepare and present results of technical report to leadership team.

Establish strong working relationship with key suppliers and facilitate project updates with suppliers.

Work with packaging material and equipment vendors to identify new opportunities for value added product and packaging changes.Evaluate, research, and develop new/alternate materials, process methods, equipment and technologies.

Set-up and/or design for new products/packages for customers and producing plants.

Provide operating guidelines and parameters for all packaging run conditions.

Up to 50% of travel.All GLC employees are expected to perform any assignment or job task according to the stated safety policies and procedures.

All GLC employees are expected to produce our products in a manner that exceeds the quality and value expectation of our customers and consumers by adhering to Good Manufacturing Practices, Policies and Procedures outlined in our Safe Quality Food Program.

Other responsibilities as assigned by the manager.

Required Education And ExperienceBachelor’s Degree in Packaging or Mechanical Engineering from an accredited institution.

Minimum 7 years of Packaging Engineering experience.

Strong Capital Project Management Skills.

AutoCAD Proficient.

Must be legally authorized to work for a company in the U.S.

without sponsorship.

Preferred Education And ExperiencePackage commercialization.

Strong Capital Project Management Skills.Ability to attend customer visits to support the sales/marketing team.

Strong written and verbal communications.Knowledge of food packaging, preferably cheese or meat.

Ability to communicate with packaging material suppliers, packaging equipment manufacturers, and co-packers.Food/dairy industry.

Flexible Packaging, Rigid Packaging, MAP equipment, Corrugated Packaging, Sustainability.

SAP experience.MES experience.OSHA 10hr Safety Certification.Working Conditions Occasional exposure to industrial operations including: temperature extremes from approximately 35ºF to 100ºF; noise levels in excess of 85 dB; moisture and moving machinery.

While the majority of the tasks will be conducted on first shift, candidates must be prepared to provide support on all shifts, particularly for training-related items.

Work is mainly performed in an office setting, with some time spent in a manufacturing environmentEEOC & DisclaimerGreat Lakes Cheese is an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer