The Senior Director of Packaging Engineering will lead the strategic vision and execution of packaging initiatives across the Simmons Enterprise. This role is pivotal in driving innovation, ensuring food safety and regulatory compliance, and delivering sustainable, cost-effective packaging solutions that enhance product integrity and consumer experience.

Essential Position Responsibilities - This is a salary exempt position.

Packaging Strategy & Innovation: Develop and implement packaging strategies that support brand growth, product protection, and shelf-life optimization for food and pet food products.

Operations & Process Optimization: Improve packaging line efficiency, reduce waste, and enhance throughput across manufacturing facilities. Involved in equipment selection and/or upgrades in collaboration with Operations and Engineering.

Innovation Leadership: Lead cross-functional innovation projects focused on new packaging formats, materials, and technologies tailored to food and pet food applications.

Sustainability Leadership: Champion sustainable packaging initiatives, including recyclable, compostable, and reduced-plastic solutions aligned with industry and consumer expectations.

Regulatory & Food Safety Compliance: Ensure packaging meets FDA, USDA, AAFCO, and other relevant food safety and labeling regulations.

Team & Cross-Functional Leadership: Manage and mentor a team of packaging engineers while collaborating with R&D, Operations, Marketing, Compliance, Sustainability, Procurement, and External Partners.

Cost Management & Supplier Strategy: Drive cost savings with Procurement through material optimization, supplier negotiations, and value engineering.

Participates as a member of the Team. Participates in the ongoing development, communication and implementation of team concepts, programs, and policies; coordinates work to ensure best practices with all team members. Attends appropriate team meetings. As a member of the Team, fosters strong cohesiveness regarding all major issues, e.g., direction, annual plan, budget, policy changes, etc. Accepts responsibility to quickly identify any areas that lack cohesiveness, bringing them to the attention of the team leader and working with the team in a supportive manner to resolve issues and actively look for ways, and reinforce actions needed, to achieve synergy possible within the larger organization.

Simmons Operating systems principles and objectives: Is familiar with Simmons’ established operating systems (e.g. quality, security, office environment, company policies, LEAN); understands the responsibility to maintain familiarity with the systems and this position’s role in support of these systems - including a consideration of the impact of individual actions on the systems and the responsibility to communicate concerns and improvement ideas.

Performs other duties as necessary in support of business objectives: This position description is intended to guide the activities of the person in this position and is not intended to limit the thinking and creativity of the person as to the work of this function nor is it intended that this describe all the work that may be required of the person in this position.

Physical Activities: Regular visits to manufacturing or packaging lines. Walking or standing for extended periods of time. Handling packaging prototypes, lifting, and manipulating packaging samples.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): As required by visiting facility.

Travel: Up to 50% of travel includes plant visits, remote offices, and supplier sites.

Technical Experience: Provide technical oversight with limited hands-on involvement in CAD and prototyping, especially for food-grade packaging. Operate at a high strategic level, influencing long-term packaging direction and innovation pipelines. Oversee scope, timelines, and execution of packaging development and commercialization projects. CAD software, PLM systems, and sustainability analysis tools. Deep knowledge of barrier materials, flexible and rigid packaging, and food-safe adhesives and inks. Strong leadership, communication, and project management skills. Familiarity with packaging validation, shelf-life testing, and transportation studies.

Industry Experience: 10+ years of experience in packaging roles within the food or pet food industry. Proven success in leading cross-functional teams and delivering packaging innovation

Minimum Education: Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Food Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related field or 4 years related experience.

Preferred Education: Master’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Food Science, Mechanical Engineering, or related field

We value military experience and welcome veterans to join our team.