Senior Engineer, Packaging Development & Supply Chain Operations (IMEA) Job Details | Morgan Street Holdings

tms is a global company that combines technology, marketing, and sourcing to transform leading brands. They are looking for a Senior Engineer in Packaging Development and Supply Chain Operations to lead packaging technology solutions and supply chain operations in the IMEA region, focusing on strategic supplier partnerships and project management.

Responsibilities:

• Manage strategic and tactical programs including defining program objectives, action plans, target dates, and effective project/task prioritization. Assure supplier understanding of and delivery of key program deliverables on a timely basis. Execute testing, commercialization and implementation plans to ensure the product meets customer requirements
• Provide packaging development support and expertise in-line with the needs and expectations identified by tms customers; solutions should include a balance of innovation, sustainability, risk management, benefit and cost
• Interface with various customer departments, including operations, culinary, supply chain, and marketing, to identify customer needs and focus on speed-to-market solutions
• Coordinate packaging testing, including those at supplier facilities and at customer facilities, such as test kitchens, in-store testing, and any outside 3rd party test labs, to validate the performance of the package against operational and consumer criteria
• Provide customer's and tms program leaders with ongoing project communication, status updates, and support necessary to deliver against the customer's expectations
• Interface directly with customer gatekeepers including formal presentations and positioning new product initiatives. Develop business case recommendations; present the recommendations to customer gatekeepers for concurrence/approvals
• Fully leverage supplier capabilities and technical specialists that deliver results effectively and in a timely manner. Participate in supplier review meetings to provide feedback on supplier performance
• Execute commercialization plans to ensure the product meets customer requirements and is transitioned to a continuous supply item
• Develop and maintain packaging specifications within the designated specification system
• Responsible for developing and maintaining knowledge of critical consumer and operational issues as well as key packaging technologies relevant to QSR packaging and specific customer business priorities
• Responsible for recommending creative solutions with an appropriate balance of innovation, risk management, assured supply, speed and cost
• Develop an understanding of relevant packaging issues and legislation, for use in the development process
• This role will manage the packaging development work for India, Middle East and Africa region (IMEA)
• Lead and execute Supplier Relationship Management programs across the supplier base in the defined region with a primary focus on strategic and some critical supplier relationships
• Strategic management of suppliers that results in a supply base that delivers uninterrupted supply of product to the system at a level of quality, innovation, and cost, consistent with the customer’s standards and expectations
• Execute the STEP program and manage supplier performance against defined metrics and ensure that suppliers are demonstrating continuous improvement in both the outlined foundational business requirements as well as transformational business strategies
• Regularly engage with the STEP SMEs to ensure that its defined regional priorities are reflected in the global framework
• Understand regional trends (sustainability, compliance, etc) and deliver value creation through the STEP program and other strategic initiatives such as the Global Resilience framework
• Conduct supplier meetings as defined by the supplier engagement framework including business reviews, joint business planning sessions and performance management reviews
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders by providing strategic input in the execution of packaging supply chain activities including development of category strategies, new product development and commercialization, supplier selection, risk management, etc
• Execute supplier strategies against the product category roadmaps to meet overall category needs and the customer’s long term business objectives
• Ensure that regional perspective is embedded in global supplier relationships
• Serve as the escalation point for suppliers with internal stakeholders (escalation drivers can include supply assurance, pricing negotiations, quality issues, project commercialization issues, etc.) and externally with McDonald’s
• Actively engage with internal stakeholders during the Source to Contract process to deliver against defined objectives. Serve as escalation and problem solver for supplier negotiations and the contract management process
• Lead supplier engagement for supplier investment strategies related to product roadmaps and long-term innovation
• Execute the supplier segmentation process cross-functionally to define supplier tiers on a pre-defined periodic basis
• Manage local supplier relationships and expectations even if the supplier has a global footprint
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders on the development and introduction of Supplier Diversity goals in the APMEA region
• Strategic management of suppliers that results in a supply base that delivers uninterrupted supply of core and promotional product to the system at a level of quality, innovation, and cost, consistent with the customer’s standards and expectations
• Manage supplier performance against defined metrics and ensure that suppliers are demonstrating continuous improvement in both the outlined foundational business requirements as well as transformational business strategies
• Manage raw material and risk management aspects of the packaging supply chain both at strategic level, supply contingency and pricing fluctuations
• Manage execution of supplier contract management in partnership with the central Procurement Services teams

Requirements:

• at least 5 years of experience in Packaging Technology, Supply Chain, or Procurement, ideally within the Foods FMCG or Packaging Manufacturing industry
• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering (Packaging/Mechanical), Supply Chain, or a related technical discipline
• Experience in a matrix, regional, or cross-cultural environment, with the ability to work independently under minimal supervision
• Deep technical knowledge of packaging materials, structures, conversion processes, and substrates
• "Hands-on" experience with packaging trials, commercialization, and specification management (technical documentation)
• Strong capability in supplier relationship management, negotiation, and working with suppliers on technology platforms
• Ability to materialize abstract ideas into long-term strategies; strong exposure to sustainability, compliance, and risk management
• Capable of identifying and implementing continuous process improvements to drive efficiency and cost savings
• Excellent organizational and multi-tasking skills with a strong execution mindset and a high attention to detail
• Clear communication and facilitation skills to influence both internal teams and external customers/suppliers
• Confident "solution seeker" with an analytical approach; able to maintain composure and drive consensus in high-pressure situations
• Highly motivated with a strong desire to achieve, a sense of urgency, and business/financial acumen
• Skilled in Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams)