Manager - Packaging Design

Circular Action Alliance is hiring a Packaging Design Manager to connect regulatory packaging requirements, materials strategy, and producer design initiatives. The role develops practical packaging guidance, prepares technical regulatory submissions, and supports strategies for reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting.

Responsibilities:

• Develop tools, guidance and other beneficial resources that translate regulatory and materials management objectives into practical packaging design actions, and that support regulatory compliance, circular economy objectives, and alignment across multiple EPR jurisdictions
• Prepare regulatory submissions on technical matters (such as comments on regulatory/legislative proposals, applications for exemptions, and appeals for rule or regulatory changes to existing programs)
• Provide technical input into state-level program plans
• Monitor and evaluate evolving packaging design standards from a producer perspective, identifying trends, innovations, and best practices to inform program strategy and producer guidance
• Support the development and implementation of holistic material reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting material strategies
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure packaging design considerations are integrated into broader materials management, recycling, and stewardship strategies, including strong end market and demand solutions
• Contribute to the creation, review, and continuous improvement of eco-design tools including but not limited to eco-modulated bonus and malus incentive mechanisms
• Engage packaging designers, producers, and other industry interest holders to promote adoption of eco-design best practices and understand and respond to evolving eco-design expectations and requirements
• Other job-related duties as assigned

Requirements:

• Strong understanding of the role of packaging design in driving environmental outcomes and enabling efficient and productive recycling systems (collection, sorting, reclamation and conversion)
• Strong understanding of producer performance requirements for product packaging including product protection and use, shelf life, branding, marketing and merchandising
• Experience developing and implementing packaging sustainability solutions including initiatives focused on recyclability, source reduction, reuse, material transitions, and circular economy outcomes
• Ability to engage and collaborate with cross-functional teams and external stakeholders, including packaging designers, producers, and recyclers to advance adoption of eco-design best practices
• Robust knowledge of packaging materials, covered material categories, and chemicals of concern
• Understanding of recycling systems and end-market considerations with the ability to translate technical requirements into practical design guidance
• Familiarity with industry eco-design standards (e.g., reusability/recyclability/compost-ability standards) and emerging sustainability trends
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to evaluate design tradeoffs across environmental, operational, regulatory, and market considerations
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail, including the ability to develop, review, and maintain technically accurate guidance and program materials
• Bachelor's degree in Materials Science, Materials Engineering, or equivalent experience
• 5+ years of experience in sustainable packaging, material design and engineering, material strategy, or circular economy roles