The Role:
The Senior Manager, Packaging & Sourcing will be responsible for leading primary packaging innovation, sourcing, development, and execution to market for the entire Milk Makeup product pipeline/portfolio across all beauty categories. This individual will establish and execute the company’s overall strategies to drive package-related innovation in new product development, the redesign/upgrade of existing products, sustainability, as well as productivity initiatives. As the leader of the packaging function, this individual role will leverage their engineering skills and creative thinking in identifying and developing package solutions that meet project/business needs, striking a balance of being innovative, timely, cost efficient and environmentally conscious. This person must work within multi-functional teams to develop new products to market as quickly as possible, managing the creative and marketing inputs as well as supply chain requirements for cost, quality and supplier responsiveness, all within a managed timeline and cost objective.
This role will represent primary packaging in cross-functional initiatives taking projects from conception to post-commercialization, working closely with Product Development, Marketing, Creative, Merchandising, Regulatory Affairs, Production, third party manufacturers and testing labs, etc. and will report into the SVP of Product Development and Packaging.
How You’ll THRIVE:
- Responsible for establishing, driving, and executing Milk Makeup’s overall strategy for primary packaging innovation, sourcing, custom packaging development, redesign, cost efficiency, sustainability, testing, productivity, and reorder quantity qualification.
- Responsible for leading, developing, and executing primary packaging initiatives across all beauty categories from ideation to market for Milk Makeup and delivering within specified budgets and timelines.
- Drive projects with full ownership both externally and with internal cross-functional parties to ensure all steps of the timeline are met
- Leads all primary packaging inquiries, sourcing initiatives, project start-ups, price quote requests, and identifying time lines, etc. with suppliers
- Own costing budget for primary packaging as it is related to the COG per product
- Responsible for acquiring price quotes for all custom primary packaging tooling, lab testing, primary packaging, samples, models etc.
- Responsible for creating primary packaging briefs stating decoration specs, price target, quantity, performance specs, photo for reference, competitive benchmarks for reference, design description to send to all suppliers for sourcing
- Leads repackaging design, improvement, testing and sustainability development initiatives
- Responsible for passing primary packaging price quotes, testing invoices etc. to Head of Purchasing in order to send purchase orders within project time line along with specified quantity, timing, and product information
- Monitors and leverages emerging technology/consumer/market trends in the packaging space, staying ahead of competition
- Attends packaging trade shows to meet with new suppliers and review new packaging innovation and technologies
- Researches innovative suppliers and their offerings that align with our new product pipeline
- Cultivates strong partnerships with suppliers to consistently review new packaging innovation technology, formats, improvements in functionality, cost efficiencies, timing efficiencies, and sustainability to stay ahead of competition.
- Responsible for sourcing multiple viable, innovative, sustainable primary packaging options for all product concepts in the Milk Makeup product pipeline to review with/present to Product Development and Product Design that are within budget, timeline, and MOQ/reorder requirements
- Initiate and lead monthly packaging innovation meetings with Product Design and Product Development teams to show new vendor presentations to drive inspiration for new formats, technologies, sustainability etc. as well as sharing new product launches or competitive packaging inspiration that relates to the Milk Makeup product pipe line.
- Seek out and translate consumer insights into product/package requirements. Develop packaging that aims to deliver an optimal user experience
- Work cross-functionally with Product Development, Product Design, Production, Project Management, Merchandising, Regulatory, and Marketing teams to define packaging function and design requirements as well as objectives.
- Responsible for ensuring the function and optimal user experience of all primary packaging with formula after reviewing formula requirements with Product Development
- Guide the seamless delivery of all key packaging milestones for core initiatives communicating timely status updates with peers, project leads, and management.
- Responsible for driving and providing deadlines for primary packaging creation/artwork to Product Design and Project Management and review/approval meetings with lead management to stay within project time lines.
- Shows initiative, creativity, and resourcefulness to come up with solutions to issues that may arise during package & product development, as well as develop mitigation & contingency plans in anticipation of technical challenges which may take place in manufacturing, filling and assembly, and make appropriate recommendations to management.
- Lead the process to identify critical quality attributes, establish critical process parameters, develop test methods, analyze data, document results, and report insights
- Responsible for routing primary artwork to suppliers per launch timeline after review approval from Product Design, Product Development, and Regulatory teams within timeline
- Review and approve mechanical and vendor proof artwork from a die-line, color call out and print technology perspective, as well as a copy (product name, weight claim, distrib. etc) perspective upon receipt from vendor
- Send feedback and/or comments/approval upon receipt
- Send color target information or competitive references to the appropriate suppliers for matching when necessary
- Review and approve pre-production samples with Product Design and Product Development upon receipt from vendor
- Send feedback and/or comments/approval upon receipt
- Review and approve all technical drawings for custom tooling, aesthetics, feel, function, assembly, materials, pull force, torque force, closures, propel/repel etc. with Product Design, Product Development, and third party manufacturers within timeline
- Provide approvals or directional comments on drawings, proofs, T samples, SLA models, PPS to each supplier within timeline
- Responsible for attending on-site tooling or packaging deco approvals when necessary to keep within project timelines.
- Responsible for reviewing range boards for primary packaging with product design and communicating unacceptable/acceptable defects etc to suppliers within timeline. Keeping sets for standards/reference.
- Create and maintain sourcing library for all types of primary packaging across all makeup and skin care categories to pull from for new projects, for references, etc.
- Manage supplier changes, color/finish/texture changes, and primary artwork updates/changes
- Responsible for ensuring manufacturer can fill primary component at start of product concept initiation
- Responsible for providing primary components to filling manufacturer for compatibility testing, fill weight, aesthetic fill function and approval, as well as other required testing per formula specs
- Responsible for identifying any tooling needed and cost associated in order to fill at third party manufacturer within the COG
- Attend all packaging line trials, plant runs, and start of productions at filling manufacturers. Conduct technical assessments at vendor and third-party manufacturer sites.
- Identify any defects and set range boards and communicate to PD and Production teams
- Take report of defects
- Identify the relevant test methods (components & finished goods) and conduct Packaging lab testing, data validations and reporting
- Responsible for managing all packaging testing with third party vendors such as light testing, leak/vac testing, compatibility testing, drop testing, evacuation testing, air-tight testing, material validation, transit testing etc.
- Responsible for completing transit testing for both individual dot com shipments and filled master shippers with third party manufacturers for each new product launch
- Work cross-functionally with the secondary packaging team to cohesively and simultaneously develop functional secondary packaging for all Milk Makeup products
- Responsible for secondary package development for all turnkey projects
- Work cross-functionally with Project Management and Merchandising to ensure samples are given for in-store fixture or gondola development
- Work cross functionally with Product Development to ensure comp samples can be made for all retailer product meetings and needs. As well as PR and Creative photo shoot needs.
- Work cross functionally with Product Development to develop and execute promotional sampler packette projects
