Director, R&D Operations and Innovation

Accelerate the possible by joining a winning Amcor team that’s transforming the packaging industry and improving lives around the world.

At Amcor, we unpack possibility through our innovative and responsible packaging to provide solutions that benefit our customers, our people and our planet.  More than 10,000 consumers worldwide encounter our products every second and rely on us for safe access to food, medicine and other goods. We value their trust by making safety our guiding principle. It’s our core value and integral to how we do business.

Beyond this core principle, our shared values and behaviors unite us as we work together to elevate customers, shape lives and protect the future. We champion our customers and help them succeed. We play to win – adapting quickly in an everchanging world – and make smart choices to safeguard our business, our communities and the people we serve for generations to come. And we invest in our world-class team, empowering our colleagues to unpack their potential, because we believe when our people grow, so does our business.

To learn more about playing for Team Amcor, visit www.amcor.com I LinkedIn I Glassdoor I Facebook  I YouTube

Job Description

At Amcor, innovation is at the center of how we create value for customers and drive sustainable growth. As Director, R&D Operations and Innovation, you will play a key leadership role in shaping and advancing our global innovation agenda.

In this role, you will lead the development and execution of differentiated technologies, products, and capabilities that strengthen Amcor's competitive position. Working across R&D, commercial, marketing, operations, and business teams, you will identify opportunities, translate market and customer needs into actionable innovation strategies, and guide programs from concept through commercialization.

You will help create alignment across regions, build organizational capability, and establish the processes, tools, and governance needed to deliver innovation efficiently and consistently. This role combines strategic leadership, technical expertise, and business acumen to accelerate growth, improve performance, and deliver value for customers worldwide.

What You'll Do

Strategy, Portfolio Management & R&D Operations

• Partner with technical, commercial, and business leaders to define and execute a global R&D operations strategy aligned to growth priorities and customer needs.
• Balance short-, medium-, and long-term innovation investments through effective portfolio management and prioritization.
• Establish clear objectives, resource plans, and operating rhythms that advance both innovation and business goals.
• Drive continuous improvement across R&D processes, capabilities, and ways of working.

Innovation, Technology Development & Commercialization

• Lead the development and commercialization of new technologies, materials, products, and platforms that create customer value and support business growth.
• Translate customer, consumer, and market insights into technology roadmaps, development priorities, and business cases.
• Leverage existing technologies, best practices, and global expertise to accelerate speed-to-market and improve commercialization success.
• Guide innovation programs from concept through launch while supporting effective transitions into business ownership and ongoing operations.

Governance, Tools & Business Performance

• Develop and implement processes, tools, metrics, dashboards, and governance frameworks that improve visibility, decision-making, and execution.
• Monitor portfolio and project performance, ensuring initiatives remain aligned with strategic objectives and business outcomes.
• Promote data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement across the organization.
• Strengthen quality, knowledge-sharing, and feedback mechanisms to improve technical and operational effectiveness.

Cross-Functional & External Collaboration

• Serve as a trusted technical and business partner across marketing, commercial, operations, procurement, and R&D teams.
• Collaborate with customers, suppliers, universities, research institutions, and technology partners to identify and advance emerging opportunities.
• Represent the organization in customer and partner interactions, helping address technical challenges and support business objectives.
• Foster strong collaboration across regions to share expertise, capabilities, and best practices.

Global Leadership & Capability Building

• Participate as a member of the Global R&D extended leadership team, helping shape innovation priorities and long-term capability strategies.
• Lead the global R&D Operations team and provide matrix leadership across regional and business-group R&D organizations.
• Build high-performing teams by developing talent, encouraging collaboration, and creating opportunities for growth.
• Champion a culture of innovation, accountability, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing.

Financial & Resource Leadership

• Manage budgets, resources, and investments to ensure alignment with the highest-value business and innovation priorities.
• Evaluate trade-offs and allocate resources effectively across innovation, commercialization, operational support, and continuous improvement activities.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Packaging, Chemistry, Polymer Science, or a related technical field required.
• Advanced technical degree and/or MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in R&D, product development, innovation, engineering, or technical operations within a manufacturing, industrial, packaging, consumer goods, or related environment.
• Up to 50% travel.
• Experience leading global or multi-regional technical teams, including direct team leadership and matrix leadership across functions and business groups.
• Demonstrated success developing and commercializing innovative products, technologies, processes, or platforms that deliver measurable business results.
• Solid ability to connect customer, market, and business needs with technical strategies and execution plans.
• Experience managing budgets, resource allocation, and investment priorities across multiple initiatives.
• Working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies; certification preferred.
• Experience collaborating with external partners, including customers, suppliers, universities, research organizations, and technology providers.
• Solid communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively across technical and non-technical audiences.

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Our Expectations

We expect our people to be guided by The Amcor Way and demonstrate our Values every day to enable the business to win. We are winning when:

• Our people are engaged and developing as part of a high-performing Amcor team
• Our customers grow and prosper from Amcor’s quality, service, and innovation
• Our investors benefit from Amcor’s consistent growth and superior returns
• The environment is better off because of Amcor’s leadership and products

Equal Opportunity Employer/Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

Amcor is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

If you would like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please click on the "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal" Poster. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please call 224-313-7000 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

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Benefits

When you join Amcor, you will have access to a comprehensive benefits and compensation package that includes:

• Medical, dental and vision plans

• Flexible time off, starting at 80 hours paid time per year for full-time salaried employees

• Company-paid holidays starting at 8 days per year and may vary by location

• Wellbeing program & Employee Assistance Program

• Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account

• Life insurance, AD&D, short-term & long-term disability, and voluntary benefits

• Paid Parental Leave

• Retirement Savings Plan with company match

• Tuition Reimbursement (dependent upon approval)

• Discretionary annual bonus program (initial eligibility dependent upon hire date)