Scientist – Disruptive Innovation R&D

Scientist, Global Disruptive Innovation R&D - Packaging Development 

Are you ready for a challenging and unique type of Packaging R&D role? This position is a Scientist, Packaging Developer on the Global Disruption Innovation R&D team, where the individual will be challenged to immerse themselves with the consumer and develop new innovative food-based solutions. This individual will work with one to three small cross-functional teams (“pods”) where collaboration, trust, and ownership drive the team forward while engaging in the Agile @ Scale framework at Kraft Heinz.

As aScientist, you will be a critical part of the Build and In-Market Validation Phases of the project where promising disruptive concepts are brought to life. You will collaborate with the cross-functional Core Pod Team to understand the key design principles and guardrails to incorporate into the product design. Iterative development will begin with scrappy prototypes and benchtop experiments with promising solutions progressing through pilot plant and factory scale-up. While working with the R&D Technical Lead for sprint-to-sprint activities, the Package Developer will have a clear line of ownership and accountability for specific technical workstreams with significant influence over solution development. Success is measured by validating consumer behavior and quantitative metrics across Desirability, Feasibility, and Viability objectives and key results.

In addition to this Scientist’s technical contributions, they will also support cross-functional aspects of the project in areas related to consumer insights, marketing, and financial viability. 

What's on the menu?

• Collaborate with R&D Technical Lead to prioritize package development tasks

• Be the packaging “voice” on the team

• Elevate the consumer experience thru packaging 

• Lead execution of all aspects of package development (primary, secondary, tertiary, etc)

• Explore and evaluate potential suppliers and development partners

• Complete rapid prototyping and iterative solution development that achieve design principles

• Simultaneously lead multiple projects with complex scopes, demonstrating exceptional project management skills

• Manage technical timelines, communicate effectively, identify & address issues and risks, and develop contingency plans

• Innovate within Procurement, Legal, Food Safety and Quality project guardrails

• Scale promising solutions for plant trials and product launch

• Write detailed specifications to ensure consistent, high-quality products & maintain clear and comprehensive technical documentation.

• Embrace Agile ways of working and Agile @ Scale playbook, provide feedback on developing process

Recipe for Success - apply now if this sounds like you!

• Desire to learn and apply Agile Ways Of Working

• Demonstrated competency within the commercialization process, including multiple aspects of package development:  performance, distribution, & material testing, specification creation & determination, DSA, etc. Experience with multiple packaging formats/technologies preferred. (2+ years)

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Packaging, Chemical Engineering, Material Science, or related fields

• A solid background in Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG)/Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) industry or a comparable field, with Packaging expertise in a relevant category

• Strong drive for results, willingness to experiment, and values progress over perfection

• Comfortable operating with high levels of autonomy and complexity

• Outstanding prioritization and project management abilities

• Willingness to think and do things differently

• Growth mindset, model lifelong curiosity and learning

• Willingness to take risk

Experiences Gained in This Role

• Agile WOW: Design Thinking, Lean Startup, and Sprint frameworks

• Cross-functional partnership and collaboration

• Iterative solution development with consumer-based experimentation

• Creative problem solving and rapid prototype development

• Comfortable in being uncomfortable