Packaging Innovation Manager

You know our brands, The Laughing Cow, Babybel, Boursin, Kaukauna, Merkts and Price's, which elicit smiles across America. They are daring, responsible and deliver dairy goodness. As you imagine, this mindset is contagious Bel Brands USA is part of an international family company, which has led an ambitious growth strategy for 150 years and is today the world's third largest branded cheese company. If like our 12,000 employees globally, you want to have an impact in an entrepreneurial and demanding company, and share smiles around the world, dare to live the Bel experience Be you. Be ambitious. Be Bel. - Bel Brands USA has been named Chicago's "101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work For" for 10 years in a row. The company is headquartered in Chicago and operates three manufacturing plants in Little Chute, WI, Leitchfield, KY, and Brookings, SD._ **LOCATION AND DATE** Position within the Bel Group's Research, Innovation and Development team. Position ideally based in Suresnes or Vendôme. **MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES** **Regular activities**: - Leads and orchestrates key innovation projects aligned with our strategic pillars and our CSR KPI. - Lead technical development with internal and external stakeholders and drive delivery from early ideation to pilot machine, materials and market test. - Develop a packaging innovation ecosystem by identifying and qualifying new technologies, materials, and partners such as startups, suppliers, laboratories, and service providers - Build pack innovation capabilities : new method and tools to accelerate experimentation and reduce POC cost & time to market. Leverage emerging tools such as digital twin technology, AI-driven insights, and virtual simulations to streamline packaging experimentation and reduce risk during the concept development phase. - Act as a catalyst for innovative ideas, inspiring Brand teams and Markets to enhance our packaging while ensuring the right packaging solutions for the right product. - Ensure a regular scientific watch on packaging innovation, competitors and suppliers - Support building the Innovation/renovation pipeline for the Brands short and long term. - Contribute to the improvement of our packaging pilots’ capabilities (from concept generation, pack analysis and market test). - Be a Bel & RID pack ambassador by attending and speaking in industry events, conferences and school to support RID visibility, increase our network to support our roadmap delivery & attract talents. **Management / Coordination activities**: Team Management: Drive the team of 4 people to deliver innovation & CSR compliant packaging solution to ensure successful delivery while managing budgets effectively. Innovation Strategy: Animate workshop with RID, Marketing, strategic insights teams and partners to fuel the pipe aligned with the brands & group CSR strategy. Pack community animation via Pack live news organization and participation (sharing projects updates and innovation news, support resolution of other team challenges. Key performance indicators and impact on results (qualitative and quantitative) - CSR pack KPI for each project - Time to market - Conversion rate number of exploration versus product launch in market test. - Number of innovative concepts selected to be transformed in our portfolio **PROFILE** Required background and/or level of professional experience: - Minimum 10 years of experience in packaging development - People and cross functional team management - Food industries background preferably. **Required skills business / technical knowhow to perform in the job**: - Technical: packaging knowledge cardboard box, aluminum, plastics and the full value chain of packaging from sourcing to destruction (including recycling and sorting), packaging machine, food products & regulation knowledges will be good to have. - Ability to drive transformation, reduction of TTM, breakthrough innovation and collaboration - Connected to external packaging diverse ecosystems - Intellectual property management (Patent, Envelop soleau) - Project management **Required specific skills** - Change Management - Ability to challenge the status quo - Networking skills inside & outside - Good Communication skills and public speaking - Leadership in complex and matrixial environment - Good business acumen and results oriented - English fluent & French Bel Brands is an equal employment opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability status or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Bel Brands also prohibits harassment of applicants or employees based on any of these protected categories. It is also Bel Brand’s policy to comply with all applicable federal, state and local laws respecting consideration of unemployment status in making hiring decisio