Senior Packaging Specialist
Nestlé
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- Senior Packaging Specialist
- Foods you love. Brands you trust. And a career that empowers you to grow.
- At Nestlé USA, we’re all working towards the same goal – to delight and deliver for our consumers. With a rich portfolio of beloved brands, including DiGiorno, Toll House, and Coffee mate, in 97% of U.S. households, we have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to be there for every moment in our consumers’ lives.
- Joining Nestlé means becoming part of an inclusive workplace that inspires innovation, encourages strategic thinking and creativity, and celebrates your achievements. No matter where you work within the organization, you are empowered to challenge the status quo, embrace risk-taking, and pioneer new ideas. Our supportive and collaborative environment encourages bold ambitions and continuous learning so that everyone can grow and thrive.
- This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.
Position Summary
The Senior Packaging Specialist serves as a packaging equipment subject matter expert who applies deep technical expertise and structured problem-solving to improve packaging operations performance across the manufacturing network. The role is responsible for diagnosing complex equipment and process challenges, identifying and implementing sustainable solutions, and supporting the delivery of Nestlé's safety, quality, performance, innovation, cost, and sustainability objectives.
Working closely with factories, Engineering, Operations, Maintenance, R&D, Packaging, and external suppliers, the Senior Specialist provides technical knowledge for packaging equipment performance improvement, equipment selection and specification, industrialization, and capital projects. The role influences technical decisions, supports the development of standards and best practices, and ensures that successful solutions are translated into sustainable factory capability and scalable network learnings.
As a recognized technical resource in one or more packaging equipment technologies, the Senior Specialist coaches and develops others, builds strong relationships with equipment suppliers and industry partners, and continuously expands technical expertise. The position requires a hands-on approach, strong manufacturing experience, and the ability to deliver measurable business results while progressing toward Expert-level technical leadership.
Key Outputs and Deliverables:
Execute packaging performance improvement (40%)
- • Lead defined workstreams or smaller improvement engagements using the Identify-Fix-Sustain-Replicate method
- • Collect and validate performance data; build Pareto and loss analyses; support gemba observations; document current conditions; and apply structured root-cause tools.
- • Develop and execute action plans with factory teams, including machine restoration, centerlining, changeover optimization, operating standards, maintenance improvements, and training.
- • Track results against agreed baselines and success criteria for OEE, eUPS/unplanned stops, technical downtime, waste/MUV, throughput, M&I, and labor efficiency as applicable.
- • Support sustainment checks and ensure local ownership, standards, training, and daily controls are in place before closure.
Provide equipment engineering and factory support (25%)
- • Act as SME in one or more packaging equipment areas and provide hands-on technical support for chronic or complex losses.
- • Coach and develop expertise at the Factory level for continuous support and improvement of the factory packaging operations.
- • Build equipment capability matrices, theory-of-operation documents, centerlines, troubleshooting guides, PM/CIL standards, and technical training content.
- • Coordinate with operations, maintenance, E&A, quality, packaging, R&D, engineering, and suppliers to resolve technical issues and remove barriers.
- • Escalate risks and decisions early, and document assumptions, tests, changes, and learning.
Support CAPEX and industrialization (15%)
- • Contribute to URS, specifications, design reviews, vendor evaluations, FAT/SAT, commissioning, startup, and acceptance testing.
- • Assess equipment solutions for safety, hygienic design, operability, maintainability, controls, reliability, and performance.
- • Support new products, materials, formats, and equipment changes through structured trials and documented technical recommendations.
Standardize, replicate, and build capability (15%)
- • Package successful solutions for reapplication, identify similar assets, and support deployment across assigned factories.
- • Develop and deliver practical training and coach factory personnel and Equipment Owners.
- • Actively build expertise toward Expert-level capability through assigned development plans, mentoring, cross-factory exposure, training, and progressively more complex technical leadership.
Portfolio discipline and communication (5%)
- • Maintain accurate action, risk, decision, benefit, and project records in the team’s standard systems.
- • Communicate status, findings, barriers, and recommendations clearly to technical and non-technical audiences.
- • Operate safely and independently within defined scope while seeking Expert guidance when risk or complexity exceeds current capability.
REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM EDUCATION LEVEL
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, packaging science, manufacturing technology, or a related technical field; OR high school diploma/GED and relevant technical experience with packaging equipment in a manufacturing environment.
- Relevant experience with packaging equipment in engineering, maintenance, operations, OEM field service, or technical support.
- Working knowledge of packaging-equipment safety, machine operation, maintenance, troubleshooting, controls interfaces, and manufacturing performance measures.
- Experience supporting equipment improvement, installation, commissioning, startup, or reliability activities.
- Ability