Senior Manager, Packaging Sustainability

Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Rooted in two centuries of family heritage, Beam Suntory has evolved into the world's third largest leading premium spirits company ... where each employee is treated like family and trusted with legacy. With our greatest assets - our premium spirits and our people - we're driving growth through impactful marketing, innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. Beam Suntory is a place where you can come Unleash your Spirit by making an impact each and every day.

Senior Manager, Packaging Sustainability  

This is a global role that can be based at one of our key office locations in the USA (Clermont, KY; Chicago, IL, New York, NY)). 

What makes this a great opportunity?

In 2020 Beam Suntory established its first enterprise-wide sustainability strategy to elevate the company’s commitment to all key elements of sustainability and establish a leadership position in our industry and beyond. Inspired by the philosophy and values of our parent company, Beam Suntory’s Growing for Good sustainability strategy demonstrates our ambitions to make a positive impact on the planet, our consumers and our communities. It’s built on a simple but powerful framework distinctive to Beam Suntory – Nature Positive, Consumer Positive and Community Positive – supported by ambitious goals reflective of our unique Yatte Minahare spirit, and framed by a compelling narrative.

Role Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a strategy to achieve our 2030 and 2040 product sustainability goals for recyclability, recycled content, and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
• Lead efforts across Global Supply Chain, Research & Development, and the Brand House / Commercial Teams to build sustainable packaging skills & capabilities as well as champion the network of practices, processes, & programs needed to drive circular packaging innovation globally.
• Lead the Global Packaging Sustainability Committee to operationalize packaging sustainability strategy and track progress toward goals.  This Committee helps ensure alignment and join-up among key business functions.
• Lead the “Packaging Positive” pillar and the global working teams to develop comprehensive strategies for glass, plastic, aluminum, and corrugate that reduce the use of virgin materials, promote recyclability, reduce GHG emissions, and explore the use of more regenerative materials (in partnership with R&D, Procurement, Suntory, and other key stakeholders).
• Develop the strategic Scope 3 greenhouse gas reduction roadmap for Packaging.  Represent the Packaging Team on the Scope 3 working team and steering committee. Provide direct input & routine updates to Scope 3 activity list (ideas, projects & GHG reductions related to packaging & suppliers).
• Communicate Packaging Sustainability risks & opportunities to the Brand House, Commercial, and Supply Chain Leadership Teams to provide them with the information needed to update their business plans to ensure we meet our Regulatory, Customer, and Nature+ packaging commitments.  Escalate risks and appropriate mitigation to senior leadership as necessary.
• Own the integration of packaging sustainability into product development processes, including reviewing monthly performance reports and introducing process improvements annually. Escalate and work to resolve issues and decisions needed to implement the required sustainable packaging projects.
• Collaborate with the Procurement Team to update the purchase specifications to include the requirements needed to achieve our 2030 and 2040 goals.  Partner with our suppliers to develop and/or identify more sustainable and innovative ways to meet our purchase specifications.
• Evaluate sustainable packaging materials and technologies for their quality, functionality, environmental impact, and cost-effectiveness.  Manage the data collection and reporting requirements for the packaging sustainability KPIs (recyclability, recycled content, and greenhouse gas emissions).

• Support all packaging sustainability data requests (internal and external) for product performance and technical information including representing Packaging Sustainability on the team responsible for delivering a new specification system. 
• Refresh and Develop the Sustainable Packaging Design Guidelines, including regular revisions and releases (1-2 times yearly) and train and socialize across the organization.
• Research and pilot test new sustainable packaging platforms (like reusable & refillable options) and sustainable packaging materials, including recyclable, renewable, post-consumer recycled, compostable, rigid to flexible, and other new / innovative materials. 
• Forge strategic partnership, create thought leadership, and represent Beam Suntory at customer, brand, supplier, and external events, including The Recycling Partnership (NGOs, University/Research/Industry Organizations).
• Directly manage Sustainable packaging projects as well as one Packaging Sustainability Engineer direct report.

Qualifications & Experience

• A Bachelor’s Degree in Packaging Engineering, Packaging Technology, or related field required. Equivalent experience may be accepted for certain attributes of the position. Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Material Science or Packaging Engineering preferred.
• A minimum of 7 years of packaging engineering experience in consumer-packaged goods required. Experience in beverage industry preferred.
  • Minimum of 3 years progressive industry experience with sustainable bottle/container design (glass, PET, rPET, renewable materials) required.
  • Minimum of 3 years progressive industry experience with sustainable bottle/container closures, labels, and other premium ornaments required.
  • Minimum of 3 years progressive industry experience with sustainable corrugate cases and other secondary and tertiary packaging material required.
  • Minimum of 3 years progressive industry experience with packaging innovations using renewable materials and designs to support growing eCommerce business preferred.

• Must be fluent in English; second language is a plus, but not required. Ability to communicate clearly and concisely, both orally and written, and explain technical concepts or innovations to technical and non-technical employees.

• Advanced computer skills (PowerPoint, Excel, online meeting software, web-based KPI reporting software) and expert PowerPoint presentation development and delivery.
• Excellent collaboration and negotiations skills to support senior leaders with defining relevant data and analytics for sustainable packaging roadmap development.  Comfortable working in a new department amidst ambiguity and transformational change.
• Strong working knowledge of packaging sustainability issues and trends, including external reporting frameworks, indices and ratings.
• Strong working knowledge of packaging used in the CPG (consumer product goods) industry, manufacturing processes and packaging materials, processing and performance.
• Proficient in “packaging design thinking” and able to bring that approach into sustainability programs, concept generation, consumer research and problem solving. Track record of successful execution of programs from idea, concept development, testing, validation to market commercialization.
• Physical requirements: ability to conduct visits and “gemba” activities throughout the manufacturing site- on-grade, below-grade and above-grade working surfaces.
• All applicants must have legal authorization to work in the country in which the manufacturing site is located. The candidate must be able to travel to (and throughout) countries in which BSI has manufacturing locations (travel <25%).

At Beam Suntory, people are our number one priority, and we believe our people grow together in diverse and inclusive environments where their unique insights, experiences and backgrounds are valued and respected. Beam Suntory is committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, gender identity, military veteran status and all other characteristics, attributes or choices protected by law. All recruitment and hiring decisions are based on an applicant’s skills and experience.