R&D Manager - Core Materials

R&D Manager - Core Materials
Americas - North America - United States - Neenah - AF Neenah Innovation Center WI
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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 I I I I
The Global Materials team works to create, enhance, standardize and simplify the use of raw materials across the Amcor Flexible enterprise. These activities enable Amcor to innovate new solutions, optimize cost/performance of existing designs to achieve short- and long-term results. The team partners with R&D and Business stakeholders to develop a raw material evaluation strategy that maximizes Amcor supply continuity, minimizes cost structure and ensures manufacturability to delight our customers and enhance Amcor’s global capabilities.
Amcor’s raw materials are divided into three primary categories: resins, webs (paper, film & foil) and liquids (coatings, adhesives). The R&D Manager is assigned global responsibility for one of these three categories and leads a team which will partner with procurement, raw material vendors and R&D to plan and execute materials development programs. The R&D Manager will develop relationships with key global vendors to understand existing products and technical capabilities. This leader will also lead a team responsible for standardized prequalification testing of new raw materials and communication of new materials learnings within global R&D
What you get to do
Act as a safety leader and promote safety culture by positively communicating safety concerns to co-workers, leaders, visitors
Ensure raw material development, testing, and qualification meet all applicable safety, regulatory, and compliance requirements globally.
Develop and lead execution of a balanced resins portfolio, delivering value through people, processes and tools
Accountable for raw material pre-qualification protocols, driving cost competitiveness and simplification objectives
Identify and address material characterization development gaps, ensuring standard methods, data analysis and proper documentation are maintained
Ensure a globally connected, business-aligned and team-focused operating cadence
Develop, deploy and sustain practices, processes and methodologies – ensuring training and knowledge management
Ensure team is using targeted business systems and tools (SAP, SMS, SharePoint, TaskRay, etc.)
Identify and recommend cost out and simplification opportunities, leveraging knowledge of materials and global flexibles portfolio
Collaborate with Procurement and Operations to align cost out and simplification objectives cross-functionally
Lead laboratory and pilot assessment of new raw materials resulting in recommendations for BG or Global programs
Drive identification and execution of repatriation opportunities in resins and resin concentrates, including capital recommendations
Build and maintain relationships with key raw material vendors
Understand vendor capabilities for laboratory / pilot testing and commercial production
Collaborate with suppliers to understand new raw material technologies and align supplier development roadmaps
Leverage vendor resources to accelerate Amcor development programs
Provide recommendations to procurement and R&D leadership on strategic partnerships that support long-term business objectives
Coordinate and report out on development activities with top global vendors
Act as subject-matter expert in assigned category
Teach others in the organization about material properties, characterization methods and vendor capabilities
Lead global communications meetings to share new findings and best practices globally
Work across the R&D function to identify and propose new methods and technology that advance Amcor development capabilities globally
Ensure Global Resins strategy aligns and supports short and long-term Advanced Analytic capabilities, advancing data dr

Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science, Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, or a related technical field (Master’s or PhD preferred).
5-10 years experience in R&D Materials Development in flexible packaging or related manufacturing industries.
Proven experience working in a global, matrixed organization with Procurement, Engineering, and external suppliers.
Strong track record in raw material innovation, cost optimization, and portfolio simplification initiatives.
Experience leading or managing centralized technical centers or laboratory organizations is highly desirable.

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

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.
We verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States.
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
Retirement Savings Plan with company match
Tuition Reimbursement (dependent upon approval)
Discretionary annual bonus program (initial eligibility dependent upon hire date)

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