Sr. Director, Innovations-Rigids
Company Overview
Why Choose Us?
Novolex is a leading manufacturer of food, beverage, and specialty packaging that supports multiple industries including foodservice, restaurant delivery and carryout, food processing, grocery and retail, and industrial sectors. Novolex manufacturing and sourcing expertise spans a diverse range of substrates including resin, paper, molded fiber, aluminum and more. We provide customers a broad array of stock and customized solutions with 120 product categories, 250 brands and over 39,000 SKUs.
Our Sustainability Commitment
The Novolex sustainability vision is built upon three pillars: our products, our operations and our people. Each is critically important to our growth and future as a business. These pillars form the foundation of our company-wide commitment to sustainability, helping us achieve our ambitious goals through our wide-ranging initiatives.
Job Description
Position Summary:
Reporting to the Chief Innovation & Sustainability Officer (CISO), the Sr. Director, Innovation-Rigids will lead the development and execution of our product roadmap, while driving a culture of innovation across the organization. Sr. Director, Innovation-Rigids is critical in shaping the future of our product portfolio, identifying emerging market opportunities, and aligning cross-functional teams to deliver transformative customer experiences.
Essential Functions & Key Responsibilities:
Innovation & New Product Leadership
Own enterprise innovation pipeline across foodservice and specialty packaging
Deliver new platforms from concept → commercialization using stage-gate discipline
Translate Voice of Customer, market trends, and legislation into winning products
Accelerate time-to-market through external partnerships and new technologies
Sustainable Materials & Technology
Lead transition to recyclable, compostable, and low-carbon materials
Develop next-gen fiber, hybrid, and polymer solutions
Build strategic supplier and technology partnerships
Align portfolio with EPR, regulatory, and retailer sustainability requirements
Product Strategy & Portfolio Management
Set product line strategy, roadmaps, and lifecycle management
Drive SKU consolidation, design-to-value, and cost optimization
Analyze competitive set, pricing power, and market capacity
Establish platform architecture across materials and formats
Growth, Capital & Business Case Development
Identify whitespace growth opportunities and capacity needs
Build investment cases for new platforms, equipment, and expansions
Prioritize capital based on ROI, strategic fit, and customer demand
Support M&A and capability expansion as required
Leadership & Organizational Excellence
Lead and develop Innovation Directors, R&D and Product Management teams
Guide near- and long-term strategy across product platforms
Establish KPIs for innovation, cost savings, and portfolio performance
Foster a high-performance, customer-centric culture
Customer & Market Engagement
Partner with key customers on co-innovation initiatives
Engage Sales, Operations, Procurement, Sustainability, and Finance
Represent company with strategic suppliers and industry partners
Monitor global trends and competitive moves
Candidate Requirements:
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Design, or a related field; MBA or Master’s preferred
10+ years of product management, innovation, or strategy roles, including 3+ years in a senior leadership capacity
Proven success launching market-leading products and scaling product organizations
Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with a bias for execution
Strong leadership and communication skills with the ability to influence and inspire at all levels
Strong project management, budgeting, and strategic planning skills
A reasonable estimate of the current range is $215-270K + bonus + benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. At Novolex, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.
The benefits for this role include 401(k) plan with company match, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, paid vacation and sick days, paid parental leave, paid holidays and wellness program.
#LI-Remote
#INDSalaried
Company Benefits
What You'll Get From Us
Benefits
With safety as our top priority and a commitment to employee well-being an important focus, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits that include medical, dental and vision insurance as well as a variety of other well-being resources focused on mental, physical and financial health. Specific benefits and well-being programs may vary depending on where you work.
Community Engagement
At Novolex, giving back to the local communities that support us is important. Our Focused Giving Program prioritizes support for organizations whose missions promote sustainability initiatives or address food and hunger needs. We also encourage facility level support of activities in the communities where our employees live and work.
Training and Development
We offer constant opportunities for advancement. From skills development to advanced education programs, training and development programs and courses are available through MyLearning. Programs include company and industry training curricula, support for formal education through the Tuition Reimbursement Program (Non-Union), and a Learning Management System that supports and enhances employee skills at all levels of the organization.
Novolex is committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices, including but not limited to selection, hiring, promotion, transfer, and compensation to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, handicap or disability, genetics, citizenship status, service member or veteran status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law. Any individual who, because of his or her disability, needs an accommodation in connection with an aspect of the Company's application process should contact myHRservices@novolex.com.
Formerly Pactiv Evergreen