Director, Packaging Development

About the Company

e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. stands with every eye, lip, face and paw. Our deep commitment to clean, cruelty free beauty at an incredible value has fueled the success of our flagship brand e.l.f. Cosmetics since 2004 and driven our portfolio expansion. Today, our multi-brand portfolio includes e.l.f. Cosmetics, e.l.f. SKIN, pioneering clean beauty brand Well People, Keys Soulcare, a groundbreaking lifestyle beauty brand created with Alicia Keys and Naturium, high-performance, biocompatible, clinically-effective and accessible skin care.

In our Fiscal year 25, we had net sales of $1 Billion and our business performance has been nothing short of extraordinary with 26 consecutive quarters of net sales growth. We are the #2 mass cosmetics brand in the US and are the fastest growing mass cosmetics brand among the top 5. Our total compensation philosophy offers every full-time new hire competitive pay and benefits, bonus eligibility (200% of target over the last six fiscal years), equity, flexible time off, year-round half-day Fridays, and a hybrid 3 day in office, 2 day at home work environment. We believe the combination of our unique culture, total compensation, workplace flexibility and care for the team is unmatched across not just beauty but any industry.

Visit our Career Page to learn more about our team: https://www.elfbeauty.com/work-with-us

The Director, Packaging Development will drive and lead packaging development globally across multiple brands reporting to the Head of Package and Sustainable Design. A leader with a multifaceted and enterprise mindset delivering results across new package development, advancing business processes and strategies, driving sustainability, and growing profitability.

The Director will lead the packaging development efforts to support product launches, cost and functional requirements and sustainability guidelines. They must ensure all the technical aspects from design turnover, BOM creation, drawing approval, package testing, line trials, artwork validation, packaging standards and range boards, tertiary packaging and packaging data creation are conforming to quality process. 

They will contribute to broadening our supplier base globally and onboard new suppliers to the e.l.f. Beauty organization on all packaging deliverables. These suppliers should be recognized industry companies who are known for innovation, quality, cost, and sustainability. 

He/she will need to collaborate with our team in China (including packaging engineering, R&D and supply) and our cross functional teams in the US to streamline efforts and maximize efficiencies across development. The team is comprised of Global Sourcing, Planning, R&D, Product Marketing and Creative. He/She should be an effective communicator, able to navigate across the entire organization, bring focus and effective processes to the team. This is a true partnership where clear roles will be established, and efficiencies made to improve our current process.

Our speed to market is one of our superpowers. The individual is empowered to drive projects and solicit other team members to ensure the required packaging tasks are executed in the most advantageous way in a timely manner. The developer must have the ability to adapt to fast-changing environments and manage a multitude of projects.  You should have a willingness to take risks and to consider new approaches to improve the organization's competitive position. 

• Provide leadership and ensure deep organizational capability in component /secondary development, decoration development and process engineering to ensure successful launches of both new packaging/products, upgrading existing products and sustainability.
• Lead inspiring and actionable innovation in support of brand objectives that align with senior leader’s business opportunities, marketing objectives and support brand calendar pipeline of innovation.
• Partner with key cross functional leads to continually enable innovative design for the category and brand.
• Provide updates of project milestones, inform appropriate people of technical and timing issues.
• Ensures KPIs align with brand/category and function strategy and have the foresight to anticipate when changes are required
• Partner with creative teams and suppliers to drive new and breakthrough premium packaging materials, color effects and decoration. 
• Support and help lead the company efforts to support social and environmental responsibility, specifically through driving sustainable design and materials for our packaging. 
• Ensure all projects are completed and meet the intended design, quality, cost, functionality, manufacturability, regulatory, consumer safety and sustainability objectives.
• Evaluate package sample, sustainability prototypes and supplier technical capability.
• Set up and maintain packaging database
• Build strong relationship across brands and functions to develop, implement and align with the brands/category strategy with long term vision. 
• Understand that the first consumer experience is the package. Represent the culture and DNA of the brand or business segment being managed

• Minimum BS degree in Packaging Science or Engineering.
• IOPP certification a plus
• Fluency in Mandarin a plus
• 12+ years’ experience in cosmetic package development.
• Concentrated experience in beauty industry with proven development experience in color, fragrance, skin care categories and tools.
• Comprehensive knowledge of global supplier community and understanding of pricing structures.
• Demonstrated understanding of manufacturing and distribution process as it relates to supporting targeted and global product launch strategies.
• Deep/practical packaging expertise in sustainability and abreast of best practices and emerging opportunities/technologies that support sustainability objectives
• Experience working with Global suppliers across multiple time zones
• Well versed in managing evolving regulatiory requirements across all categories
• Proven experience managing a team and with effective communication and technical know how
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a production team (China) and develop strong relationships
• Expertise on collaborating with a multitude of cross functional partners in R&D, Sourcing, Innovation, operations, planning, design etc…
• Great skills managing suppliers to maximize results, timing, design and costs
• Big picture and strategic planning head set to think ahead and prioritize work load and focus direct reports
• Able to manage category margins and tooling ROI analysis with finance and marketing
• Technical competency in analysis of geometric objects in 2- and 3-dimensions including understanding of form, fit, and function of packaging components and subcomponents.
• Comprehensive knowledge of materials used in the construction and manufacturing of primary, secondary and tertiary packaging.
• Comprehensive knowledge of decorating techniques and materials used on primary, secondary and tertiary packaging.
• Comprehensive knowledge of test methods used to validate component/package performance.
• Strong knowledge of sustainable packaging and supplier practices
• PC literate and competent with Microsoft Office applications (especially Excel and Pivot table functionalities). 
• Good level of judgment required in assessing Marketing briefs, clarity of Packaging definition and providing recommendations to lower risks while achieving the Marketing concept
• Proficient at reviewing  CAD files
• 3D printing expertise
• Skilled at problem solving to bend technology to create innovative approaches 

This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed in this position. It also reflects the general details considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job identified, and shall not be considered, as detailed description of all the work required inherent in the job. It is not an exhaustive list of responsibilities, and it is subject to changes and exceptions at the supervisors’ discretion.

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