Graham Packaging is a people, planet and values-based company and a leader in sustainable packaging manufacturing. From the kitchen to the laundry room, Graham Packaging is part of your everyday life.

For employees at Graham, our Blue Culture is part of their everyday lives, too. In other words, Blue is how we do things here.

At Graham, we are united by a clear vision. We know our part and help those around us know theirs, encouraging one another to continuously improve. We create a safe, challenging environment to innovate by supporting creative ideas and new ways of thinking. We take the initiative to cultivate our individual growth and help others do the same, while keeping ourselves and one another accountable. And we actively promote cooperation, collaboration, integrity and respect across regions and teams to foster an engaged, diverse and connected workforce.

We value our employees, and a Blue Culture allows for the most rewarding employee experience as part of the Graham family. Blue is how we feel about what we do—together—to create a better tomorrow. Working at Graham means you lead constructively with clear goals, use diverse thinking to drive excellence, accountability, innovation, as well as demonstrating collaboration, embracing learning, and taking action for continuous improvement and growth.

The Vice President of Engineering is responsible for the technical success of the Homecare & Industrial business unit – including project execution, product development, capital engineering and operational support.  This role is also responsible for developing the strategic technical plan for the business, working with customers and commercial leadership to create product and equipment strategies that align with the overall corporate and BU strategies that help grow the business and develop long term relationships with our customers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

The primary duties of a Vice President of Engineering include:

• Foster a strong safety culture, ensuring all project work meets Graham’s safety requirements and develop tools to achieve accident-free project work alongside the EH&S team.
• Develop and execute a technical strategy for the business unit – including product development, equipment selection, project execution, capital planning, problem solving and continuous improvement
• Ensure that program launches meet our customer’s quality and timing expectations as well as Graham’s business case requirements
• Develop creative and competitive technical solutions to win new business and achieve technical, operational and commercial success (including on-site opportunities)
• Represent Graham’s technical organization in meetings with key customers - communicating complex technical information that facilitate clarity, problem solving and competitive business proposals.
• Oversee project execution success through adherence to the APQP process and drive continuous improvement of organizational business processes
• Develop and commercialize new products with comprehensive specifications that so that the packages that we launch meet all our customer’s needs
• Ensure that we are following a robust process for capital engineering and line layout development, including the specification, selection, testing, installation, training and start-up for new equipment - guaranteeing that it can be operated safely, produce a product that exceeds the customer’s quality requirements as well as meet business expectations for cost, timing and performance.
• Foster a culture of problem solving and continuous improvement through the execution of highly impactful problem-solving activities and the support of plant improvement activities
• Provide input to the central R&D team and ensure that the team’s focus is aligned to the BU strategy
• Develop a career plan for the team of managers, engineers and program managers - mentor, coach and develop the team
• Travel up to 30% at times.

Core Proficiencies and Skills

The following skills and proficiencies are essential requirements of the position:

• Leadership skills with the ability to develop and communicate the BU objectives, inspire and motivate staff, and maintain alignment to the business strategy.
• Strong business acumen, including industry-specific knowledge of the enterprise and its business units. Familiar with industry trends and innovation.
• Able to lead cross functional groups to achieve strategic priorities
• Extensive experience working closely with customers in a technical role
• Innovative thinker and strong problem solver
• Excellent verbal and written communication – organized, responsive, respectful and poised under stress
• Industry leading knowledge of blow molders, injection molders, secondary finishing operations, inspection equipment and packaging equipment
• Expert in the design of injection mold and blow molding manufacturing lines
• Recognized as a technical authority in the rigid plastic packaging industry
• Expert in plant layouts and overall plant operations
• Strong coaching, mentoring and leadership skills
• Knowledge of plastic materials properties, packaging requirements and functional testing procedures, especially as they apply to rigid plastic packaging
• Process oriented individual who can effectively diagnose process related issue or improvement opportunities in business processes and implement appropriate solutions
• Deep knowledge of utilities (air, water, power)
• Strong project management skills

Education and/or Work Experience Requirements

Those listed for the position of Vertical Launch Manager:

• BS degree in a related field (Engineering, Business Administration).
• Seven to 10 years of diverse roles and increasing leadership responsibilities across major projects and programs
• Demonstrated experience in managing "upward" among senior leadership
• Demonstrated experience in leading diverse teams
• Experience in program planning, coordinating diverse geographically located team members, procurement, and installation and start-up of capital equipment projects.
• Experience in projects involving manufacturing lines performing industrial processing
• Background in strategy development.
• Experience in managing projects in a geographically dispersed matrix organization
• Experience developing plastic packaging as a supplier, converter or packaging customer
• Experience managing a team of engineers
• Experience with innovation and product development processes
• Experience developing engineering processes and standard work
• Experience working with customer to develop product designs and specifications
• Experience using and training others in a PDCA-based problem solving methodology

The standard compensation for this role is $211,000 - $316,500. Salary offers will be determined based on final candidate qualifications, experience, skillset, and other relevant factors

The expected salary range for the position described in this posting is made in accordance with the legal mandates of certain jurisdictions within the United States. The final agreed-upon compensation is based on individual qualifications and experience.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision and basic life insurance. Employees are able to enroll in the company’s 401K Employee Saving Plan and may participate in its Employee Wellness Program. Employees will also receive paid time off in accordance with company policy and state law requirements.

Graham Packaging is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, religion, creed, age, national origin, physical or mental disability, gender identity and/or expression, marital status, veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.