Senior Partnership Manager

Job Description
Senior Partnership Manager ~ Packaging Innovation Lab @ PepsiCo

Location: Plano, TX . Must be on-site 40hrs/week.

Job Description:

The Packaging Innovation Lab (PIL) is a facility inside of the PepsiCo R&D Center in Plano TX, servicing R&D Packaging. It has a whole array of impressive state-of-the-art prototyping and 2D and 3D printing equipment that is used every working day supplying new-to-the-world packaging concepts and innovation to the R&D community. WovenWorks runs the facility funded by a Partnership Agreement with our client at PepsiCo.

As Senior Partnership Manager, you will take leadership of the facility, manage the 4 full-time people working there (all compensated by WovenWorks) and manage the day-to-day operations of all the work flowing in and out of the PIL.

Key responsibilities:

Partnership Team Oversight & Quality Control
Provide leadership and management to ensure onsite staff deliver quality work product based on the specifications outlined by the client and contractors to comply with all employment policies, and client onsite contractor policies.

Equipment & Material Recommendation:
Recommend equipment and materials for the purpose of creating the appropriate range of
R&D Foods Packaging, and Innovation design support, digital support, and appropriate
fidelity of prototypes onsite.
Part of this function is delegable, but as Senior Partnership Manager, you will need to be on top of the equipment maintenance, repairs, consumables procurement and machinery calibration. You will be responsible for EHS readiness and Workshop Safety Protocols.

Coordinate Partnership Requests:
Work with the assigned client to align on requested deliverables, timing and resources required. Using our ‘Monday’ platform, create work orders to capture, in writing, the definition of deliverables & timing. Manage a Deliverables Queue based on first come first serve basis, prioritising PepsiCo PI-prioritised work. Manage multiple live parallel workstreams with complex challenges and often unreasonable, competing deadlines. Our contract is calibrated on several metrics; the key is delivering high quantity, high quality prototypes (and other deliverables), on time.

We expect professional interactions with the stakeholders requesting services from the PIL, managing their expectations, courteous pushbacks when needed and timely updates and correspondence throughout projects.

Partnership Management
Develop and implement partnership strategies: identify and pursue new opportunities for the partnership.
Maintain and strengthen the partnership, manage communication and collaboration with key partners and identify ways to grow and expand these relationships.
Continuously seek out new opportunities for growth and expansion.

Communicate with key stakeholders, including senior management, partners, and clients, keeping them informed about partnership activities and seeking input and guidance as needed.

Backup and Augmentation
Direct the team(s) in Fairfield, Cincinnati or Chicago, to provide backup services if onsite employees become unavailable due to extended illness or personal time off. Estimate associated time and materials. Ensure seamless delivery throughout.

Lead
As an ambassador of the PIL, promoting the PIL or give in-person tours. Lead sessions, ideation, innovation, co-creation sessions, lead with stimuli, examples, divergent thinking techniques, etc. Lead the team, help them navigate the corporate environment in which we operate, help them see what is around the corner (forward visibility), and read the room. Lead with the messages you send.

Required skills and experience

Industrial Design: with a bias for structural packaging design and packaging development experience. CPG food and snacking experience preferred. Use SolidWorks as the primary tool to develop detailed 3D CAD models from concept sketches.
Apply advanced solid and surface modelling techniques to create complex, manufacturable geometries.
Translate design intent into feasible models suitable for prototyping and production.
Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure design feasibility and alignment with project goals.
Integrate 2D and 3D printing into the prototyping workflow, selecting appropriate methods, technologies and materials.
Work efficiently under tight timelines and adapt quickly to changing project requirements.
Participate in design reviews and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
Prototyping Specialist: deep and direct experience with 2D and 3D rapid prototyping. Knowledge and experience of workshop machinery, prototyping tools and equipment, consumables, cleaning/maintenance, calibration, and service agreements that help retain the warranty.
Team Leader: 8+ years of professional experience in roles of increasing responsibility
Strong communication and interpersonal skills. The ability to build and maintain relationships with key partners and clients. Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills. Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment with multiple concurrent projects.
Passionate about branding & packaging. Strong presentation, communication and collaboration abilities.
Work efficiently under tight timelines and adapt quickly to changing project requirements. Participate in design reviews and contribute to continuous improvement initiatives.
Design Leadership: Design Thinking and Front-End Innovation experience. Ability to apply the principles of and direct skills in leading work through the fuzzy front end of innovation. Comfortable with ambiguity and navigating complex tasks that are not always clear and can change as programs evolve.
Flexibility: Ability to shift seamlessly between leading, planning, doing, and managing throughout projects, and throughout the day.

Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in engineering discipline, Industrial Design, or related field.
Expert in 3d CAD-Surface modelling and Solid modelling, SolidWorks Preferred
Experience with project management software, Monday Preferred
Experience with Adobe Creative Suite, KeyShot, or similar tools is a plus.
Experience with prototyping and product development cycles.
Understanding material behaviour in both additive and moulding processes.
Microsoft 360.