Senior Manager, Plastics Innovation

Overview

I’m partnered with a global packaging and manufacturing organization on a confidential search for a Senior Manager, Plastics Innovation in Coleman, Michigan.

This is a high-impact leadership role for a plastics innovation professional who has successfully brought new and unconventional resin materials into real production across both thermoforming and injection molding environments.

This is not a tooling-first, mold design, or product design role.

The team needs a materials and process innovation leader who can evaluate a new resin or material opportunity and answer the real manufacturing questions:

• Can it run on existing equipment?
• What process changes are needed?
• What machine or tooling constraints matter?
• What needs to happen to make it manufacturable at scale?

What You’ll Do

• Lead plastics innovation efforts tied to traditional and alternative resins across thermoforming and injection molding
• Identify, evaluate, and qualify new materials for existing and new product applications, including biodegradable, compostable, and PCR resins
• Lead the material qualification process and partner cross-functionally with operations, sales, supply chain, product, and technical teams
• Direct trial activity through internal and external resources and help translate innovation into practical plant-side implementation
• Oversee lab and trial resources, data analysis, testing strategy, and root cause work tied to product and material performance
• Support commercialization by helping move material concepts into scalable production
• Manage project resources, timelines, priorities, and technical problem solving across the plastics innovation function
• Lead and develop the team while keeping innovation efforts aligned with broader business strategy

What We’re Looking For

• 10+ years in plastics manufacturing
• Strong hands-on experience with both thermoforming and injection molding
• Direct ownership of plastics innovation, material development, or resin application work
• Proven experience with alternative or non-traditional resins, especially biodegradable, compostable, and PCR or recycled-content materials
• Track record of making new materials work on existing machine assets while navigating tooling and process limitations
• Strong commercialization mindset with the ability to move innovation beyond concept stage and into production
• Leadership experience managing teams and influencing cross-functional stakeholders
• Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Plastics Engineering, or a related field preferred

What This Role Is Not

This role is likely not the right fit for candidates who are primarily:

• Tooling engineers
• Mold design specialists
• Product design engineers
• Packaging designers without plant-side innovation ownership
• R&D professionals without commercialization or manufacturing implementation experience
• Plastics professionals with experience in only one process and not both thermoforming and injection molding

What’s In It For You

• Opportunity to lead practical, plant-side innovation, not just concept work
• Visible leadership role with direct influence on next-generation material strategy
• Chance to bring sustainable packaging solutions to market in a real manufacturing environment
• Join a global leader in packaging with the scale, stability, and innovation investment to support long-term career growth
• Strong salaried benefits package including medical options, 401(k) match, company HSA contribution, retirement support, PTO, and confidential EAP resources
• Competitive compensation package with base salary from $140K to $160K plus 15% target bonus

This is an outstanding opportunity for someone who knows how to make unconventional resins work in real production and wants to have a meaningful voice in where plastics innovation goes next.