Packaging Team Leader

Syngenta

We are a leading, science-based agriculture company, empowering farmers to meet the demands of modern agriculture. Using cutting-edge innovation, we help farmers to grow resilient, healthy crops that can feed a growing global population, while promoting sustainable farming practices that protect and enhance our planet. Headquartered in Switzerland, we are a global agritech leader with more than 30,000 employees across over 90 countries.

Role Purpose

• Leads or manages the packaging engineering resources for a portfolio of projects.
• Applies expertise in packaging types and technology to the conception and development of packaging solutions, and in optimizing Fill & Pack processes. Provides packaging development/engineering and leadership for both existing and innovative technologies to impact business delivery. Proactively offers expert advice for creating and implementing development programs and procedures within the packaging development/engineering area and builds knowledge and skills by gaining experience in other functions and platforms to foster constructive collaboration for the business.
• Ensures the delivery of design, development, and testing of package components and packaging systems to ensure regulatory compliance for transportation and product registration.
• Ensuring support is provided for maintenance and troubleshooting activities to adjacent supply chain functions (procurement, manufacturing, quality, etc.), as well as for end-users, to ensure a safe, user-friendly customer experience.
• Identifies and implements innovative and sustainable packaging solutions that maximize our competitive advantage and strengthen brand preference.
• Co-leads cross-regional CP (Crop Protection) packaging projects through scientific and technological areas to align with the performance pillar of innovation and customer focus, driving profitable growth.
• Co-leads CP packaging projects and Fill and Pack Capital projects to increase manufacturing capacity, improve quality and productivity, and reduce manufacturing costs for operational excellence, supporting business growth.
• Embraces continuous improvement of culture, processes, systems, and policies in PT&E (Product Technology and Engineering).

Accountability 

• Manages career and technical development of team members.
• Leads packaging engineers in the development and introduction of packaging solutions for CP products.
• Provides packaging engineering expertise to new CP product development teams and active independent support to New Product Introduction (NPI) teams, ensuring all packaging-related milestones are completed on time.
• Capable of leading and/or supervising packaging projects related to maintenance and/or troubleshooting support to adjacent supply chain functions (procurement, manufacturing, etc.), as well as to end-users in the marketplace.
• Has in-depth knowledge and understanding of our industry and regulations impacting Syngenta products and can identify and deliver new opportunities to overcome related challenges. Build knowledge/skills by gaining experience in other functions/platforms. Maintains and actively evolves extensive packaging technical and packaging industry knowledge.
• Identifies, implements, and promotes best practices in packaging technology across Syngenta's FFP sites.
• Advises and supports team members in identifying and delivering cost savings and efficiency opportunities.
• Capable of identifying and delivering innovative technologies and innovations. Delivers significant packaging innovation and projects of cross-functional or global scope.
• Support Safety and Compliance requirements. Knowledgeable of compliance with Syngenta Safety Policies and Packaging Development Standard Operating Procedures. Lead by example, to drive a strong safety culture as an individual.     
• Develop people, capability, and ways of working to deliver functional strategy.
• Delivers measurable productivity gains through continuous improvement of processes and systems.
• Take responsibility for ensuring compliance with global and local policies.
• Identifies and pursues collaboration opportunities in packaging to support functional capability development.
• Active participation in existing Packaging networks.
• Involvement in scientific peer review with packaging involvement or external packaging bodies /associations.
• Provides technical input to the function of capital strategy.
• Engaged in communicating broader Syngenta science & technology in packaging with internal and external stakeholders.

Skills

• Technical skills referenced to TCDS.
• Should uphold high organizational standards, values, and policies, especially for Health, Safety, and Environment.
• Should have a strong understanding of stakeholder needs and customer needs, develop, and maintain a strong network with them.
• Should be able to communicate technical facts, ideas, and opinions to a general or technical audience.
• Seek innovative and sustainable fill & packaging processing technologies (available in the market or adapted from other industries for Syngenta's project portfolio).
• Should have project management and time management skills.
• Should have a broad understanding of new packaging introduction.
• Should have a highly collaborative approach in working across regions to simplify, harmonize, and continuously improve packaging.
• Should confidently recommend technical options and alternatives based on available data.
• Should be well organized and have strong attention to detail.
• Should be able to independently deploy this range of skills to cross-regional projects and display sound judgement of information escalation to line management.
• Should independently conduct and co-lead large complex programs/technical projects. Influence or manage a team of engineers working on cross-functional and cross-regional projects.
• Recognized company expert in packaging engineering and proven impact in others.

Behaviors

• Able to manage a minimum of five direct reports.
• Able to work effectively in cross-functional teams and across multiple functions.
• Actively engage in project team discussions to share knowledge and experience as a packaging engineer.
• Adaptable to changes in project deliverables and embraces new ways of working. Contributes to the solution.
• May coordinate with other packaging engineers by sharing knowledge and innovative ideas. Is open to suggestions/feedback from others.
• Identify and address department needs and remove roadblocks to complete projects promptly.
• Shares key knowledge across functions to influence and enhance global PT&E capability.
• Grows and develops both global internal and external networks.
• Develops own network of contacts and collaborators across global PT&E.
• Able to translate CPD business targets into science/development plans.
• Innovative and creative; challenging of the status quo.
• Communicates compelling visions of success which energize the organization.
• Supports a culture of innovation by encouraging new networks and collaborations. Actively seeks opportunities to engage with key stakeholders to drive functional initiatives & enhance partner working practices.

Education / Experience /Qualifications

• BSc or BEng degree with 10+ years of proven experience (adjusted based on further degree). in a technical position in packaging development and filling & packing processes.
• Expert in continuous improvement and HSE excellence mindset.
• Strong working experience in cross-functional organizations, transitioning into a dynamic and uncertain environment, ensuring effective and focused project delivery (on time and within budget).
• Proven ability to prioritize activities and manage multiple requests from different stakeholders.
• Comprehensive understanding of the end-to-end processes for packaging development, filling & packing, and new introduction to packaging.

Approximate Time Allocation

• Minimum of 50% lead and manage packaging development team activities supporting AMEA business.

People are at the heart of what we do:

• Once a year Full body check
• Competitive insurance scheme
• Employee assistance program – to take care of your and your loved ones mental health
• Paid Vacation of 30days, 12 Paid Holidays, Maternity and Paternity Leave, compassionate leaves
• Education assistance – for your career growth
• People first culture translated into 'Most Preferred place to work by Times group'

Note: Syngenta is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or any other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status.

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