[US DC] Associate Director, Packaging

Associate Director, Packaging Science

Function: Packaging Science / Supply Chain / Food Safety/Engineering

Reports to : VP of Engineering and Automation, Hellofresh

Location: Multiple

Role Purpose

The Associate Director, Packaging Science will provide technical leadership for the development, qualification, specification, and continuous improvement of packaging systems used to safely and efficiently deliver fresh food to consumers.

This role sits at the intersection of packaging engineering, food safety, cold-chain management, product quality, logistics, operations, and supplier technical management. The position will establish and maintain packaging and distribution specifications that protect food quality and safety throughout the delivery network while balancing cost, sustainability, manufacturability, customer experience, and operational performance.

The Associate Director will serve as a technical authority for temperature-controlled food.

You Will...

• Own the technical framework and specifications for packaging systems used to ship perishable food from fulfillment through the customer's doorstep.
• Establish and maintain packaging standards, technical specifications, drawings, performance requirements, qualification protocols, and acceptance criteria.
• Define and validate thermal requirements for insulated shippers, liners, refrigerants, and packaging configurations across seasonal, geographic, and worst-case conditions.
• Lead packaging qualification and validation programs spanning laboratory testing, pilot shipments, real-world distribution trials, co