Director, Packaging Technology (Filling & Blow Molding)

fairlife, LLC is a Chicago-based nutrition company that creates great-tasting, nutrition-rich and dairy products to nourish consumers. With over $3B in annual retail sales, fairlife’s portfolio of delicious, lactose-free, real dairy products includes: fairlife® ultra-filtered milk ; Core Power® High Protein Shakes, a sports nutrition drink to support post-workout recovery; fairlife® nutrition plan™ , a nutrition shake to support the journey to better health. A wholly owned subsidiary of The Coca-Cola company, fairlife, LLC has been recognized by both Fast Company and Nielsen for its industry leading innovation. To learn more about fairlife and its complete line of products, please visit fairlife.com . job purpose : The Director of Packaging Technology – Filler & Blow Molding will be responsible for leading all engineering and technical aspects of packaging equipment across multiple facilities, with a specific focus on low-acid aseptic bottle blowing and filling. This includes supporting the procurement, installation, commissioning, and validation of new equipment, as well as driving continuous improvement initiatives for existing operations. The ideal candidate is an accomplished engineering leader with a strong background in low-acid aseptic manufacturing, equipment maintenance, and advanced packaging technologies. responsibilities: • Provide strategic & technical leadership for packaging systems within a high-speed low-acid aseptic manufacturing environment, specifically targeting bottle blowing, filling, packaging equipment, materials, and related technologies. • Lead packaging design strategy for new facilities, expansions, and capital projects, ensuring scalable, standardized, and business-aligned solutions. • Develop packaging concepts, equipment requirements, and capability roadmaps supporting current and future manufacturing needs. • Establish and maintain packaging engineering standards, specifications, and governance across projects, facilities, and suppliers. • Serve as the technical authority for packaging system design, ensuring compliance with standards, regulatory requirements, food safety, and aseptic processing needs. • Own packaging system design through execution, supporting procurement, installation, commissioning, qualification, startup, and operational handoff. • Partner cross-functionally with Operations, Quality, R&D, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, and Project Management to deliver effective packaging solutions. • Develop URS documents, technical specifications, bid packages, and lead supplier evaluations, design reviews, and equipment selection. • Support capital project execution by managing technical risk, equipment integration, validation, acceptance criteria, and performance requirements. • Drive continuous improvement through operational data, root-cause analysis, lessons learned, and adoption of emerging packaging technologies. • Build organizational packaging expertise through standards, training, technical resources, and strategic supplier partnerships. • Provide senior-level technical leadership, ensuring alignment on packaging strategy, design decisions, risks, and project goals across the organization.   skills/qualifications required: • Bachelor’s degree in engineering or related discipline required. • 10+ years of experience in engineering, maintenance, or operations leadership roles within the food & beverage or manufacturing sector. • Extensive hands-on experience with low-acid aseptic bottling processes and blow molding equipment is required. • Proven track record of leading cross-functional projects, including procurement, installation, commissioning, and validation of high-speed packaging equipment. • In-depth knowledge of aseptic filling technologies, blow m