Packaging Innovation Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Are you looking to catapult your career by driving high-impact transformation with household brands? Do you crave an entrepreneurial, fast paced and engaging growth assignment working with incredible people from across the globe?
At Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, we are excited to start a new chapter of accelerated growth as part of Froneri - a global pure-play ice cream leader. With nearly 100 years of winning experience in the U.S, a robust portfolio of powerhouse brands that consumers know and love such as Häagen-Dazs, Drumstick, Dreyer's/Edy's, Skinny Cow, OREO®, Outshine and Frollies, and the backing and coaching of European-based ice cream experts, we know we have the winning recipe.
Headquartered in Walnut Creek, the Bay Area's hub for up-and-coming food trends, our DGIC team across our offices and factories is raising the bar on all things ice cream. Our growth has been tremendous in the past few years - moving from being #2 manufacturer in market to being #1 in 2024. The brands have strong investments in marketing support, quality improvements and exciting line extensions and innovation. DGIC has also been recognized by retail partners as the top manufacturer partner, winning the #1 position in the prestigious Advantage Award in 2024.
At DGIC, we don't just hire for roles, we grow future business leaders. Here, everyone is encouraged to think like a general manager. That means owning your piece of the business, making bold decisions, and seeing the big picture. What makes us unique? You won't just stay in your lane, you'll get hands-on exposure to everything from Sales, Marketing and operations to Finance and Supply Chain. It's like getting an MBA on the job (but with way more ice cream). If you're curious, driven, and ready to learn a lot about a lot, this is the place to stretch your skills and fast-track your career.
Unleash your potential at Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream and discover what a sweet career we have in store for you!
What to expect from Dreyer's
At the heart of our culture are four core values that guide our actions and define how we work together. We Take Ownership by staying committed from start to finish, making thoughtful decisions, and focusing our efforts on initiatives that drive growth, efficiency, and sustainability. We Do What Is Right by prioritizing transparency, setting clear roles and responsibilities, and speaking up when something doesn't align with our values. We Seek to Improve through continuous innovation, embracing feedback, and learning from both our successes and setbacks. And We Are Better Together by making decisions that benefit the whole organization, fostering inclusion through diverse perspectives, and treating everyone with fairness and respect. These values are not just ideals-they are the behaviors we live by every day.
MAIN ROLE:
Serves as the technical packaging lead on project teams to deliver "Innovation & Renovation", "Buy Better", "Factory support", "Quality improvement" and "Alternative supply" projects.
Supports the factories to optimize filling and packaging line performance and with packaging quality issues. Develops and launches packaging solutions in line with Marketing, or factory improvement initiatives while ensuring packaging safety, quality, functionality and sustainability objectives are being met in a cost-efficient manner.
Collaborates internally and externally to build relationships in order to continuously improve technical skills and personal development.
ROLE AND ACTIVITY

• Lead and develop the Packaging team, support the packaging development strategy and the annual new product development plan.
• Ensure that all people management activities and requirements are covered effectively, efficiently and on time.
• Work hand in hand with the Quality and Operational teams to identify and prevent packaging defects. Work directly with packaging vendors to resolve quality defects.
• Work with operations and engineering to optimize the packaging performance on packaging equipment.
• Manages and supports the packaging development function from ideation through to Industrialization:
  • Identifies the optimal packaging material and die-lines for new ice cream products. Works with vendors to ensure correct specifications are captured and agreed upon and that all materials comply with food safety and internal company quality standards.
  • Perform basic packaging quality checks to ensure the structural integrity of our packages and that they comply with the agreed specifications.
  • Ensuring that any new packaging is tested and trialed on the factory and palletization equipment in the development stage and that Operations and Marketing have signed off on the final design.
  • Design palletization patterns to optimize the transportation costs while ensuring pallet stability and quality. Perform and document the results of pallet transportation tests.
  • Ensure that the artwork development process has the right quality of technical information (eg. technical packaging drawings, placement of 2D codes and "Best Before" date boxes, orientation, no-print areas etc.) to allow the creative services team to develop the graphics. Ensure that technical packaging data inputs are provided in a timely manner to avoid delays in the development timeline.
• Contribute to developing the Market Packaging sourcing and ESG strategy translating it into a local packaging project pipeline.
  • Obtain a good understanding of DGIC manufacturing capabilities and packaging equipment.
  • Develop strategic relationships with key packaging suppliers to define with Procurement the optimal sourcing strategy and to partner with companies offering innovations on new and relevant sustainable packaging materials.
    • Ensure project management tools are used for managing timelines, project teams and key stakeholders to ensure that all key activities are managed appropriately.
    • Ensure that all technical packaging documentation (eg. specifications, die-lines, pallet patterns, etc.) is organized, maintained and accessible.

MEASURABLE OUTCOMES

• Packaging projects are clearly defined with regular project meetings with timelines, minutes and agreed action plans.
• Ensure that packaging development tasks are included in the I&R critical path and that the packaging team fulfills the agreed upon tasks in the time allocated.

• Artwork development timelines are respected, and the quality of the technical packaging team's input is correct.
• Packaging materials required for new equipment or new products are tested ahead of time and risks are mitigated. Trial and transport test reports are available and shared with the correct stakeholders.

• Identified packaging cost savings targets are achieved.
• Identified quality issues are addressed and alternative vendors are identified for materials that cause recurring operational issues.

• Development of a dynamic packaging team working together effectively.
• Formal and informal feedback to the packaging team demonstrates that effective team leadership takes place: specifically, clear objective setting and honest appraisals are completed on time and to a high standard.

LEVELS OF RESPONSIBILITY

• Leadership and organizational skills
• Motivation of team
• Attention to detail
• Technical and industry know how
• Effective communicator
• Team player

BEHAVIORS AND CORE VALUES:
We Take Ownership

• Stay committed to responsibilities from start to finish
• Make sound decisions and get into the right level of detail
• Apply resources to initiatives that add growth, improve efficiencies, or reduce waste

We Do What Is Right

• Choose transparency over convenience, even if it means difficult conversations
• Set clear roles and responsibilities, enabling everyone to exercise appropriate initiative and judgment
• Speak up when you see something that does not align to our values and policies

We Seek to Improve

• Strive to continuously improve and innovate to exceed expectations
• Value feedback from others and encourage open dialogue to understand how we can improve
• Learn from both successes and failures

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required in Packaging Science
• No prior experience required, although any experience supporting packaging, manufacturing, or product development in a food or consumer packaged goods (CPG) environment (frozen or dairy products strongly preferred) is a plus.
• Experience working with new product development or commercialization projects, including packaging trials, scale-ups, or first-production runs
• Strong understanding of packaging materials, structures, and equipment compatibility for frozen products (cups, lids, wraps, cartons, multipacks, pallets)
• Working knowledge of food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements, including GMPs, HACCP, SQF, FDA labeling, and change control processes
• Ability to coordinate packaging specifications, samples, and testing with R&D, Quality, Operations, Procurement, and external vendors
• Experience managing packaging documentation such as material specifications, packaging (chemical) safety and regulatory compliance, technical drawings, trial reports, and validation records
• Familiarity with ERP/MRP systems and ability to track packaging components, costs, and timelines
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail
• Effective written and verbal communication skills; comfortable presenting findings and updates to cross-functional teams
• Ability to support plant trials and work in a cold or freezer manufacturing environment as required
• Willingness to work flexible schedules to support product trials, launches, and commercialization timelines
• Willingness to travel to various US manufacturing sites in support of trials and start-ups.

WORK ENVIRONEMENT
The position involves frequent exposure to nuts and other potential allergens.
The pay scale for this role takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions including but not limited to skill sets; experience and training; licensure and certifications; and other business and organizational needs. At Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range for their role, and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case. The pay range for prospective employees in this role is between $70,000 and $75,000 per year.
Visa sponsorship not available. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States now and in the future. The company does not provide visa sponsorship or any immigration support (including STEM OPT training plan and H-1B lottery registration) for this position.
Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream Inc. provides equal employment opportunities for all applicants, regardless of race, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.
Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.