Director, Process Engineering
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Pregis
Chicago, IL, US
Summary
The Director of Process Engineering will define and deploy an enterprise-wide strategy to improve manufacturing performance across a multi-site network. This role leads the Center of Excellence to drive operational excellence, capital investment roadmaps, and cross-functional collaboration.
Job Description
We're Not Just in the Packaging Business–We're in the "Wow" Business
Pregis is Hiring!
Why Join Pregis?
Pregis is in the packaging business to protect what matters. We are committed to providing our customers and employees sustainable growth through purpose-driven innovation and customer-centric packaging solutions. If you are looking for a company that is thriving across various high growth industries and is innovative, customer focused, high integrity, believes in strong teamwork and collaboration, Pregis is the company for you. Check out the Pregis Purpose to learn how sustainability and social responsibility is at the very core of our company DNA.
Position Summary
The Director, Process Engineering is an enterprise leadership role responsible for defining and deploying Pregis' Process Engineering strategy across a multi-site manufacturing network. As a leader within the Operations Center of Excellence, this role will establish the vision, standards, capabilities, and roadmap needed to improve manufacturing performance, accelerate growth, and drive operational excellence across all business units.
This position serves as a key strategic partner to Operations, Quality, Continuous Improvement, Product Development, Supply Chain, and Finance. Success requires the ability to influence across the organization, align diverse stakeholders, and drive adoption of common engineering standards and best practices while improving safety, quality, service, productivity, reliability, and EBITDA performance.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
- Develop and execute the enterprise Process Engineering strategy aligned with Pregis growth objectives.
- Establish engineering standards, governance, and best practices across the manufacturing network.
- Build a multi-year roadmap focused on process capability, automation, technology adoption, and operational excellence.
- Serve as the Process Engineering subject matter expert to executive leadership.
Center of Excellence Leadership
- Develop organizational capabilities, technical standards, career paths, and succession plans.
- Create consistency in engineering practices while supporting the unique needs of individual business units.
- Deploy technical resources against the company's highest-value improvement opportunities.
Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement Manufacturing Transformation
- Lead network-wide initiatives focused on safety, quality, productivity, reliability, and cost reduction.
- Drive Process Engineering support for the Pregis Production System (PPS).
- Identify and scale best practices across manufacturing locations.
- Champion data-driven problem solving, process optimization, and continuous improvement.
Capital & Technology Strategy
- Develop enterprise process technology and automation roadmaps.
- Partner with Operations and Finance to identify, prioritize, and justify capital investments.
- Provide leadership for major capital projects, equipment upgrades, and manufacturing modernization efforts.
- Evaluate emerging technologies and manufacturing solutions that support long-term growth.
Cross-Functional Influence
- Partner with Business Unit Presidents, Operations Directors, Plant Managers, and Functional Leadership teams.
- Lead through influence rather than direct authority to drive adoption of standards and initiatives.
- Build strong relationships across the manufacturing network to accelerate change and execution.
- Ensure engineering initiatives deliver measurable business impact.
Measures of Success
- Improved manufacturing productivity and throughput
- Reduced waste, scrap, and conversion costs
- Improved process capability and product quality
- Increased equipment reliability and operational performance
- Successful deployment of the Pregis Production System
- Strong capital project return and benefit realization
- Consistent engineering standards across the manufacturing network
- Increased manufacturing capacity to support growth
- Sustainable EBITDA improvement
Qualifications
Education & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Industrial, Chemical, Manufacturing Engineering, or related discipline, required.
- 15+ years of progressive manufacturing, process engineering, or operational excellence leadership experience.
- Experience leading engineering organizations within a multi-site manufacturing environment.
- Proven success developing and deploying enterprise-wide engineering strategies.
- Experience supporting large-scale operational transformation, capital investments, and manufacturing modernization efforts.
Leadership Competencies
- Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into execution.
- Demonstrated success influencing across functions, locations, and business units.
- Strong executive presence and communication skills.
- Ability to balance enterprise standardization with business-specific needs.
- Proven ability to build, lead, and develop high-performing technical teams.
- Strong business acumen with a focus on EBITDA, productivity, and operational performance.
Travel
- >50%
Compensation
-
The listed annualized base pay range is primarily based on analysis of similar positions. Actual base pay could vary and may be above or below the listed range based on factors including but not limited to performance, proficiency and demonstration of competencies required for the role. The base pay is just one component of Pregis’ total compensation package. The base pay range for this role is estimated to be $180,000 - $220,000, depending on experience and skills.
Compensation details listed in US job postings reflect base salary only and do not include benefits. Learn more about Benefits at Pregis.
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Diversity and Inclusion
We believe in diversity of thought and bringing together other traits and characteristics that make an individual bring a unique experience to Pregis. We strive to foster an inclusive environment where behaviors and social norms ensure people are welcome.
Affirmative Action/EEO Statement/Inclusion
We offer equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. We support inclusion and believe in welcoming a collective sum of individual differences, thoughts, traits, and characteristics to represent Pregis’ culture and achievements.
Visit us at www.pregis.com for more information about Pregis LLC.
Pregis is a leading global provider of innovative protective packaging materials and systems. We design, develop, and deliver high-performance packaging solutions that protect products, improve operational efficiency, and create better brand experiences across consumer and industrial markets.
Our solutions can be found in virtually every industry from ecommerce and logistics to food, healthcare, and manufacturing. Supported by a comprehensive sales, technical service, and distribution network, Pregis partners with customers to solve their biggest packaging and fulfillment challenges.
With over 30 facilities across North America, manufacturing operations in Europe, and an expanding global footprint, Pregis continues to scale with the growing demand for smarter, more sustainable packaging solutions.
We’re always looking for energetic, passionate people ready to make an impact. Opportunities span manufacturing, engineering, finance, sales, marketing, all united by a shared commitment to innovation and customer success.
We’re dedicated to designing packaging that protects both products and the planet. Explore our sustainability initiatives and progress in our latest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report: https://www.pregis.com/sustainable-packaging/sustainability-report/
Founded
1997
Company size
1,001-5,000 employees
Industry
Packaging and Containers Manufacturing
Org type
Privately Held
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois
Pregis is a leading global provider of innovative protective packaging materials and systems. We design, develop, and deliver high-performance packaging solutions that protect products, improve operational efficiency, and create better brand experiences across consumer and industrial markets.
Our solutions can be found in virtually every industry from ecommerce and logistics to food, healthcare, and manufacturing. Supported by a comprehensive sales, technical service, and distribution network, Pregis partners with customers to solve their biggest packaging and fulfillment challenges.
With over 30 facilities across North America, manufacturing operations in Europe, and an expanding global footprint, Pregis continues to scale with the growing demand for smarter, more sustainable packaging solutions.
We’re always looking for energetic, passionate people ready to make an impact. Opportunities span manufacturing, engineering, finance, sales, marketing, all united by a shared commitment to innovation and customer success.
We’re dedicated to designing packaging that protects both products and the planet. Explore our sustainability initiatives and progress in our latest Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report: https://www.pregis.com/sustainable-packaging/sustainability-report/
Founded
1997
Company size
1,001-5,000 employees
Industry
Packaging and Containers Manufacturing
Org type
Privately Held
Headquarters
Chicago, Illinois