Principal Project Engineer – Packaging Equipment â€“ Flexible Location: HKP / BUR / CLV / WAC

The Packaging Engineering team executes all phases of packaging equipment projects in the North American region.  We engineer, install and commission systems to pick up where processing ends and advance the product through all phases of packaging and handling to the factory dispatch dock doors. The technologies involved are varied and typically begin with product delivery / distribution and extend through primary, secondary and tertiary packaging machines / systems to the finished pallet and truck loading.

The Principal Project Engineer – Packaging is a member of the Packaging Engineering Leadership Team and a widely recognized business and technical leader among internal and external stakeholders globally. It is a direct pipeline role to the Senior Regional Manager - Engineering level among other senior level roles. As a senior leader, the Principal Project Engineer is a technical expert who will have a large role and impact in associate development, team culture and team effectiveness. 

Technical Expert: The Principal Project Engineer – Packaging will play a key role In developing team and technology strategies for the region, and often globally, that will shape the future of Mars Wrigley supply community. The Principal Project Engineer will drive team effectiveness through leading and coaching standardization, technology benchmarking / selection, fit for purpose, future proofing and Value Engineering. They will also lead the most complex, strategic projects and use them as opportunities to develop others.

Associate Development: The Principal Project Engineer will have direct mentoring and coaching responsibility for associates in the team to continuously improve the delivery of the team.  They participate in developmental planning and performance assessment discussions encompassing business, effectiveness, and technical competencies in support of the individuals career ambitions.

Team Culture: As a leader, this role will have accountability to foster and grow the already strong culture of engagement, safety, quality and excellence in the team through both formal and informal processes and personal leadership.

Team Effectiveness: The Principal Engineer will drive effectiveness through standards & processes, relationships and delivery. This role will be responsible for managing the delivery of multiple engineering processes and standards on a regional or global scale, both directly and through coaching of others. This associate plays a key role as a conduit with other partner / stakeholder functions, often solely representing the function, ensuring holistic business value in the solutions and processes developed.

What are we looking for?

• BS degree in Engineering; an advanced degree in Engineering or MBA preferred
• 10+ years' experience in a comparable technical position - food, beverage, pharmaceutical or related industry preferred
• Proven track record in successfully executing capital projects of greater than $10M value.
• Proven track record in people leadership, mentoring and developing others. Prior experience In line management Is preferred.
• Proven ability to lead and influence cross functional business teams and
• Demonstrated ability to safely manage consultant engineering firms as well as mechanical and electrical installation contractors in a factory environment.
• Proven deep understanding of engineering principles - knowledge of engineering disciplines: Process, Packaging, Electrical/Controls, Construction, Utilities
• Prior knowledge and experience in food safety and clean design a plus
• Strong communication, listening, and influencing skills
• 20%-50% travel requirement

What would be your key responsibilities?

The Principal Project Engineer – Packaging is a member of the Packaging Leadership Team. The role will leverage technical leadership and use broad ranging influence to:

• Create / support a culture of high engagement, business focus and excellence in execution.
• Develop team members technical, business and executional capabilities through influencing /coaching /mentoring to gain a sustained technical competence advantage.
• Establish standards that drive business efficiency as regional functional technical lead and as a key member of global technology teams.
• Drive business initiatives to give Mars Wrigley a competitive advantage through broad engineering and stakeholder community engagements and influence.
• Communicate and collaborate with a broad customer / partner / stakeholder network to ensure all project objectives are clearly defined, business focused and achieved with the lowest cost and fastest execution.
• Manage higher value / higher complexity projects typically requiring leading cross functional teams ensuring delivery across all phases of all projects.

The Principal Project Engineer will:

• Stay current with all applicable technology developments. Drive and support the development of technology platforms, systems, engineering processes and innovation providing a sustained technical advantage.
• Proactively develop practices and methodologies that increase the effectiveness and reduces the costs of engineering
• Drive adherence to Safety, Security and Environmental policies and standards
• Drive adherence to Global Quality & Food Safety policies and standards
• Drive adherence to Global Sustainability in a Generation (SIG) policies and standards

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 like-minded and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University. The opportunity to learn and develop, taking charge of your own career across Mars
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.
• 401(k) match
• Chance to work cross functionally, and add value and impact to the business
• If you are passionate, a great problem solver, resilient and have a high drive for results, then we want to hear from you!

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About Mars:
Mars is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5â„¢, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL® and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitalsâ„¢, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCAâ„¢ and Pet Partnersâ„¢. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 130,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.

Disclaimer:
Mars is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalized as a result of such a request.​​​​​​​

Note to Search Firms/Agencies:
Mars, Incorporated and its subsidiaries and affiliates (Mars) do not compensate search firms for unsolicited assistance unless they have a written search agreement with Mars and the requisition is position-specific.  Any resumes, curriculum vitae, and other unsolicited assistance from search firms that do not have a written search agreement or position-specific requisition submitted to any Associate of Mars will be deemed the sole property of Mars and no fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Mars.