Pregis Logo

Pregis

Director, Process Engineering

Posted 4 Hours Ago
Be an Early Applicant
In-Office
Chicago, IL, USA
180K-220K Annually
Expert/Leader
In-Office
Chicago, IL, USA
180K-220K Annually
Expert/Leader
Leads enterprise process engineering strategy across a multi-site manufacturing network. Establishes engineering standards, develops automation and technology roadmaps, drives operational excellence, supports capital investments, and leads manufacturing modernization. Partners with operations, quality, supply chain, finance, and business leaders to improve safety, productivity, reliability, quality, throughput, cost, and EBITDA. Builds technical capabilities and influences adoption of common engineering practices across business units.
The summary above was generated by AI

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.

    #corp1

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.

HQ

Pregis Deerfield, Illinois, USA Office

Deerfield, IL, United States

Similar Jobs

21 Days Ago
Hybrid
North Chicago, IL, USA
161K-305K Annually
Senior level
161K-305K Annually
Senior level
Healthtech • Pharmaceutical
Lead early-phase drug product manufacturing process development for synthetic molecules, from concept through commercial-ready processes. Responsibilities include partnering with CMC teams, scaling processes from bench to pilot plant, troubleshooting formulation and material challenges, advancing small-molecule manufacturing technologies, mentoring scientists, influencing technical strategy, and ensuring safety, quality, and regulatory compliance. The role may include technical and people leadership at the director level.
Top Skills: Direct CompressionDry GranulationEncapsulationFilm CoatingHot Melt ExtrusionPilot Plant Scale-UpSmall Molecule FormulationTabletingWet Granulation
22 Days Ago
Hybrid
North Chicago, IL, USA
207K-393K Annually
Senior level
207K-393K Annually
Senior level
Healthtech • Pharmaceutical
Leads enterprise process engineering strategy, governance, standards, technical assurance, and project delivery for biologics drug substance and cell and gene therapy manufacturing investments. Provides technical direction across facilities, platforms, sites, and capital projects; supports concept development, technology deployment, scale-up, operational readiness, and risk management. Partners with operations, quality, CQV, EHS, supply chain, vendors, and engineering firms while building team capability through mentoring, standards, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement.
Top Skills: Aseptic ProcessingBiologics Drug SubstanceBioreactorsCell And Gene TherapyClosed ProcessingCqvCryogenic And Cold-Chain SystemsEpcmFront-End EngineeringGmpManufacturing Scale-UpMrnaOemsProcess DesignProcess EngineeringPurificationSingle-Use SystemsTechnology TransferViral Vectors
29 Days Ago
Hybrid
North Chicago, IL, USA
207K-393K Annually
Senior level
207K-393K Annually
Senior level
Healthtech • Pharmaceutical
Provides enterprise leadership and technical governance for process engineering across biologics drug substance and cell and gene therapy manufacturing investments. Establishes global engineering standards, supports facility concepts and capital projects, oversees process design and technology deployment, manages technical risks, and integrates engineering with operations, quality, validation, EHS, supply chain, and external partners. Leads technical teams, develops engineering capability, and ensures safe, compliant, reliable, operable, and scalable manufacturing solutions across sites and strategic investment programs.
Top Skills: Aseptic ProcessingBioreactorsCell ProcessingClosed ProcessingCold-Chain SystemsCqvCryogenic SystemsGmpHarvest SystemsPurification SystemsSingle-Use SystemsViral Vector Manufacturing

What you need to know about the Chicago Tech Scene

With vibrant neighborhoods, great food and more affordable housing than either coast, Chicago might be the most liveable major tech hub. It is the birthplace of modern commodities and futures trading, a national hub for logistics and commerce, and home to the American Medical Association and the American Bar Association. This diverse blend of industry influences has helped Chicago emerge as a major player in verticals like fintech, biotechnology, legal tech, e-commerce and logistics technology. It’s also a major hiring center for tech companies on both coasts.

Key Facts About Chicago Tech

  • Number of Tech Workers: 245,800; 5.2% of overall workforce (2024 CompTIA survey)
  • Major Tech Employers: McDonald’s, John Deere, Boeing, Morningstar
  • Key Industries: Artificial intelligence, biotechnology, fintech, software, logistics technology
  • Funding Landscape: $2.5 billion in venture capital funding in 2024 (Pitchbook)
  • Notable Investors: Pritzker Group Venture Capital, Arch Venture Partners, MATH Venture Partners, Jump Capital, Hyde Park Venture Partners
  • Research Centers and Universities: Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Illinois Institute of Technology, Argonne National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Sign up now Access later

Create Free Account

Please log in or sign up to report this job.

Create Free Account