Title:  Creative Design Associate - Lab Technician

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At Graphic Packaging International, we produce the paper cup that held your coffee this morning, the basket that transported those bottles of craft beer you enjoyed last weekend, and the microwave tray that heated your gourmet meal last night. We’re one of the largest manufacturers of paperboard and paper-based packaging for some of the world’s most recognized brands of food, beverage, foodservice, household, personal care and pet products. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, we are collaborative, diverse, innovative individuals who create inspired packaging while giving back to our communities. 

With over 25,000 employees working in more than 130 locations worldwide, we strive to be environmentally responsible in our industry and in the communities where we operate. We are committed to workplace diversity and offer compensation and benefits programs that are among the industry’s best to reward the talented people who make our company successful.

If this sounds like something you would like to be a part of, we’d love to hear from you.

A World of Difference. Made Possible.

The Mission of the Innovation and Design department is to develop new packaging solutions through creative structural design, that are desirable, feasible, and viable.  Collaboratively working within the I&D department with Sales, Marketing, Business Development and R&D, to ensure success through all phases of development. 

As a Creative Design Associate – Lab Technician, you will get to work with some of the largest consumer product, food service, and beverage companies in the world; inspiring and bringing to life new and innovative solutions to help launch new products and solve challenging problems.  At Graphic Packaging, we truly value innovation and pride ourselves in creating packaging solutions that change the world.   The Innovation & Design department is part of the Global Innovation & New Business organization that reports directly to the CEO.  This position will allow you the opportunity to work on global initiatives with teams across the world.

The Creative Design Associate – Lab Technician position requires extensive knowledge of paperboard and corrugate properties, along with industry standard test procedures. The position is responsible for the continuation of industry and customer supported testing methods, documentation of methods and procedures, facility management and delivery of industry class testing results throughout all facets of GPI’s ideation, development, commercialization stages. The position maintains a high level of interaction with product designers, commercialization managers and machinery personnel to effectively manage the flow of testing information. The Technician will maintain a solid consistent repeatable testing system while also advancing new methods to support changing package design.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES: (including but not limited to the following)

Laboratory Testing:  The Lab Technician is knowledgeable or has reference to both packaging industry standards and GPI customer’s testing specifications.

• ANSI, Tappi and other industry standards
• Customer specification, adaptable to changing customer requirements.
• ISTA/ASTM or similar (Child Resistance, BCT, etc.)
• In-depth interaction with structural designers, production plants, customer representatives, and project managers
• Train & mentor structural designers on testing procedures and provide recommendations based upon testing learnings.
• Writes detailed reports and emails stating results and conclusions, and future course of action from the lab work, or research completed.
• Other duties as assigned.

Facilities Management:  Provide a testing facility that is continuously functional, safe and is inclusive of well-maintained and accurate testing devices.

• Maintain lab equipment in fully functional, calibrated status.
• Maintain TAPPI systems, including Environmental Chambers and Water Filtration devices.
• Support and advance GPI’s safety policies with a vigilance and the labs internal developed methodologies

Lab Processes: 

• Standard Operation Procedures (SOP) for all standard tests
• Specific forms for data collection and results reporting.
• Keep up to date on ISTA and ISTA protocols.
• Maintain a directory of historical results.
• Utilize systems such as SAP or WebCenter for workflows and provide timely testing reports with interpretation and recommendations based on results.
• Manage outside services for lab equipment, as well as managing the onboarding and contracting of temp labor to help, when needed, to support large or time sensitive projects.

Teamwork:

• The foundation of the creative design team is rooted in teamwork, with members proactively communicating and coordinating on projects that require assistance.
• Creating, maintaining, and nurturing relationships with design managers, team members, customer, sales, customer service, manufacturing design and carton converting groups is required.
• All department team members must share knowledge across the organization by proactively communicating new developments. This includes invention record filings, internal and external patent findings, testing procedures/learnings and/or new manufacturing techniques and interesting market observations.

Education / Knowledge / Skills:

• 2-year/associate degree (science-based curriculum such as mathematics, physics, chemistry, packaging) and 5 years’ experience, or 4 year degree (BA/BS) with 2 years’ experience working in a physical test laboratory or closely related field preferred.  Packaging and/or material experience a benefit.  Knowledge of packaging test standards (ASTM, Tappi) a bonus.
• Packaging performance testing experience acquired through work is a strong asset to this position and may receive additional consideration.
• Experience with CAD software a plus but not required.

Schedule Demands:

General schedule is an 8-hour M-F assignment, however, employee must be willing to work alternate schedules occasionally; that may include early mornings, nights, and/or weekends and be punctual while doing so. Occasional overnight travel to include flying, driving, riding or by rail.

Physical Demands:

• Sitting or standing for extended periods of time up to 8-hours
• Occasional lifting up to 50 lbs.
• Reading computer screen or other electronic devices
• Use of various office hand and electrical tools or equipment

Salary Min:   $47,670.00

Salary Mid:   $63,525.00

Salary Max:  $79,380.00

Graphic Packaging is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All candidates will be evaluated on the basis of their qualifications for the job in question. We do not base our employment decision on an employee's or applicant's race, color, religion, age, gender or sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic identity, genetic information, disability, veteran/military status or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law. Click here to view the Poster, EEO is the Law.

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