Director, R&D - Labeling and Packaging

Job description

We are the people who give possibilities purpose BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world. Advancing the world of health™ is our Purpose, and it’s no small feat. It takes the imagination and passion of all of us—from design and engineering to the manufacturing and marketing of our billions of MedTech products per year—to look at the impossible and find transformative solutions that turn dreams into possibilities. Job Description Director, Labeling & Packaging, R&D – UCC Be part of something bigger! BD is one of the largest global medical technology companies in the world and is advancing the world of health by improving medical discovery, diagnostics, and the delivery of care. With over 70,000 employees worldwide, BD addresses some of the most complex global health challenges through innovation, quality, and operational excellence. Position Summary The Director of Labeling & Packaging is a key member of the UCC R&D leadership team, responsible for setting the strategic direction and operational execution of labeling and packaging across innovation, new product development (NPD), and sustaining engineering (SE). This role brings a consumer-centric mindset to product experience—ensuring that labeling and packaging not only meet regulatory requirements but also enhance usability, clarity, and market competitiveness. The Director will drive process excellence, efficiency, and scalability within the labeling and packaging functions while ensuring compliance with global medical device regulations. Focus Areas Consumer-Centric Design Excellence: Embed consumer product packaging principles to elevate usability, clarity, and shelf/point-of-use impact Operational Efficiency & Process Transformation: Drive standardization, automation, and continuous improvement (e.g., AI-enabled workflows, labeling throughput optimization) Regulatory Compliance & Quality: Ensure adherence to global medical device labeling, packaging, and design control requirements Execution & Delivery: Ensure on-time, high-quality delivery of labeling and packaging across NPD and SE portfolios Talent & Organization Development: Build a high-performing, scalable organization with strong technical and operational capabilities Primary Responsibilities Strategy & Leadership Define and execute the long-term strategy for labeling and packaging aligned with UCC growth objectives Serve as the functional leader across labeling and packaging, providing direction across platforms and projects Act as a key contributor to functional and business strategy development Consumer-Centric Packaging & Labeling Apply consumer product design principles to improve product differentiation, usability, and customer experience Partner with Marketing and Design teams to ensure packaging and labeling meet evolving customer needs and expectations Drive innovation in packaging formats, materials, and labeling presentation Process Excellence & Continuous Improvement Lead transformation initiatives to improve labeling and packaging efficiency, throughput, and predictability Standardize workflows (e.g., artwork creation, review cycles, release processes) and eliminate waste Implement digital and AI-enabled solutions to accelerate labeling and packaging processes Develop and track key performance metrics (cycle time, quality, cost, delivery) Program Execution Oversee labeling and packaging deliverables across the full product lifecycle (concept through commercialization and sustaining) Ensure alignment with BD’s Global Product Development System (GPDS) and design control practices Provide governance, risk management, and escalation support for critical programs Regulatory & Quality Compliance Ensure all labeling and packaging meet global regulatory requirements (e.g., FDA, EU MDR, ISO standards) Partner with Quality and Regulatory Affairs to ensure compliance within BD’s Quality Management System Maintain inspection readiness and support audits Cross-Functional Collaboration Partner with R&D, Quality, Regulatory, Operations, Marketing, and Supply Chain Ensure seamless integration of labeling and packaging into product development and commercialization plans Serve as a key stakeholder in platform and portfolio decision-making Talent Development & Organization Leadership Build and lead a high-performing team of labeling and packaging professionals Develop technical depth and leadership capability across the organization Drive a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and BD Excellence mindset Candidate Profile BD is seeking a transformational and execution-focused leader who combines consumer product insight with strong operational discipline and regulatory awareness. Required Qualifications Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Packaging Science, Industrial Design, or related field (advanced degree preferred) 12+ years of experience in packaging, labeling, or product development, including leadership roles Proven experience in consumer products packaging and/or industrial design Demonstrated success driving process improvements and operational efficiency in a complex organization Experience working within regulated industries (medical device preferred) Preferred Qualifications Experience integrating consumer design principles into healthcare or regulated environments Knowledge of global labeling and packaging regulations (e.g., FDA, EU MDR, ISO 13485) Experience with digital/AI tools for labeling workflows and artwork management Background in high-volume consumables or disposable product categories Critical Skills & Competencies Strategic thinking and business acumen Strong execution discipline and process mindset Consumer mindset and design sensitivity Cross-functional leadership and influence Data-driven decision making Change leadership and organizational transformation Talent development and team building Why Join Us? Join a leadership team driving a transformation in how UCC delivers innovation—expanding from traditional MedTech into consumer-focused, design-driven solutions at scale. Here is a BD-style “Key Success Metrics” section you can append to the job description. I’ve aligned these to your operating model (velocity, capacity, range), labeling/process transformation priorities, and the execution discipline reflected in your internal materials (e.g., focus on delivery, process improvement, and compliance rigor). Key Success Metrics Execution & Delivery (Velocity) On-Time Labeling & Packaging Delivery: ≥95% of NPD and SE milestones met on time Cycle Time Reduction: 20–30% reduction in end-to-end labeling/artwork release cycle time Right-First-Time Yield: ≥98% approval rate on first submission for labeling and packaging deliverables Launch Readiness: Zero delays to commercialization attributable to labeling or packaging readiness Operational Efficiency & Capacity Throughput Improvement: ≥25% increase in labeling project throughput without proportional headcount increase Workload Balance & Utilization: Optimized resource utilization across labeling and packaging teams (measured via load vs. capacity dashboards) Automation Adoption: Measurable increase in use of digital/AI-enabled workflows (e.g., artwork comparison, automation of updates) Cost Efficiency: Year-over-year reduction in cost per labeling/packaging deliverable Quality & Compliance Audit Performance: Zero major findings related to labeling/packaging in internal/external audits Regulatory Compliance: 100% adherence to applicable global regulations (e.g., FDA, EU MDR, ISO 13485) Error Rate Reduction: Continuous reduction in labeling errors, deviations, and post-release corrections Inspection Readiness: Sustained state of readiness with no compliance-driven business disruption Consumer-Centric Impact (Range / Market Impact) Customer Experience Improvement: Measurable improvements in usability, readability, and product interaction feedback (VOC / HF metrics) Design Differentiation: Increa