Georgia Pacific · 4 weeks ago
Paper Innovation Director
Atlanta, GA
Full-time
Hybrid
Director/ExecutiveGeorgia-Pacific is a leading manufacturer in the packaging industry, and they are seeking a Paper Innovation Director to lead their paper innovation efforts. This role involves overseeing the Paper Science Lab and managing the innovation portfolio to deliver scalable and profitable outcomes for the company.
Paper & Forest Products
Responsibilities
Own and evolve GP Packaging’s paper innovation portfolio, aligning projects to strategic priorities, customer needs, and compelling ROI
Lead the Paper Science Lab at i2 as a world-class R&D and testing resource for containerboard mills, box plants, and customers
Guide the identification, scoping, and execution of new paper products, processes, and technologies, from concept through mill trial and commercialization
Partner with business leaders to prioritize work that maximizes value creation and competitive advantage
Lead, coach, and develop a contribution-motivated PSL team
Establish clear Roles, Responsibilities, and Expectations (RREs) tied to value creation, experimentation, and individual growth
Foster a culture of principled decision-making, learning, and scientific rigor
Identify and remove technical, organizational, or resource bottlenecks that limit speed to value
Own the PSL budget, lab footprint, and equipment strategy within i2
Maintain strong connectivity to suppliers, emerging technologies, academic research, and external demand drivers
Ensure GP remains at the forefront of paper science, sustainability-driven innovation, and material performance
Serve in a customer-facing leadership role, supporting direct engagement with corrugated box plants and end customers
Translate customer needs into paper performance opportunities and innovation pathways
Build and maintain a working knowledge of the processes, constraints, and capabilities of GP Containerboard mills, GP Box, Mailers, and Hummingbird facilities
Support i2 customer visits, trainings, and showcases by providing a credible paper mill and R&D perspective
Partner across GP R&D, Operations, Commercial, and Innovation teams to identify profitable paper growth opportunities
Develop points of view (POVs) on where paper innovation can unlock new markets, performance advantages, or cost positions
Work closely with Operations to design, execute, and scale mill trials that lead to commercial adoption
Build strong collaborative relationships across i2 and the NTC Papermaking Platform to leverage shared knowledge, tools, and assets
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Material Science, Paper Science, or a related scientific field
Significant on-site paper mill experience in process engineering, operations, or R&D/innovation roles
Demonstrated people leadership and supervisory experience
Preferred
Advanced degree (MS or PhD) in a relevant technical discipline
Proven portfolio and project management experience in an R&D or innovation environment
Hands-on paper mill and R&D lab experience, including trial design and commercialization
Experience engaging customers or commercial partners in technical innovation discussions
Benefits
Medical
Dental
Vision
Flexible spending and health savings accounts
Life insurance
ADD
Disability
Retirement
Paid vacation/time off
Educational assistance
Infertility assistance
Paid parental leave
Adoption assistance
Company
Georgia Pacific
Georgia-Pacific (spam account)
Founded in 1927
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Georgia Pacific has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (57)
2024 (37)
2023 (46)
2022 (44)
2021 (16)
2020 (21)
Funding
Current Stage
Late StageLeadership Team
Brooke Feikert, SHRM-CP
HR Business Partner - Recruiting Lead
Curtis Weisner
Human Resources Business Partner
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