Job Description

At the Hawthorne Gardening Company (HGC) we want our people to empower more people to garden no matter where and how they choose to grow. We accomplish this by encouraging people to live happier, healthier lives through gardening. If you also feel this way then you’d fit in great with us!

Position Summary

Hawthorne Gardening Company, an industry leader in the hydroponics gardening space, is looking for a packaging engineer who will grow at our Hawthorne Gardening Headquarters in Vancouver, WA. This role will focus on the Engineered Solutions portion of the Hawthorne Gardening company portfolio which includes lighting, filters, hardware, and HVAC components.

The Packaging Engineer will join a dynamic team responsible for the development, testing and commercialization of packaging solutions across a wide range of hydroponic horticultural products.  This candidate will be called upon to lead packaging projects for new product launches as well as continuous improvement of existing products and packaging.  Project activities include: concept design and refinement, timeline development, resource planning, testing and optimization, data collection and analysis, development of specifications, pre-commercial scale-up and support of product launch.

The packaging engineer will work with a broad range of materials and processes including plastic, paper, wood and metal packaging materials in both rigid and flexible formats. The Packaging Engineer will successfully collaborate with packaging suppliers, R&D, Quality, Supply Chain and Marketing to ensure business alignment during development and drive technical excellence throughout the product launch. 

Key Work Performed    

Execution – 60%

• Works in multifunctional teams with Marketing, Supply Chain, R&D and suppliers to commercialize new and improve existing packaging systems
• Prepares project timelines and tracks progress from concept through implementation
• Develops and refines concepts for new products, packaging and processes
• Develops budgetary quotes/cost estimates for new packaging programs
• Creates package test protocols, executes testing and interprets data to insure package integrity throughout product lifecycle
• Effectively manages the work of suppliers and contractors that are designing, developing, and prototyping packaging
• Provides assistance to internal and external Quality and Operations teams during startup of new products or packages

Innovation – 20%

• Identifies novel packaging concepts to satisfy unmet customer/consumer needs and performs feasibility testing to determine commercialization potential
• Develops and refines new product and packaging concepts into business proposals with detailed plans to commercialize

Continuous Improvement – 20%

• Identify packaging opportunities that lead to cost, quality and/or service improvements
• Collaborates with Quality and Operations to design, qualify and implement enhancements
• Creates and implements process improvements to boost efficiency

Preferred Qualifications:

Education:

B.S. Degree – Packaging Science, Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial Engineering or related field of education and/or experience

Experience:

• 2-5 years developing primary packaging solutions, preferably consumer packaged goods
• A strong track record of successful new packaging launches

Knowledge:

• Fundamental engineering principles and scientific theory
• Solid understanding of project management and the product development process
• Working knowledge of flexible and rigid plastic packaging systems
• Basic knowledge of manufacturing operations and quality systems

Competencies:

• Critical thinking and problem solving (root cause / corrective action)
• Managing complex projects with various internal and external stakeholders
• Strong written and verbal technical communication
• Results driven self-starter

What we do for our associates (just to list a few cool ones):

• Offer extremely competitive benefits including: Health, Dental and Vision coverage with discounted generic prescriptions and wellness incentive program.
• Onsite wellness center which includes: state of the art fitness facility, Walgreen’s pharmacy and Doctor’s office. Colleagues and their family can receive complimentary care from this facility.
• Unbelievable 401K match and discounted stock purchasing program.
• Our commitment to diversity and inclusion includes four employee resource groups: Scotts Women’s Network, Scotts Black Employee Network, Scotts Veterans Network and Scotts Young Professionals.
• 12 SMG paid holidays and generous vacation day policy.

Not interested in this role? Check out our other career opportunities and learn more about what it’s like to work at Hawthorne Gardening Company by accessing our Talent Network: HGC Talent Network

The Hawthorne Gardening Company is a start-up company focused on hydroponic gardening. Dedicated to creating high quality products founded in social and environmental responsibility. Backed by the largest lawn and garden company in the U.S. (Scotts Miracle-Gro, NYSE: SMG) we bring new ideas, values, and culture to our endeavors without the constraints of a large corporation. We are an energetic, progressive-minded, sustainability-focused group of highly-motivated individuals, eager to share our love of gardening with the world.

The brands and products within our portfolio include: Sunlight Supply, General Hydroponics, General Organics, Vermicrop, Botanicare, AeroGarden, CanFilters and Gavita Lighting.

Hawthorne Gardening Company is an EEO Employer, dedicated to a culturally diverse, drug free workplace.

EEO/AA Employer/Minority/Female/Disability/Veteran/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity

Notification to Agencies:

Please note that the Hawthorne Gardening Company does not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of a signed Master Service Agreement, and specific approval to submit resumes to an approved requisition, the Hawthorne Gardening Company will not consider or approve payment regarding recruiter fees or referral compensations.