Be the reason

The Staples Own Brand team is the creative and strategic engine behind the products that carry the Staples name—delivering quality, value, and innovation across categories our customers rely on every day. We partner closely with merchants, product developers, designers, and suppliers to build differentiated products that meet the needs of businesses of all sizes. Our team blends data, insight, and creativity to design meaningful solutions and deliver a consistently exceptional customer experience. Together, we shape the future of Staples’ brands and elevate how they show up across retail, digital, and B2B channels. 

The Role:

The Director, Packaging – Private Brands leads the strategic development and execution of packaging across the Staples Private Brands portfolio, ensuring every product delivers a strong, clear, and consistent customer experience. 

• Oversee structural design, material selection, sustainability initiatives, and supplier collaboration to produce packaging that is functional, impactful, and cost-effective.
• Partner closely with Product Development, Sourcing, Quality & Compliance, Brand & Content, Merchandising, and Commercial Activation to align packaging with business objectives, brand intent, and channel needs. 
• Serve as the organization’s packaging expert, setting standards, driving innovation, and ensuring packaging quality and accuracy from concept through production.

Impact & Collaboration:

The Director of Packaging has a direct impact on Private Brand performance by ensuring packaging enhances product appeal, communicates value clearly, and supports customer confidence across channels. Effective packaging execution drives sales, reduces returns, and strengthens the overall perception of Staples Private Brands. This role also contributes to operational and financial performance by improving packaging efficiency, reducing costs, and enabling smoother supply chain and merchant execution.

The Director interacts regularly with senior leaders across multiple geographies, merchants, product development teams, suppliers, and cross-functional partners to align packaging decisions with category and brand strategies. They communicate complex packaging concepts and requirements clearly to non-technical stakeholders, ensuring alignment and shared understanding. The role also manages external vendor relationships and represents Private Brands in negotiations, design reviews, and production discussions.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Science, Packaging Engineering, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, or a related technical field OR equivalent work experience.
• 10+ years of experience in packaging development, packaging engineering, structural design, or related roles within consumer goods, retail, or private brands.  
• Strong knowledge of packaging materials, print processes, production workflows, and vendor/supplier management. 
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional projects and delivering packaging solutions from concept through production.  
• Proven ability to balance cost, quality, sustainability, and design requirements in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.  
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate technical packaging concepts for non-technical stakeholders.  
• Leadership experience managing multiple cross-functional stakeholders as well as internal and external partners.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Packaging Science, Packaging Engineering, Industrial Design, Graphic Design, or a related technical field.  
• Experience in private brand packaging within retail, eCommerce, or B2B environments.  
• Expertise in sustainable packaging strategies, material innovation, and circular design principles. 
• Experience managing packaging across international suppliers and multi-country manufacturing networks.  
• Track record of driving packaging system harmonization, cost reduction, or packaging innovation initiatives at scale.

Staples is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by federal, state, or local law

It is unlawful in Massachusetts to require or administer a lie detector test as a condition of employment or continued employment. An employer who violates this law shall be subject to criminal penalties and civil liability.