Packaging Strategy Lead - Optimization

Target Owned Brands:

At the heart of one of the world’s best loved and most recognizable brands is an impeccable Owned Brand organization. We thrive on the magic of discovering that just-right thing, and we infuse everything we do with our passion for delighting our guests. We concept, develop, make and deliver great new products that Target guests expect and deserve. We are uber-savvy trend, style, and market experts who stay ahead of the curve, proactively identifying our market’s needs and exceeding them, every time. Join one of our dynamic and inventive teams to influence the style, performance, quality and value that decisively position Target above the competition. Your input will have a direct and positive effect. Here, you’ll be close to the action of dreaming up and bringing to life the Target-owned brands that surprise and gratify guests, wherever and whenever they love to shop.

Job Overview:

Join Target Packaging and lead the development of packaging for our beloved Owned Brands and exclusive partnerships. Your influence will drive sales and grow brand love through packaging that’s guest-centric, on brand, competitive at shelf and designed to improve speed-to-market, reduce waste, and maximize efficiency across sourcing, supply chain, and operations. In this role, you will enable how packaging work gets done by driving operational excellence, governance, and change management across Owned Brand & Enterprise initiatives. This position focuses on orchestrating cross-functional efforts, centralizing communication, and building scalable processes that unlock productivity, sustainability, and cost optimization. Acting as a strategic enabler, you’ll streamline workflows, build capabilities, and drive global collaboration. You’ll deliver solutions that not only meet but proactively anticipate business needs, aligned with Target Forward, regulatory compliance, and enterprise efficiency.

As a Packaging Strategy Lead - Optimization you will:

Operational Tactics & Governance

• Establish governance routines and prioritization frameworks to align packaging initiatives with Owned Brand and Enterprise goals.

• Sequence and resource workstreams to ensure timely, efficient delivery while managing team capacity.

• Identify risks early and implement mitigation strategies to reduce disruption and maintain momentum.

• Track progress through clear KPIs and reporting tools that drive visibility and accountability.

Change Management & Communication

• Guide teams through change by applying practical frameworks and thoughtful planning.

• Serve as the central hub for consistent, transparent communication across Packaging Business teams, Optimization & Stewardship, and Design & Innovation.

• Craft messaging which connects tactical work to strategic outcomes, ensuring clarity and alignment across audiences.

Capability Building

• Continuously improve how packaging work gets done—through refined processes, smarter tools, and scalable routines.

• Anticipate roadblocks and help teams make informed decisions when trade-offs are needed.

• Advocate for the technology, data, and resources needed to enable packaging excellence.

Cross-Team Collaboration

• Build strong partnerships across product, brand, sourcing, supply chain and packaging teams to foster alignment and shared ownership.

• Make cross-functional dependencies visible and actionable through integrated planning tools and routines.

• Enable agility by creating collaboration mechanisms that adapt to shifting priorities and business needs.

About you:

• 4-year degree or equivalent experience.

• 8+ years of experience managing documentation, standards, or portfolio work—ideally within packaging design, development, or consumer goods.

• Proven ability to influence without authority, facilitate meetings, resolve conflict, build consensus, and collaborate effectively across all levels of an organization.

• Strong communicator with experience crafting clear, compelling messaging across internal and external audiences, with a focus on clarity, alignment, and actionable outcomes.

• Skilled in documentation best practices, technical writing, and reporting.

• Experienced in developing and delivering trainings, roadshows, and communication strategies that drive engagement and understanding.

• Demonstrated success leading teams or cross-functional projects, fostering collaboration and shared ownership.

• Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

• Familiarity with packaging or consumer goods manufacturing preferred.

• Highly organized and comfortable managing multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.

• Effective in navigating ambiguity and adapting to shifting priorities.

• Proficient in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Word, Excel) and Visio.

• Values diverse perspectives and is committed to fostering inclusive, equitable experiences across teams.

This position will operate as a Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement based on Target’s needs. A Hybrid/Flex for Your Day work arrangement means the team member’s core role will need to be performed both onsite at the Target HQ MN location the role is assigned to and virtually, depending upon what your role, team and tasks require for that day. Work duties cannot be performed outside of the country of the primary work location, unless otherwise prescribed by Target. Click here if you are curious to learn more about Minnesota.