Prototype & Product Testing Manager

Novolex is a premier manufacturer specializing in food, beverage, and specialty packaging products that cater to a diverse range of industries including foodservice, restaurant delivery and carryout, food processing, grocery and retail, and industrial sectors. With expertise spanning a broad spectrum of substrates such as resin, paper, molded fiber, aluminum, and more, Novolex offers an extensive catalog of solutions featuring 120 product categories, 250 brands, and over 39,000 SKUs. The company is deeply committed to sustainability, guided by three core pillars: its products, operations, and people. This commitment is integral to Novolex's growth strategy and future business prospects, resulting in numerous initiatives aimed at achieving ambitious sustainability goals across all facets of the company.

The Prototype & Product Testing Manager role at Novolex is a critical leadership position within the Innovation organization, situated at the Roanoke Innovation Center in Roanoke, TX. This role is responsible for overseeing two vital functions: hands-on prototyping at the Applied Innovation Center (AIC) and structured product testing that supports product development, competitive analysis, and claims substantiation. Serving cross-functionally across Novolex's diverse product portfolio—including flexible films, bags and sacks, foodservice packaging, and specialty substrates—this manager acts as a technical bridge between customer-facing innovation activities and in-depth laboratory evaluations. The position ensures the development of credible product performance demonstrations and accelerates the creation of innovative solutions across multiple substrate platforms.

Key responsibilities for this position include leading prototyping activities that produce samples for customer innovation sessions and internal concept validations, translating customer briefs into tangible prototypes using lab or pilot-scale equipment, and maintaining operational readiness of AIC prototyping machinery. Furthermore, the manager develops and documents standard operating procedures to guarantee prototype production consistency and collaborates closely with innovation directors and teams to prioritize prototype requests. In addition to prototyping, the role is charged with designing and executing test plans to evaluate new materials and products, benchmarking competitor products, and supporting commercial claims substantiation through meticulous documentation and testing. The position also involves managing relationships with external testing partners, mentoring junior team members, communicating technical findings effectively to diverse stakeholders, and participating in cross-functional projects.

This hands-on, lab- and production-floor-based role requires familiarity with processing, converting, and testing equipment across multiple substrates. The role includes periodic travel to Novolex manufacturing facilities, customer sites, or supplier locations. It demands strong organizational skills, technical expertise in packaging science, and excellent communication abilities to translate complex technical data into actionable business insights. The role is ideal for a seasoned professional with a background in materials science or a related discipline and extensive experience in packaging product development and testing environments. Novolex fosters an inclusive work environment and provides comprehensive benefits, supporting employee well-being and career growth.