Lead Data Scientist, Manufacturing & AI

Company Overview

Why Choose Us?

Novolex is a leading manufacturer of food, beverage, and specialty packaging that supports multiple industries including foodservice, restaurant delivery and carryout, food processing, grocery and retail, and industrial sectors. Novolex manufacturing and sourcing expertise spans a diverse range of substrates including resin, paper, molded fiber, aluminum and more. We provide customers a broad array of stock and customized solutions with 120 product categories, 250 brands and over 39,000 SKUs.

Our Sustainability Commitment

The Novolex sustainability vision is built upon three pillars: our products, our operations and our people. Each is critically important to our growth and future as a business. These pillars form the foundation of our company-wide commitment to sustainability, helping us achieve our ambitious goals through our wide-ranging initiatives.

Job Description

Job Overview

The Lead Data Scientist provides technical and people leadership for enterprise Manufacturing AI, Machine Learning, and Industry 4.0 initiatives supporting the Digital Manufacturing organization. This role is responsible for developing and deploying scalable AI-driven solutions that improve safety, quality, reliability, productivity, asset performance, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) across a multi-plant manufacturing network.

The ideal candidate would be located in the Chicago, Charlotte, Atlanta, or Dallas area.

The position partners with Operational Excellence, Asset Care, Engineering, IT, Supply Chain, Plant Leadership, and Digital Manufacturing teams to build enterprise analytics capabilities and accelerate the organization's digital transformation strategy.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing AI & Industry 4.0

• Lead the enterprise Manufacturing AI roadmap supporting predictive, prescriptive, and autonomous manufacturing.

• Develop AI/ML solutions for predictive maintenance, process optimization, quality prediction, energy optimization, and throughput improvement.

• Drive adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies including connected assets, IIoT, digital manufacturing platforms, and advanced analytics.

• Identify high-value AI use cases and deliver measurable business value across multiple manufacturing sites.

Digital Manufacturing Platforms

• Develop solutions leveraging Microsoft Fabric, Azure AI, Azure Machine Learning, Azure Databricks, PI System, Insight, Vorne, MES platforms, ERP systems, and Industrial IoT data.

• Integrate historian, machine, quality, maintenance, and operational data into scalable analytics solutions.

• Establish enterprise standards for data governance, model lifecycle management, and reusable AI assets.

People Leadership

• Lead, coach, mentor, and develop Data Scientists and Analytics professionals.

• Provide technical direction, code reviews, model reviews, and career development.

• Build a high-performing analytics team and foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

• Manage project prioritization, workload planning, and resource allocation.

Business Leadership

• Partner with leadership to define the Digital Manufacturing analytics roadmap.

• Translate business strategy into AI and analytics initiatives aligned with Operational Excellence objectives.

• Present recommendations and business cases to senior executives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, Data Science, Engineering, Statistics, Industrial Engineering, or related field required.

• Master's degree preferred

• 8+ years of Data Science, AI, or Machine Learning experience.

• 3–5 years leading technical teams or Data Scientists.

• Manufacturing, industrial automation, or process manufacturing experience required.

Technical Expertise

• Python, SQL, Spark/PySpark, R, Git

• Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Time Series Forecasting, Computer Vision, Optimization, MLOps

• Microsoft Fabric, Azure AI Foundry/Azure AI Services, Azure Machine Learning, Azure Databricks

• OSIsoft PI System, Insight, Vorne, MES, ERP, Industrial IoT platforms

• Power BI, Tableau, enterprise dashboard development

Leadership Competencies

• Strategic Leadership

• Enterprise Digital Transformation

• Manufacturing AI

• Industry 4.0

• Operational Excellence

• Cross-functional Influence

• Executive Communication

• Coaching & Talent Development

• Innovation

• Business Acumen

Success Measures

• Accelerate enterprise AI adoption across manufacturing.

• Improve OEE, reliability, quality, and cost through deployed AI solutions.

• Establish standardized Manufacturing AI architecture and governance.

• Develop a high-performing Data Science team.

• Deliver measurable financial impact supporting the Digital Manufacturing strategy.

Compensation:

A reasonable estimate of the current range is $135,000 - 160,000 + bonus + benefits. The range displayed on each job posting reflects the minimum and maximum target salaries for the position across all US locations. Within the range, individual pay is determined by job-related skills, experience, and relevant education or training. At Novolex, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at the top of the range for their role and compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each case.

The benefits for this role include 401(k) plan with company match, comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, paid vacation, and sick days, paid parental leave, paid holidays and wellness program.

#LI-TM1

Company Benefits

What You'll Get From Us

Benefits

With safety as our top priority and a commitment to employee well-being an important focus, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits that include medical, dental and vision insurance as well as a variety of other well-being resources focused on mental, physical and financial health. Specific benefits and well-being programs may vary depending on where you work.

Community Engagement

At Novolex, giving back to the local communities that support us is important. Our Focused Giving Program prioritizes support for organizations whose missions promote sustainability initiatives or address food and hunger needs. We also encourage facility level support of activities in the communities where our employees live and work.

Training and Development

We offer constant opportunities for advancement. From skills development to advanced education programs, training and development programs and courses are available through MyLearning. Programs include company and industry training curricula, support for formal education through the Tuition Reimbursement Program (Non-Union), and a Learning Management System that supports and enhances employee skills at all levels of the organization.

Novolex is committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices, including but not limited to selection, hiring, promotion, transfer, and compensation to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, handicap or disability, genetics, citizenship status, service member or veteran status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law. Any individual who, because of his or her disability, needs an accommodation in connection with an aspect of the Company's application process should contact [email protected] .

Formerly Pactiv Evergreen

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Job Locations US-IL-Lake Forest

ID 2026-34988

Category Operations

Position Type Full Time

Pay Type Salaried