Green Card Director of Research and Development Jobs
Director of Research and Development roles attract EB-2 and EB-3 green card sponsorship from employers in pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, advanced manufacturing, and technology. The PERM labor certification process requires a prevailing wage determination and a formal recruitment test before the employer files an I-140 petition with USCIS. Priority-date backlogs vary by country of birth, so starting the sponsorship process early matters.
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Get Access To All JobsINTRODUCTION
Accelerate the possible by joining a winning Amcor team that’s transforming the packaging industry and improving lives around the world. At Amcor, we unpack possibility through our innovative and responsible packaging to provide solutions that benefit our customers, our people and our planet. More than 10,000 consumers worldwide encounter our products every second and rely on us for safe access to food, medicine and other goods. We value their trust by making safety our guiding principle. It’s our core value and integral to how we do business.
Beyond this core principle, our shared values and behaviors unite us as we work together to elevate customers, shape lives and protect the future. We champion our customers and help them succeed. We play to win – adapting quickly in an everchanging world – and make smart choices to safeguard our business, our communities and the people we serve for generations to come. And we invest in our world-class team, empowering our colleagues to unpack their potential, because we believe when our people grow, so does our business.
JOB DESCRIPTION
At Amcor, innovation is at the center of how we create value for customers and drive sustainable growth. As Director, R&D Operations and Innovation, you will play a key leadership role in shaping and advancing our global innovation agenda.
In this role, you will lead the development and execution of differentiated technologies, products, and capabilities that strengthen Amcor's competitive position. Working across R&D, commercial, marketing, operations, and business teams, you will identify opportunities, translate market and customer needs into actionable innovation strategies, and guide programs from concept through commercialization.
You will help create alignment across regions, build organizational capability, and establish the processes, tools, and governance needed to deliver innovation efficiently and consistently. This role combines strategic leadership, technical expertise, and business acumen to accelerate growth, improve performance, and deliver value for customers worldwide.
Strategy, Portfolio Management & R&D Operations:
- Partner with technical, commercial, and business leaders to define and execute a global R&D operations strategy aligned to growth priorities and customer needs.
- Balance short-, medium-, and long-term innovation investments through effective portfolio management and prioritization.
- Establish clear objectives, resource plans, and operating rhythms that advance both innovation and business goals.
- Drive continuous improvement across R&D processes, capabilities, and ways of working.
Innovation, Technology Development & Commercialization:
- Lead the development and commercialization of new technologies, materials, products, and platforms that create customer value and support business growth.
- Translate customer, consumer, and market insights into technology roadmaps, development priorities, and business cases.
- Leverage existing technologies, best practices, and global expertise to accelerate speed-to-market and improve commercialization success.
- Guide innovation programs from concept through launch while supporting effective transitions into business ownership and ongoing operations.
Governance, Tools & Business Performance:
- Develop and implement processes, tools, metrics, dashboards, and governance frameworks that improve visibility, decision-making, and execution.
- Monitor portfolio and project performance, ensuring initiatives remain aligned with strategic objectives and business outcomes.
- Promote data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement across the organization.
- Strengthen quality, knowledge-sharing, and feedback mechanisms to improve technical and operational effectiveness.
Cross-Functional & External Collaboration:
- Serve as a trusted technical and business partner across marketing, commercial, operations, procurement, and R&D teams.
- Collaborate with customers, suppliers, universities, research institutions, and technology partners to identify and advance emerging opportunities.
- Represent the organization in customer and partner interactions, helping address technical challenges and support business objectives.
- Foster strong collaboration across regions to share expertise, capabilities, and best practices.
Global Leadership & Capability Building:
- Participate as a member of the Global R&D extended leadership team, helping shape innovation priorities and long-term capability strategies.
- Lead the global R&D Operations team and provide matrix leadership across regional and business-group R&D organizations.
- Build high-performing teams by developing talent, encouraging collaboration, and creating opportunities for growth.
- Champion a culture of innovation, accountability, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing.
Financial & Resource Leadership:
- Manage budgets, resources, and investments to ensure alignment with the highest-value business and innovation priorities.
- Evaluate trade-offs and allocate resources effectively across innovation, commercialization, operational support, and continuous improvement activities.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Packaging, Chemistry, Polymer Science, or a related technical field required.
- Advanced technical degree and/or MBA preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in R&D, product development, innovation, engineering, or technical operations within a manufacturing, industrial, packaging, consumer goods, or related environment.
- Up to 50% travel.
- Experience leading global or multi-regional technical teams, including direct team leadership and matrix leadership across functions and business groups.
- Demonstrated success developing and commercializing innovative products, technologies, processes, or platforms that deliver measurable business results.
- Solid ability to connect customer, market, and business needs with technical strategies and execution plans.
- Experience managing budgets, resource allocation, and investment priorities across multiple initiatives.
- Working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies; certification preferred.
- Experience collaborating with external partners, including customers, suppliers, universities, research organizations, and technology providers.
- Solid communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively across technical and non-technical audiences.
OUR EXPECTATIONS
We expect our people to be guided by The Amcor Way and demonstrate our Values every day to enable the business to win. We are winning when:
- Our people are engaged and developing as part of a high-performing Amcor team
- Our customers grow and prosper from Amcor’s quality, service, and innovation
- Our investors benefit from Amcor’s consistent growth and superior returns
- The environment is better off because of Amcor’s leadership and products
Equal Opportunity Employer/Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
Amcor is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you would like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please click on the "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal" Poster. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please call 224-313-7000 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
E-Verify
We verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States.
BENEFITS
When you join Amcor, you will have access to a comprehensive benefits and compensation package that includes:
- Medical, dental and vision plans
- Flexible time off, starting at 80 hours paid time per year for full-time salaried employees
- Company-paid holidays starting at 8 days per year and may vary by location
- Wellbeing program & Employee Assistance Program
- Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
- Life insurance, AD&D, short-term & long-term disability, and voluntary benefits
- Paid Parental Leave
- Retirement Savings Plan with company match
- Tuition Reimbursement (dependent upon approval)
- Discretionary annual bonus program (initial eligibility dependent upon hire date)
INTRODUCTION
Accelerate the possible by joining a winning Amcor team that’s transforming the packaging industry and improving lives around the world. At Amcor, we unpack possibility through our innovative and responsible packaging to provide solutions that benefit our customers, our people and our planet. More than 10,000 consumers worldwide encounter our products every second and rely on us for safe access to food, medicine and other goods. We value their trust by making safety our guiding principle. It’s our core value and integral to how we do business.
Beyond this core principle, our shared values and behaviors unite us as we work together to elevate customers, shape lives and protect the future. We champion our customers and help them succeed. We play to win – adapting quickly in an everchanging world – and make smart choices to safeguard our business, our communities and the people we serve for generations to come. And we invest in our world-class team, empowering our colleagues to unpack their potential, because we believe when our people grow, so does our business.
JOB DESCRIPTION
At Amcor, innovation is at the center of how we create value for customers and drive sustainable growth. As Director, R&D Operations and Innovation, you will play a key leadership role in shaping and advancing our global innovation agenda.
In this role, you will lead the development and execution of differentiated technologies, products, and capabilities that strengthen Amcor's competitive position. Working across R&D, commercial, marketing, operations, and business teams, you will identify opportunities, translate market and customer needs into actionable innovation strategies, and guide programs from concept through commercialization.
You will help create alignment across regions, build organizational capability, and establish the processes, tools, and governance needed to deliver innovation efficiently and consistently. This role combines strategic leadership, technical expertise, and business acumen to accelerate growth, improve performance, and deliver value for customers worldwide.
Strategy, Portfolio Management & R&D Operations:
- Partner with technical, commercial, and business leaders to define and execute a global R&D operations strategy aligned to growth priorities and customer needs.
- Balance short-, medium-, and long-term innovation investments through effective portfolio management and prioritization.
- Establish clear objectives, resource plans, and operating rhythms that advance both innovation and business goals.
- Drive continuous improvement across R&D processes, capabilities, and ways of working.
Innovation, Technology Development & Commercialization:
- Lead the development and commercialization of new technologies, materials, products, and platforms that create customer value and support business growth.
- Translate customer, consumer, and market insights into technology roadmaps, development priorities, and business cases.
- Leverage existing technologies, best practices, and global expertise to accelerate speed-to-market and improve commercialization success.
- Guide innovation programs from concept through launch while supporting effective transitions into business ownership and ongoing operations.
Governance, Tools & Business Performance:
- Develop and implement processes, tools, metrics, dashboards, and governance frameworks that improve visibility, decision-making, and execution.
- Monitor portfolio and project performance, ensuring initiatives remain aligned with strategic objectives and business outcomes.
- Promote data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement across the organization.
- Strengthen quality, knowledge-sharing, and feedback mechanisms to improve technical and operational effectiveness.
Cross-Functional & External Collaboration:
- Serve as a trusted technical and business partner across marketing, commercial, operations, procurement, and R&D teams.
- Collaborate with customers, suppliers, universities, research institutions, and technology partners to identify and advance emerging opportunities.
- Represent the organization in customer and partner interactions, helping address technical challenges and support business objectives.
- Foster strong collaboration across regions to share expertise, capabilities, and best practices.
Global Leadership & Capability Building:
- Participate as a member of the Global R&D extended leadership team, helping shape innovation priorities and long-term capability strategies.
- Lead the global R&D Operations team and provide matrix leadership across regional and business-group R&D organizations.
- Build high-performing teams by developing talent, encouraging collaboration, and creating opportunities for growth.
- Champion a culture of innovation, accountability, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing.
Financial & Resource Leadership:
- Manage budgets, resources, and investments to ensure alignment with the highest-value business and innovation priorities.
- Evaluate trade-offs and allocate resources effectively across innovation, commercialization, operational support, and continuous improvement activities.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Packaging, Chemistry, Polymer Science, or a related technical field required.
- Advanced technical degree and/or MBA preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in R&D, product development, innovation, engineering, or technical operations within a manufacturing, industrial, packaging, consumer goods, or related environment.
- Up to 50% travel.
- Experience leading global or multi-regional technical teams, including direct team leadership and matrix leadership across functions and business groups.
- Demonstrated success developing and commercializing innovative products, technologies, processes, or platforms that deliver measurable business results.
- Solid ability to connect customer, market, and business needs with technical strategies and execution plans.
- Experience managing budgets, resource allocation, and investment priorities across multiple initiatives.
- Working knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies; certification preferred.
- Experience collaborating with external partners, including customers, suppliers, universities, research organizations, and technology providers.
- Solid communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to engage effectively across technical and non-technical audiences.
OUR EXPECTATIONS
We expect our people to be guided by The Amcor Way and demonstrate our Values every day to enable the business to win. We are winning when:
- Our people are engaged and developing as part of a high-performing Amcor team
- Our customers grow and prosper from Amcor’s quality, service, and innovation
- Our investors benefit from Amcor’s consistent growth and superior returns
- The environment is better off because of Amcor’s leadership and products
Equal Opportunity Employer/Minorities/Females/Disabled/Veterans/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity
Amcor is an Equal Opportunity Employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
If you would like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please click on the "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal" Poster. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please call 224-313-7000 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
E-Verify
We verify the identity and employment authorization of individuals hired for employment in the United States.
BENEFITS
When you join Amcor, you will have access to a comprehensive benefits and compensation package that includes:
- Medical, dental and vision plans
- Flexible time off, starting at 80 hours paid time per year for full-time salaried employees
- Company-paid holidays starting at 8 days per year and may vary by location
- Wellbeing program & Employee Assistance Program
- Health Savings Account/Flexible Spending Account
- Life insurance, AD&D, short-term & long-term disability, and voluntary benefits
- Paid Parental Leave
- Retirement Savings Plan with company match
- Tuition Reimbursement (dependent upon approval)
- Discretionary annual bonus program (initial eligibility dependent upon hire date)
See all 106+ Green Card Director of Research and Development Jobs
Sign up for free to unlock all listings, filter by visa type, and get alerts for new Green Card Director of Research and Development Jobs.
Get Access To All JobsTips for Finding Green Card Sponsorship in Director of Research and Development
Document your progressive R&D leadership clearly
Compile a career portfolio that traces your progression from individual contributor to director-level decision-maker. USCIS and DOL reviewers scrutinize whether your experience justifies an advanced-degree EB-2 classification, so concrete examples of budget authority, team size, and patent or publication output strengthen your case.
Use O*NET to benchmark your job duties
Pull the Director of Research and Development occupation profile from O*NET before accepting a job description. PERM regulations require the offered position to reflect actual job duties, and aligning your employer's draft description with O*NET's task language reduces the risk of a DOL audit or denial.
Find sponsors through Migrate Mate's verified database
Target companies with a documented history of filing employment-based green card sponsorships for R&D leadership roles. Migrate Mate lists employers with verified sponsorship activity, letting you prioritize outreach to organizations already familiar with the PERM and I-140 process rather than educating a first-time sponsor.
Ask about PERM recruitment timing before accepting
Employers must run a formal DOL-mandated recruitment test before filing PERM, and that process typically takes several months before the I-140 is even submitted. Confirm with the hiring team when they plan to initiate the prevailing wage determination so your priority date isn't delayed by an internal backlog.
Verify your country's priority date before filing
If you were born in India or China, the Final Action Date for EB-2 and EB-3 categories can represent a multi-year wait after your I-140 is approved. Check the monthly Visa Bulletin and factor that timeline into your employment negotiations, particularly around multi-year retention agreements and equity vesting schedules.
Preserve your priority date if you change employers
Once your original I-140 is approved, the priority date it established can often be retained on a new employer's I-140 petition. If your I-485 has been pending at least 180 days, AC21 job portability may also allow you to move to a new R&D director role in the same or a similar occupation without restarting the green card process.
Green Card Director of Research and Development: Frequently Asked Questions
Which green card category is best for a Director of Research and Development?
Most Director of Research and Development candidates qualify under EB-2, which covers roles requiring an advanced degree or a bachelor's degree plus five years of progressive experience in the field. EB-3 is available for those with a bachelor's degree and at least two years of experience. Employers typically prefer EB-2 for director-level R&D roles because the advanced-degree standard aligns with how most companies write the minimum requirements for these positions.
How does green card sponsorship differ from H-1B sponsorship for R&D director roles?
H-1B visa sponsorship is temporary and requires a Labor Condition Application filed with DOL. Green card sponsorship through EB-2 or EB-3 leads to lawful permanent residence and involves a more intensive PERM labor certification process, including a prevailing wage determination and a formal recruitment test before the employer files an I-140 with USCIS. There is no lottery, but per-country numerical limits can create priority-date backlogs, particularly for nationals of India and China.
What does the PERM labor certification process involve for this role?
PERM requires the employer to obtain a prevailing wage determination from DOL, then conduct a formal recruitment campaign that includes specific advertising steps across job boards, print, and professional channels. The employer must document that no qualified U.S. worker applied for the position. For director-level R&D roles, the job description must accurately reflect actual duties and minimum requirements, since DOL audits these filings closely.
How do I find employers who sponsor green cards for Director of Research and Development positions?
Search Migrate Mate's database, which shows employers with verified employment-based green card sponsorship history filtered to R&D and technology leadership roles. This lets you focus outreach on companies that have already navigated the PERM and I-140 process rather than starting conversations with employers who may be unfamiliar with the sponsorship commitment involved at the director level.
Can I change employers after my I-140 is approved without losing my place in the green card queue?
Yes, in most cases. Once your original I-140 is approved, the priority date it established can generally be carried over to a new employer's I-140 for a similar role. Separately, if your I-485 has been pending for at least 180 days, AC21 portability allows you to move to a same or similar occupation without jeopardizing your pending adjustment of status. Both rules apply independently, and R&D director roles typically qualify as sufficiently similar across employers in the same industry.