Sustainability and Packaging Analyst

About the Hiring Group

RTI's Center for Innovation and Applied Economics helps clients build innovation capacity, generate insight, and accelerate technology from lab to market. As an Innovation Analyst focused on food and consumer-packaged goods (CPG), you will work on sustainability and circular economy challenges, conduct rigorous research, and translate findings into actionable recommendations for clients across commercial, government, and NGO sectors.

What You'll Do

• Conduct primary and secondary research on market, technology, regulatory, and sustainability trends in CPG and food.
• Lead and support foresight and horizon-scanning activities; develop scenarios to inform strategy.
• Scout and assess emerging technologies, partners, and business models across academia, startups, and industry; evaluate feasibility, scalability, and potential impact.
• Deliver research that supports our clients' circular economy initiatives (e.g., packaging, materials recovery, waste valorization, supply chain resilience) and advise on pathways from lab to market for emerging technologies.
• Synthesize complex information into clear, compelling deliverables (reports, presentations, workshops) for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Leverage artificial intelligence tools responsibly, balancing adoption of leading-edge tools with a high bar for scientific rigor, quality, and validation of findings by human experts.
• Collaborate with cross-functional, international teams; manage tasks, timelines, and client communications to deliver high-quality work on time.
• Facilitate meetings and present interim and final findings to clients and stakeholders.
• Contribute to a positive, inclusive team culture while upholding RTI's mission and values.

Minimum Qualifications

• 1–2 years of total experience related to sustainability, circular economy, or packaging.
• Bachelor's degree in science or engineering with interdisciplinary R&D experience.
• Business acumen and some familiarity with innovation management, technology transfer/commercialization, or consulting.
• Strong scientific communication skills for technical and non-technical audiences; strong analytical and time-management skills.
• Demonstrated ability and willingness to work beyond your core field; comfort learning new scientific or technical domains quickly.
• Team-centric mindset and strong interpersonal skills; ability to collaborate effectively with diverse stakeholders.
• Detail-oriented, self-directed, and comfortable working both independently and collaboratively.
• Proficiency with MS Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word) and collaboration tools (e.g., Teams); a desire to learn and drive responsible use of artificial intelligence technologies in scientific research.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with recycling, food science, or chemical formulation, especially for household and personal care products.
• Degrees in chemistry, materials or polymer science, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or biomolecular engineering; advanced degrees may be considered as R&D experience, especially if commercialization of research was explored.
• Certificates or degrees related to recycling or waste management.
• Familiarity with innovation consulting such as foresight methods, horizon scanning, or technology scouting.