Packaging Development Specialist

Matalan; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 35,000 - GBP 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading retail company in the UK is seeking a Packing Development Specialist. This role is pivotal in developing and procuring packaging that emphasizes price, quality, and customer experience. Responsibilities include managing supplier relationships, ensuring quality assurance in packaging, and contributing to sustainable packaging strategies. Ideal candidates will have proven experience in packaging within retail and exceptional negotiation skills. This position promotes a collaborative team culture and offers comprehensive benefits such as staff discounts and career development opportunities.

Benefits

20% staff discount

Thrive Recognition Scheme

Wellbeing support

Life Assurance

Retail Rewards platform

Pension Scheme

Career development opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in packaging development, ideally in fashion and homeware.
• Understanding of product, logistics & retail operations.
• Strong relational skills and commercial focus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and procure packaging focusing on price, quality and customer experience.
• Oversee quality assurance and manage supply chain relationships.
• Contribute to sustainable packaging strategies.

Skills

Exceptional negotiation and communications skills

Ability to build and maintain strong relationships

Strategic and analytical thinking

Ability to manage multiple tasks under pressure

Education

Previous experience within packaging in retail

Job description

Key Responsibilites

As a Packing Development Specialist you will be responsible for the development and procurement of transit and product packaging for the business with a focus on price, quality, consistency and customer experience.

Sourcing & Supply Management

• Identify and evaluate potential supplier capabilities, including design & material innovation, quality, reliability & cost.
• Develop local and global relationships which facilitate supply chain transparency and support Matalan’s ethical trade and ESG strategies.
• Oversee new asset development with nominated print, card and plastics partners.

Process

• Maintain packaging guidelines to support B&M teams, suppliers and global QC teams.
• Manage the development, specification and procurement of transit and product packaging & labelling to support logistics, operations and omni channel sales, with a focus on design, functionality and customer experience.
• Ensure packaging assets, solutions and processes are fit for purpose, consistent and cost effective, using materials that simplify recycling, reduce packaging waste and mitigate extended producer liabilities.
• Liaise with Packaging Development Manager to agree to any rebates required at asset level.
• Provide reporting of rebate values from mandated printers, validation of data, creating invoices and managing payments from Printers.

Quality assurance

• Support UK Inbound Quality Manager with quality related packaging issues, and facilitate investigation of non-compliant packaging methods & materials and suspected issues of counterfeit assets.
• Provide guidance and education on packing issues and compliance requirements to all stakeholders, internal & external.

ESG, Sustainability & Legislation

• Contribute to a sustainable packaging strategy and support its implementation, with specific focus on ‘reduce, re-use, recycle’, PPT, EPR and product passport.
• Regularly undertake in house and competitor store visits to benchmark; identify issues and opportunities for packaging innovation.
• Increase the use of more sustainable materials and processes, whilst balancing cost as a value retailer.
• Support the reporting on material/asset usage from nominated suppliers, facilitate the collection of scope and transactional certification for plastic tax/extended producer responsibility declarations.

People Leadership

• Contribute to developing a high performing team culture, recognising colleague performance and contribution.
• Act as a role model for personal growth whilst supporting and encouraging career development and progressionin others.
• Monitor workload and development of the packaging development assistant.
• Deputise for the packaging development manager as required.

Qualifications

• Previous proven experience within packaging, ideally within fashion and homeware retailing.
• Packaging development.
• Exceptional negotiation and communications skills.
• Understanding of product, logistics & retail operations, commercially focused.
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships both internally and externally with a focus on collaborating, tackling issues and managing risk.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks, stakeholders and deadlines in a time pressured environment whilst maintaining accuracy and attention to detail.
• Strategic and analytical thinking with the ability to provide information and analysis in a clear, concise and impactful way.

From humble beginnings to disruptive innovations in the retail industry, find out about how Matalan is ever-evolving here.

We know as a team, we are stronger together – we champion equality for all and make lasting connections that go beyond work. We thrive off our inclusive culture, encouraging our colleagues to bring their true selves to work and contributing to collective creativity, open-mindedness and growth.

We want give every candidate the opportunity to perform at their best throughout the application and interview process and then ultimately in their role. If you require any adjustments during our recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know.

In the event that a high volume of suitable applications are received, the post may close prior to the specified closing date. Please apply as soon as possible if interested.

Benefits

• 20% staff discount, which increases with length of service
• Thrive Recognition Scheme
• Wellbeing support provided by the Retail Trust
• Life Assurance
• Retail Rewards platform offering discounts for other retailers
• Pension Scheme
• Access to a wide range of career development
• Additional benefits may apply depending on your role and area of the business