Packaging Development Manager

Cezanne HR; Christchurch; Hybrid; GBP 45,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading packaging development firm is seeking a Packaging Development Manager to oversee innovative packaging solutions. Responsibilities include ensuring compliance, managing projects, and collaborating across departments. The ideal candidate will possess 3-5 years of related experience and a relevant degree. This role offers competitive salary and extensive benefits, including flexible working options.

Benefits

Competitive salary

25 days holiday

Flexible working hours

Medical cash plan

Pension scheme contribution

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of packaging development experience.
• Retail or supplier experience is beneficial.
• Experience in customer-facing product development roles.

Responsibilities

• Design and test packaging to ensure safety.
• Ensure compliance with legal and environmental regulations.
• Research sustainable packaging solutions.
• Manage packaging projects across the group.

Skills

Packaging design and testing

Compliance and quality assurance

Sustainable solutions research

Project management

Collaboration across departments

Education

Masters/Bachelor Degree/Diploma in relevant field

Job description

Solent Group Christchurch, United Kingdom Technical Hybrid

Warning! Vacancy not published

Company Description

Solent Group work with a diverse portfolio of Retailers and supply bespoke products within various categories, including Health & Beauty, Household Impulse Snacking and Reusable Bags. We are proud to be best-in-class when it comes to own-label product innovation. Our Categories are fast-paced with ever-evolving trends and a host of ground-breaking products coming to market on a regular basis – we add value to retailers by leading and owning each category.

Here at Solent we want people to be extraordinary. We pride ourselves on creating and producing amazing products and brands for our Global Customers. You will be joining a company with offices globally across South Africa, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Vietnam, and the UK.

Position

POSITION: Packaging Development Manager

DIVISION/DEPT: Technical Department

REPORT TO: Senior Technical Manager

LOCATION: Hybrid

TRAVEL: Travel may be required to manufacturing sites in UK/EU and Far East

The successful candidate will have overall responsibility for the developing and optimizing packaging solutions that protect products, comply with regulations, and meet consumer expectations, either by Solent’s retail partners or by Solent brands; ensuring all key technical elements of a project are diligently completed and communicated on time.

The role will also involve travel to various locations around the world to attend factory trials, factory gap analysis, pre-production, and product launches and to meet with customers.

Requirements

Key Responsibilities:

• Designing and Testing Packaging: Collaborate with designers, suppliers and production developers to create packaging that ensures product safety and quality, but also meets our sustainable needs. This involves producing sample packaging to test different materials and designs.
• Ensuring Compliance and Quality: Verify that packaging meets quality standards and complies with legal and environmental regulations. write technical reports and maintaining documentation related to packaging specifications and compliance.
• Researching and drive Sustainable Solutions: Investigate ways to make packaging more environmentally friendly by reducing material usage, promoting recyclability or re-use, and minimizing waste and costs attached to it.
• Collaborating Across Departments: Working closely with various teams such as product development, quality control, marketing, Supply chain and buying is essential to ensure that packaging meets customer needs and aligns with the company’s objectives.
• Managing Packaging Projects: Oversee the development and implementation of packaging projects across the group, ensuring that objectives are met within set timelines and budgets. This involves sourcing and sampling new packaging options or improving existing packaging to meet customer needs and drive sustainable solutions.
• Work collaboratively with technical teams in UK and Asia to ensure all technical aspects of packaging are completed in a timely manner, for example, production approval, accurate information for specifications & compliance.
• Packaging waste management and reporting, ensuring all necessary packaging information is collated accurately and on time. Pro-active management to reduce our packaging waste charge (EPR) or EUDR by driving innovative and sustainable solutions for both Solent and its customers.
• Work closely with the internal product and commercial teams to ensure all packaging requirements are applied during the NPD process and new launches.
• Travel to various locations attending printers initial visits, development trials and pre-production approvals.
• Work with the quality team to investigate, report and reduce customer complaints and non-conformances.
• Attend conferences, exhibitions, and trade shows to keep on top of innovations, legislation and opportunities with new materials, production techniques or packaging solutions.
• Prioritise and champion Solent’s Policies on Sustainability, Innovation and Ethical manufacturing.
• Global Harmonization Initiatives: Active participation in global harmonization initiatives to create consistent standards and facilitate international trade. Collaboration with international regulatory bodies to align packaging regulations across regions.

About You:

• Min of 3-5 years of packaging development and delivery to market.
• Retail or retail supplier experience and/or brand development experience.
• Excellent people, presentation, and communication skills.
• Masters/Bachelor Degree/Diploma in relevant field.
• Experience in customer facing product development role.
• Good working knowledge of Quality Management Systems, Food contact regulations, child safe packaging, recycling and regulations, chemical restrictions, transport and handling and sustainable regulations.

Other information

In turn we offer:

• Competitive salary with annual salary reviews.
• 25 days holiday per annum, increasing to 27 days after 3 years’ service and 30 days after 5 years’ service.
• Extensive benefits program including buying additional holiday, medical cash plan, access to mental health support and many other benefits.
• Flexible hours and work from home available to all staff.
• Great learning and development and progression opportunities · Yearly bonus structure (based on company targets).
• Enhanced Maternity and Paternity Leave.
• Generous Company Sick Pay.
• Pension Scheme Contribution.
• Solent social events run by our inhouse Social Team.