Packaging Manager

Higgidy Ltd; Sea; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A UK-based food manufacturing company is looking for a Packaging Technical Lead to oversee multiple packaging projects focusing on sustainability and innovation. The successful candidate will manage packaging optimisation initiatives, develop new packaging solutions, and liaise with various teams to ensure project success. Applicants should have experience in an FMCG environment, strong project management skills, and preferably a degree in Science or Engineering. The role offers dynamic responsibilities and the chance to make a significant impact on sustainability initiatives.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in a Packaging Technical role with a focus on sustainability.
• Strong project management & collaboration skills.
• Ability to work independently and deliver results.

Responsibilities

• Lead all packaging focused projects and liaise cross-functionally.
• Investigate and prepare business cases for packaging optimisation.
• Own and run initial packaging trials.
• Develop consumer winning packaging solutions.
• Accountable for managing packaging artwork processes.

Skills

Experience in FMCG environment

Knowledge of print processes

Project management skills

Interpersonal communication skills

Ability to work under pressure

Commercial understanding

Education

Honours or Degree Equivalent in Science or Engineering or a Packaging Diploma

Tools

Microsoft programs

Job description

The role will be multi‑faceted. Firstly, in supporting the Product Development & Marketing teams with structural packaging solutions to maximise the potential of our current packaging solutions. Secondly, it will be looking for new packaging solutions for current and new expanding categories of the business. This role will review and analyse current sustainability targets for packaging to achieve set and agreed targets, as part of our wider sustainability strategy and working with the Sustainability Manager.

What you will be DOING? (Further tasks included in full job description)

• Lead all packaging focussed projects (including raw materials), liaising cross functionally.
• Investigate and prepare business cases for structural packaging optimisation projects (cost saving or consumer driven) without compromising the product integrity.
• Own and run initial packaging trials, including transit trials.
• Lead projects to deliver packaging reduction, reusability or recycled content improvements whilst considering current operational needs/capabilities (including raw materials coming into the business).
• Develop consumer winning packaging solutions from initial concept, through consumer testing and cross‑functional feasibility assessment, working with the marketing & product development teams to implement.
• Responsible for the generation of packaging briefs.
• Accountable for the artwork process managing packaging changes to existing packaging and creation of new.

What SKILLS do you need to have?

• Demonstrable experience in an FMCG environment in a Packaging Technical role with a proficiency across a broad range of packaging materials and their respective machinery interfaces, with a strong focus on sustainability, packaging waste and the environment.
• Strong knowledge of print processes and relationships with printers.
• Strong project management & collaboration skills to lead a cross functional team.
• Highly motivated individual with strong interpersonal, communication & relationship building skills.
• Resilience combined with emotional intelligence to build collaborative powerful relationships.
• Ability to work to and achieve against stretching targets within agreed timescales providing updates throughout the project.
• Ability to work under pressure whilst able to prioritise and drive multiple projects at once to ensure all agreed targets are achieved.
• Strong commercial understanding and ability to provide directional costs to the business in a clear understandable way.
• Ability to work independently to deliver results.

Ideal

• Have accomplished IT Skills in Microsoft programs.
• Honours or Degree Equivalent in Science or Engineering or a Packaging Diploma is preferable.