Packaging Technologist

Unilever PLC; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global consumer goods company is looking for a Packaging Technologist to support innovation in packaging for brands like Rexona, Axe, and Dove. Your role will include defining specifications and validating designs while ensuring sustainability and quality. Collaborating with internal and external partners, you will lead testing and drive continuous improvement initiatives. This full-time position offers a competitive salary, bonus, flexible working options, and benefits including gym membership and discounted goods.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Annual bonus

Subsidised gym membership

Discounted staff shop

Shares

Qualifications

• Experience of Packaging or Product development and/or manufacturing supply chain.
• Competent in using measurement and testing equipment.
• Ability to read technical engineering drawings and understand tolerances.
• Experience in quality control and packaging materials preferred.

Responsibilities

• Consult on project teams to incorporate packaging design rules.
• Provide manufacturing expertise during design reviews.
• Develop and validate specifications for components.
• Define testing plans for innovation projects.
• Analyse test results and recommend improvements.
• Manage lab technicians for technical testing plans.
• Contribute to future capability initiatives.
• Participate in packaging team strategy activities.

Skills

Packaging Development

Packaging Materials & Technology expertise

Digital Tool Proficiency

Data Analytics

Environmental Sustainability

Job description

Job Title: Packaging Technologist

Business Function: R&D

Location: Leeds Office and R&D

The Packaging Technologist is a pivotal role within the Deodorant Category, a key strategic growth area in Personal Care at Unilever. This position is responsible for supporting innovation and excellence in packaging for flagship brands including Rexona, Axe, and Dove. The successful candidate will demonstrate expertise in packaging technology and lead qualification processes to ensure seamless execution from concept to delivery. This role focuses on delivering superior product experiences aligned with business objectives, with sustainability and premiumisation as core principles. The Packaging Technologist collaborates with internal and external partners to assess technical risks, apply best practices, and define core design requirements. Responsibilities include requirements definition, risk assessment (including FMEA), and leading component and product testing and validation using both in-silico and physical tools. The role supports the validation and calibration of virtual models with the Design team and Simulation Engineers, manages data analysis and reporting, and may develop new test methods for novel materials or applications. Data-driven decision-making is integral to the technical team’s success. Additionally, the Packaging Technologist leads packaging and technology programs to drive continuous improvement and is based within the Packaging team at the UK PC R&D technology Centre, Leeds, UK.

Responsibilities

• Provides consultancy into core project teams to ensure product designs incorporate packaging design rules and best practice.
• Provide packaging manufacturing expertise during design reviews and risk activities (e.g. FMEA, Risk Assessments).
• Responsible for the development and validation of robust functional specifications for components and systems.
• Help to define testing plans for innovation projects with input into network timings.
• Analyse test results and use statistical tools to identify potential production issues, make decisions and recommendations to drive improvements within the packing innovation projects.
• Manage lab technicians when conducting technical testing plans through to completion including pilot packaging equipment, factory line trials and Design of Experiments.
• Contribute to the development of future capability initiatives by helping to identify and capture best practice and support the build of testing capability to validate “design rules” for implementation into future innovation projects.
• Play an active role in contributing towards thePackaging teams' strategy activities.

Experience

ALL ABOUT YOU

• Experience of Packaging or Product development and/or manufacturing supply chain
• Competent in using measurement and testing equipment
• Ability to read technical engineering drawings and understand tolerances
• Experience in quality control, packaging materials (including resins, MB) and injection moulding preferred

Key Skills

• Packaging Development
• Packaging Materials & Technology expertise
• Digital Tool Proficiency
• Data Analytics
• Environmental Sustainability

What We Offer

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

Whilst the role is advertised on a full‑time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family‑friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Unilever | Unilever.