Packaging Technologist (12-month FTC)

OKA; East Hagbourne; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading homeware retailer is seeking a Packaging Technologist to develop and manage packaging across products. The successful candidate will ensure compliance with regulations while promoting sustainability initiatives. Responsibilities include conducting audits, leading projects, and working cross-functionally with international suppliers. A minimum of 5 years' experience in packaging development and strong knowledge of materials are required. This role is full-time with a hybrid working model.

Benefits

33 days holiday

Health Cash Plan

Enhanced Parental Leave

Discretionary company Bonus Scheme

Additional employee benefits

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in packaging development.
• Strong knowledge of packaging materials and testing methods.
• Proven experience managing EPR reporting and compliance.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage packaging for all products ensuring protection and quality.
• Conduct supplier packaging audits for compliance.
• Manage EPR and waste packaging reporting.

Skills

Packaging materials knowledge

Project management

Communication skills

Sustainability initiatives

Supplier management

Job description

Founded over 20 years ago by three entrepreneurial women with a passion for beautiful, practical, and comfortable homes, OKA is more than a furniture and homeware retailer: it is a love affair with living well.

We inspire people to confidently create a home that reflects their personality, a space where nothing should be too precious or perfect to be enjoyed with family and friends. British-born, today we have 14 stores across the UK and an established Interior Design and Trade business, a mail-order service and a thriving website.

We are currently looking to recruit a full‑time Packaging Technologist on a 12‑month fixed term basis to support our Product Design & Development Team, based at our office in Didcot, Oxfordshire.

We operate a hybrid working model: three or more days from the office, the remainder of the week from home.

ABOUT US

We are seeking a Packaging Technologist to lead and manage all packaging activities across our furniture and homewares ranges ensuring product protection, regulatory compliance, cost efficiency and sustainability. The role works closely with overseas Central Service teams, global suppliers; UK third‑party warehouse and Quality teams to set packaging standards, provide technical guidance and training, supporting packaging testing during product development, ongoing production and resolving packaging issues. The successful candidate will have strong technical knowledge of packaging materials, testing standards, EPR and waste packaging reporting requirements. This role is initially offered as a 12‑month Fixed‑Term contract with the potential opportunity to transition to a permanent position subject to organisational requirements.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Packaging Development and Management

• Develop, specify and approve packaging for all products to ensure protection, quality and brand consistency.
• Act as the packaging subject‑matter expert for overseas Central Services (ACS) teams, providing clear packaging guides, minimum standards and technical documentation to enable them to effectively manage supplier relationships and ensure consistent packaging execution.
• Create, maintain and control packaging specification, drawing and documentation across all SKUs, ensuring all information is updated to our internal product management system.
• Support ACS teams ensuring packaging standards and expectations are clearly communicated and embedded at the start of new product development.
• Conduct supplier packaging audits to ensure compliance with company and regulatory standards.
• Work with ACS and all suppliers (UK, Europe, India, Indonesia, Vietnam and China) to manage packaging in line with specifications and requirements, ensuring clarity, consistency and compliance across global manufacturing partners.
• Work alongside the Marketing team to manage a gift packaging rebranding project, including the development and approval of new retail packaging and gift bag designs. This will also include managing packaging and labelling specifications for ad‑hoc marketing projects as required.
• Work with the third‑party warehouse to introduce high‑specification D2C packaging, ensuring premium unboxing experience and optimal protection for direct‑to‑consumer shipments.

Testing and Quality Assurance

• Develop and issue packaging testing guidelines and training materials for ACS teams and suppliers ensuring consistent testing approaches during product development and ongoing production.
• Define and support the setup of packaging testing parameters including drop testing and transit simulation with suppliers. This includes reviewing and approving supplier in‑house packaging testing in accordance with internationally recognised standards.
• Evaluate packaging performance issues and failures, including cases where previously approved packaging has failed in storge or transit. Lead root‑cause analysis and corrective action plans, working cross‑functionally with suppliers, ACS teams, UK Warehouse operations and QC teams to resolve issues and prevent recurrence.
• Maintain testing records and ensure that packaging performance data is up to date.

Sustainability and Compliance

• Manage EPR (Extended Producer Responsibility) and waste packaging reporting, ensuring compliance with packaging and recycling regulations such as the UK Plastic Packaging Tax.
• Work collaboratively with ACS teams and suppliers to identify and implement sustainable packaging materials and reduction initiatives without compromising product protection in line with our sustainability targets
• Lead packaging optimisation projects to reduce costs, material usage, damage rates and environmental impact across the supply chain.
• Monitor emerging packaging technologies, materials, testing methodologies and regulatory changes to ensure best practice adoption.

ABOUT YOU

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in packaging development, ideally within the furniture, homewares or consumer goods sectors.
• Strong knowledge of packaging materials, testing methods and supply chain logistics.
• Proven experience managing EPR reporting and packaging waste compliance.
• Excellent project management and communication skills.
• Experience working with international suppliers and packaging manufacturers.
• Knowledge of sustainability initiatives and circular packaging design principles.

OUR BENEFITS PACKAGE

• 33 days holiday (including bank holiday entitlement), plus Length of Service increases.
• Day off for your birthday
• Health Cash Plan
• Enhanced Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Eligibility for a discretionary company Bonus Scheme
• Plus, a suite of additional employee benefits including Company pension scheme, life assurance cover, free eye tests, cycle to work scheme, interest free travel loans, social events, online wellbeing centre and more.

If successful you will become part of the OKA family, a fast‑paced and dynamic business. If you would like to apply for this position, please send your CV and details of your current salary, salary expectations, notice period and right to work information via the link provided.