Packaging Technologist - Food Packaging & Sustainability

An excellent opportunity for a passionate, food packaging technologist with  good knowledge /expertise of packaging manufacturing and print processes, experience in new product development & knowledge of packaging materials (in particular plastics & cartons) to join this successful, innovative team to further deliver the packaging strategy.  This demanding role requires an individual with first class organisation, presentation and communication skills. A consistently professional approach of the highest standards is key. 

 Main Responsibilities

• Deliver the food packaging innovation strategy, driving commercial customer focused benefits 
• Keep up to date with the latest packaging industries trends in materials, components, print and product formats and feed these into NPD / existing product development.
• Influence sourcing and product improvement strategies
• Work with the buying teams to ensure all suppliers have full understanding of briefs.  Delivering clear specifications on product briefs, packaging formats, packaging testing requirement, sustainability,  legal policies & best practices.
• Develop and approve fit for purpose packaging formats ensuring quality and innovation is embedded into the products whilst ensuring a market leading position and feeding into our product development strategy.
• Manage adherence to product safety, compliance and ethical standards in line with legislation and corporate policy.
• Monitor the voice of our customer around Quality packaging and build into ongoing product development strategy.
• Key Relationships 

   

• Internal Value Optimisation Team
• Sustainability team
• Packaging Team/colleagues
• Buying & Merchandising
• Design & Marketing
• Commercial Managers
• Product Development & Product Technologists
• Suppliers
• Industry experts
•  Skills & Experience 

   

• Experience in the Food packaging and print industries & a passion for food packaging & sustainability
• Creative approach to the design & development of structural packaging concepts for product and transit
• Experience with customer facing carton construction, decoration and sourcing.
• Ability to work independently across multiple projects simultaneous
• Multi tasked orientated, working to tight deadlines while maintaining entrepreneurialism
• Excellent communication skills across functions, internally and externally.
• Capable of interpreting customer data to shape future product development strategy.
• Experience of briefing and specifying NPD projects  to create product briefs
• Detailed understanding of materials and how to utilise to value engineer packaging formats
• Understand the cost of printing and packaging materials 

up to £50k basic + generous benefits package