Senior Packaging Engineer
To drive NSV growth by delivering the packaging components for innovation projects of R&D Technology hub. Projects are typically complex in terms of design, expected technical solutions (materials and machinery), timescales and global scale. The associate will work closely with central and OE teams to enable delivery. They will require a large external network of suppliers and agencies to enable the technical solutions to be developed. The associate is autonomous in developing the technical solution for their project portfolio.
Key Responsibility
- Project Delivery: Delivery of all the packaging components for pet parent centric Innovation projects. Taking projects from ideas to technical readiness and managing the packaging timeline & budget. Accountabilities include: concept & design work at the framing stage, input into Desirability/Feasibility/Viability/Sustainability (DVFS) assessments including financials, material and machinery design and optimisation, trialling and testing. Delivery of global packaging specifications at regional handover. As the role primarily deals with innovations there is a specific accountability in terms of IP, both risks and opportunities and all elements of upfront Packaging Quality Management including the PRA (Packaging Risk Assessment).
- Collaborative Teamwork: Being the packaging work stream leader for global projects, working in close collaboration with Global Marketing, R&D, Engineering, Supply and Commercial. Working with CTI/CMI and marketing to develop and evaluate new packaging concepts ensuring a holistic design approach across product/packaging/brand. Working with global and regional engineering and supply to ensure the best global technical engineering solutions for collation and filling. On occasions packaging team members may lead projects in the role of overall project TPL.
- Capability Build: Partner with Central Packaging Capability Director in building global packaging capability within the team via leadership of an area of the Global Packaging Strategy.
- Design Excellence: As part of capability build would play a supporting role in ensuring that packaging design is considered as central to the holistic product experience and packaging requirements and desires are built into the framing and concept building process. A thorough end to end understanding of packaging inputs and opportunities across the full product consumer journey to ensure consumer centric packaging is delivered. For given projects would be the owner of the global packaging design brief and would hold accountability for design agency briefing.
- Technical Excellence: Detailed knowledge and understanding of the internal packaging development process and associated and aligned business processes including PLM and PQM. A thorough understanding of product/pack interactions, DOEs, test methodologies and data knowledge management. Accountability for detailed record keeping and reports and global packaging specifications. Responsible for understanding regional trade requirements and on-shelf/off-shelf impact in all channels including Grocery, Specialist Pet Trade, Discounters and E-commerce.
- Future Materials: Sourcing, developing and delivery of new material innovations for global roll-out. Taking materials through the Technical Readiness Level (TRL) gates for transfer into Innovation (Quest) or Quality/Efficiency/Sustainability (QES) projects. Ensure that all new packaging Innovations are Designed for Circularity (D4C) and are tested to ensure compliance.
- Packaging Pulse: Ongoing high level of knowledge of up-to-date packaging technologies, materials and solutions, with a focus on sustainable solutions. Maintaining this via an extensive external network with active involvement in external bodies, trade fairs and industry experts.
- Coaching & mentoring: Assist the packaging manager in providing training and support to other associates within the team. Accountability for junior team member induction plans and support to IP students/interns/trainees.
Context and scope
- Role and level of independence
- Generating new packaging ideas, initiating new packaging projects, and leading/further developing the technical/quality standards requires a high level of independence and self-responsibility.
- Level of routine
- Low. Leading Innovation projects is always a new challenge. The job holder must fully understand interactions of packaging along the entire supply chain and have the ability to methodically carry out complex analyses.
- Description of interfaces (e.g.: related departments, customers, suppliers etc.)
- Internal interfaces: Pack Innovation + Deployment, Marketing, Commercial (Pack and Co-packing Buying, Supplier Quality Assurance), CMI/CTI, Engineering, Supply, Logistics, Activity Management, S&RA, Q&FS.
- Global External Interfaces: Packaging Suppliers, Co-Packers, Packaging Organisations, and Institutes
Job Specifications/Qualifications
- University Degree in a technical discipline; science, engineering or packaging/product design.
- Previous job experience around packaging development, packaging engineering or a technically related discipline is essential.
- Expertise in packaging development (see skills below)
- Proficiency in MS Office applications (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams)
- Fluent in English (verbally and written)
- Excellent interpersonal skills: communication, relationship building, networking, working as part of multi functional teams.
