R&D Packaging Innovation Manager

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This position has now been filled, but has been left on our website as we have other similar vacancies to this on an ongoing basis that might interest you. More importantly, we have vacancies that are not advertised due to their confidential nature therefore it would certainly be in your interest to email your CV, as a word document, depending on which sector you are in, to :-

Head of Packaging recruitment – Greg Nelson – greg@harrison-scott.co.uk

Head of Print recruitment–Neil Pearson – neil@harrison-scott.co.uk

Head Paper recruitment – Gary Young – gary@harrison-scott.co.uk

Board level, account management and all levels of sales vacancies –

George Thompson – george@harrison-scott.co.uk

Our divisional heads will then email your CV internally to the consultant who specialises in your exact sector, for example a category of packaging is cartons, a category of print is print management, in fact we have over 30 specialist categories. Our specialist consultant will contact you if we have a live vacancy that matches, or contact you in the near future as soon a good match to skill set and experience becomes available.

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** Opportunity to work for an iconic group which has featured on The Sunday Times’ ‘100 Best Companies to Work For’ **

This client is an iconic group that saw its best year since establishment over 100 years ago. Looking to expand their in-house packaging team, this household name has an opening for an R&D Packaging Manager with strong project management skills and an ability to shape and lead packaging initiatives and technical work.

The purpose of this role is to scope and drive our client’s NPD & EPD portfolios in line with R&D KPIs and company vision.

Primary Responsibilities
• Drive packaging exploration and development and projects to support product development pipeline (innovation and renovation).
• Scout for new technologies, material advancements, and novel concepts and translate into opportunities for product pipelines using open innovation approaches and internal capability development.
• Lead discovery phase projects and those where packaging is a major focus.
• Develop packaging solutions from initial concept through to material and supplier selection, factory trials and implementation ensuring compliance with food contact legislation.
• Use consumer insight and knowledge of industry packaging developments to generate packaging led NPD propositions.
• Provide technical packaging expertise for NPD/EPD projects as well as the wider business when required.
• Influence 2-3 year R&D pipeline through technical knowledge and consumer insight to ensure our products continue to engage and excite consumers.
• Create packaging prototypes, from simple mock-ups through to fully functional branded packs that can be tested with consumers.
• Build a strong internal network across the Commercial, Brand, Finance & Ops teams. Develop external network of packaging suppliers, insight & innovation partners and 3rd party co-packers and manufacturers (working in partnership with co-manufacturing) to support R&D and the wider business.
• Minimise the environmental impact of products through careful consideration and selection of packaging materials and suppliers.
• Support Marketing, Sales and wider business with any packaging related enquiries and when required accompany with visits to key customers.
• Responsible for up to two direct reports