Packaging Manager

Our client comprises of two iconic baked goods brands with a strong history and heritage who have now merged to create one unique, integrated company. Owned by an FMCG giant who operates in more than 50 countries, with products sold in over 170 countries, represented by almost 38.000 employees worldwide, and a consolidated turnover of €12.7 billion (2020-21).

They are seeking a proactive R&D Packaging Manager to lead packaging innovation, sustainability, and industrialisation activities at their Dorset site.

This role blends technical expertise with entrepreneurial thinking to develop bespoke packaging solutions, support production with technical troubleshooting, and drive sustainability initiatives in alignment with company goals.

Reporting to the Head of Packaging, this position requires a dynamic individual to manage packaging development and trials, collaborate with cross-functional teams, and act as the site’s primary packaging contact. The successful candidate will champion knowledge-sharing across teams, ensure best practices, and drive visibility for packaging contributions at the site and beyond.

Main Responsibilities include:

• Lead the development of bespoke packaging innovations tailored to the Dorset site’s unique needs, leveraging new materials, technologies, and trends.
• Adopt and implement sustainable packaging solutions that align with company policies, reducing environmental impact while maintaining functionality and cost-efficiency.
• Provide technical guidance on packaging materials and specifications, continually improving packaging performance and stability across the bakery.
• Ensure Packaging Compliance, meeting quality, functionality, regulatory, and cost-effectiveness standards.
• Regularly liaise with other Packaging Technologists to share insights, best practices, and innovations across the company.
• Act as the key point of contact for packaging updates and changes at Dorset, ensuring alignment across stakeholders, advising on pallet configurations, and ensuring systems and departments are up to date with packaging changes and innovations.
• Contribute to a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring the adoption of best-in-class practices and the exploration of emerging trends.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with packaging suppliers and external agencies, staying updated on industry trends.

Experience needed

• Project Management and accountability to ensure projects are delivered in time in full.
• Strong Packaging background to propose, challenge, enhance all our innovations and guide the implementation in our factories.
• Excellent communication thorough all the interactions/channels (meetings, presentations, daily updates)
• Entrepreneurial Mindset, bringing a proactive, creative approach to problem-solving and innovation, driving bespoke solutions for the site.
• Business acumen to promote and challenge ideas understanding the full impact in the business.
• Technical curiosity to explore new trends, innovations, materials and push to take the business to the next level.
• Remarkable Teamwork to liaise with peers and other functions, work together and support each other to elevate Packaging in the company.