Packaging Discovery Materials Innovation Manager

Packaging Discovery Materials Innovation Manager                                           ABJ7042

South East                                                                                                                  c100k Package  

As a Lead Discovery Packaging Innovation manager for a global company, with visionary thinking you will head up all packaging innovation activity with a responsibility for the development, validation, and delivery of a portfolio of technical packaging discovery projects.  In this pivotal role as Packaging Innovation Manager, and a materials expert and “discovery scout” you will creatively explore links with internal and external contacts 3rd party ‘creative houses’, universities and start-ups for packaging materials using expertise and understanding of a broad range of packaging materials, processing technologies and packaging solutions to generate the next generation of packaging materials for the next 5-10 yrs.  

As a materials packaging lead for the company, you will be the go-to expert on packaging materials and processing, with a particular specialism in packaging sustainability, “future materials”, flexible and rigid materials development for the next generation pipeline of packaging for products.

Flexibility on location within the South East and hybrid working.

Key Responsibilities

• Responsible for the development, validation, and delivery of a portfolio of materials for technical packaging discovery projects.


• Working closely with the validation projects for the Packaging Development team.


• Define and ideate new materials packaging discovery projects based in opportunity spaces (Sustainability, Innovation and reduction of Cost and Complexity)


• The go-to packaging materials and processing expert in the Discovery team, with a particular specialism in packaging sustainability, flexible and rigid materials development, and processing technologies


• Leading scouting activities to find new opportunities in relevant development areas into the discovery project pipeline.

Qualifications / Experience

• Degree (BSc/BEng/MChem/MSci/ PhD), Materials, Engineering, Packaging


• Exceptional packaging skills to lead all areas within packaging materials, e.g. metals, plastics, paper etc. structural packaging and process development - focus on sustainable materials,”materials of the future”


• Use uninhibited creativity to use contacts throughout the technology field in terms of external contacts / startups and university led project groups to look at next generation materials in packaging


• Proven experience of leading projects in previous roles required to lead and influence internal and external stakeholders in a matrix organisation in industries like FMCG /Food & Beverages/ Consultancies, Healthcare/Pharma/ Biotech /Nutraceuticals/ Medical devices or key Packaging organisations.


• Commercially aware and able to manage cost and value of projects.


• Excellent inter-personal skills and real drive towards action & delivery.


• Extremely commercially minded and open minded to business transformation.


• Can clearly identify technical risks and trouble shoot them.

Salary dependent on experience  - over 100k Package  - Bonus: 40% | Holiday: 25 days | Pension: 20%

To Apply: Please contact Alison Basson ABJ7042 on (phone number removed), / (phone number removed) or apply to