Packaging Development Technologist

Regional Packaging Technologist – Skin Care, Europe

Reports to: Packaging Manager –Skin Care EU

Location: Port Sunlight, UK

ABOUT UNILEVER

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Persil, Dove, Knorr, Domestos, Hellmann’s, Lipton, Wall’s, PG Tips, Ben & Jerry’s, Marmite, Magnum and Lynx. Faced with the challenge of climate change and the need for human development, we want to move towards a world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is ‘to make sustainable living commonplace”

The future begins in Research & Development (R&D). In R&D, you’ll find out what consumers want and need, and then design the science and technology to make our innovations come to life. We have over 6,000 R&D employees designing, creating and developing exciting new products using innovative technologies - from scientists and product development experts to professionals such as hairdressers and chefs who have the skills to evaluate new products. You could be designing and developing new innovations for brands like TRESemmé, Magnum, Cornetto and Domestos – straight from your team to the shelves!

At the core of our values is sustainability, and our teams are dedicated to making our products better for you, for our customers and for the world. We are committed to ensuring that all of our packaging is fully reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025, and that we are using more recycled content. To achieve this, we work closely either within the various R&D teams, with other Unilever colleagues like Marketeers and the Supply Chain, and with leading scientific experts from around the world.  

JOB PURPOSE

Packaging is a critical function within Unilever. The business spend on packaging exceeds €5.5bn and we partner with the world’s leading packaging suppliers. Our Compass vision cannot be achieved without packaging innovation and technology that will drive growth and, at the same, halve our environmental impact.

Personal Care (PC) is a key strategic area for Unilever, and the Skin Care category follows an ambitious growth agenda. The European business is highly competitive, innovative and has strong brand positions with brands like Dove, Simple, & Vaseline. The PC R&D Cluster Skin Care team is responsible for all go-to-market activities for the EU portfolio, including launching new technologies in Europe and extending existing ranges, as well as supporting Supply Chain. The PC Cluster team works closely together with the R&D Design (global development centres), and regional functional teams such as Brand Development, Supply Chain, and Procurement.

Packaging plays a prominent role in innovation plans and is a key capability to drive competitive advantage. Not only does it fulfil a very important functional role, to contain, protect and inform, but also as the first “touchpoint” with the consumer, it must engage the consumer, reflecting the brand proposition, and delivering a delightful experience. The skin care Cluster packaging team focus is on implementation of the packaging innovations and development of value improvement opportunities, mainly with plastic bottles and closures, tubes and flexibles. Corrugated secondary packaging and pallet plans are also developed.

Working autonomously, the Packaging Assistant Manager is responsible to deliver the R&D packaging system solutions for the EU Skin Care Cluster program across the areas of innovation, quality, supply chain support and value improvement programs. The job holder will plan and execute a comprehensive range of technical validation tests, interpret results, prepare reports and communicate results/recommendations to the project team where relevant, they will join multifunctional project teams to deliver the packaging activities.

The job holder will work closely with other development functions, supply chain, procurement, planning, packaging converters, mould makers, and machine manufacturers.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Deliver all the Cluster Packaging elements to agreed projects, on time in full, by following best practice in packaging

project management in accordance with the One Unilever Packaging Process (1UPP).

Within this role the packaging Assistant Manager will:

- Work in multi-functional teams from different disciplines inside and outside R&D, such as Formulation, Processing, Marketing, CTI, Supply Chain, Procurement, and Finance.

- Give input to scoping of global and regional projects in relation to packaging system solutions.

- Establish and follow project networks

- Implement primary packaging designs delivered by Global Design team into European Supply Chain. This includes:

o Translation of Global Masterbatch specifications using regional raw materials.

o Qualification of all production molds located within the region – IM, ISBM, IBM, EBM.

o Specification of primary and secondary packaging decoration and 2D, including materials and die lines.

- Develop secondary packaging and pallet plans, ensuring efficiency and quality in transit.

- Organize and attend factory trials relating to implementation of packaging components.

- Be first point of contact for selected suppliers on various aspects of project work e.g. approving samples, resolving issues.

- Define and organize required tests and trials to validate packaging components.

- Deliver the content of technical specifications for primary and secondary packaging components and pallet plans.

- Support the technical aspect (R&D representation) on programs for alternative material sourcing, mold refurbishments and maintenance of current assets, Value improvement/cost saving projects, Packaging portfolio oversight and continuous quality improvement.

- Develop and maintain the relevant technical (packaging) expertise for skin care category as required for workstreams

- Responsible for own project portfolio management.

This job might also include a TPL role, where the accountabilities would be to carry out project management activities (amongst others: key contact with global and country R&D resources, stakeholder management, project management, holding others accountable, ensuring project delivers on agreed product targets, manage and support decision making process for R&D related matters),

ALL ABOUT YOU

· Qualifications: Bachelor Degree in packaging development, engineering, design or materials

· Relevant working experience with a proven track record on project delivery, packaging development and qualification; packaging expertise of a range of packaging materials; experience of interfacing with other functions to support of project delivery

· Skills: Project Management

· Ability to work in multi-disciplinary, multi-cultural teams, with the drive and ability to control own work programme and make own decisions when required.

· Ability to communicate effectively internally and externally; in particular the ability to communicate packaging opportunities to non-packaging people;

· Ability to get messages across through modern media. (eg, Teams)

· Flexibility in work style and being able to manage a portfolio of projects and tasks in parallel

WHAT WE OFFER

Not only do we offer a competitive salary, but also our pension scheme, an annual bonus, a free gym, a staff shop and shares. You’ll get the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and agile environment. We strive to achieve a family-friendly culture and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

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