Senior Packaging Technologist

An interim Senior Packaging Technologist is sought for a 12-month maternity cover role at Unilever's research facility in Port Sunlight Village, Wirral. The position, requiring 37.5 hours per week, offers competitive compensation up to £51,291 per annum. The successful candidate will lead packaging initiatives for Unilever's Beauty and Wellbeing brands, ensuring alignment with sustainability goals. They will collaborate with various internal and external teams to develop innovative packaging solutions. The role demands strong project management skills and a background in packaging development within the FMCG sector, along with at least three years of relevant experience.

We are currently seeking an interim Senior Packaging Technologist, to work with our global FMCG client Unilever, renowned for brands such as Dove, Sure, Persil, and Simple, and become an integral part of their fast-paced FMCG environment.
The position is based at our client’s scientific Research & Development facility in Port Sunlight Village, Wirral easily accessible by train and car. This is a full-time temporary role for 12 Months (maternity cover), requiring 37.50 hours per week, Monday to Friday. Compensation for this role is competitive, paying up to £51,291 per annum, depending upon experience.

Context and Main Purpose of the job:

Beauty and Wellbeing (B&W) is one of Unilever’s fastest growing business groups and is responsible for the profitable growth of brands such as Dove, Sunsilk, Tresemme and Vaseline to name just a few.

The main purpose of this role will be leading the packaging work stream/s for Global innovations that are part of Unilever’s Beauty and Wellbeing Business Group. The role will require that all packaging elements are delivered and meet the Brand needs without compromising on Unilever’s Sustainability ambitions.

Working closely with other Unilever functions (Formulation, marketing, supply chain, Procurement), Business Units and external supplies the individual must develop desirable consumer and customer preferred packaging solutions for global roll out.

Depending on experience and skills the candidate will also support capability projects that enhance Desire, Sustainability and Efficiency of our future portfolio.

The job holder must be an excellent communicator and be an experienced packaging engineer who has a track record of delivery.

Main Accountabilities:

Leading and delivering the packaging workstream for Brand Innovations.
Depending on experience leading and deliver packaging capability projects that enhance Desire, Sustainability, and cost efficiency.
Contribute to parts of the B&W Packaging strategy.
Developing new or identifying existing packaging that meet supply chain, formulation, consumer, brand, regional and confidentiality requirements.
Lead packaging testing activities, understand and interpret results, make recommendations, and build robust specifications.
Education: Degree level, science, or engineering.

Established packaging technologist/packaging engineer with FMCG experience and with basic awareness/working knowledge skills of the following:

Plastic polymers and conversion processes
Multi component assembly (Caps and Bottles)
Design & design engineering (2D and 3D)
Cost engineering systems (e.g., FMEA, moulding simulation, component optimisation etc.)
Decoration and printing
Transit packaging
Consumer insight techniques
Information Management
Working across countries and regions

They must have:
Strong project management skills
Experienced at scoping and selecting technologies for packaging innovations.
Experience with FMCG Packaging development and scale up in various materials and technologies.
Experience with leading supplier relationships.
Passion for technical & processes rigour.
Ability to project ideas into the future for long term business impact.

3+ years experience in a packaging development role
Port Sunlight working environment:

Free onsite parking
Staff shop discounted products
Working in state-of-the-art laboratory and pilot plant facilities
Free parking onsite
5 mins walk to train station serving Liverpool & Chester
20-minute drive from Liverpool city centre/30-minutes drive from Chester
Disabled parking
In the heart of picturesque Port Sunlight village
There are also several site clubs available to join covering a range of topics including Book Club, Running, Choir, Pool, Genealogy and much more.
The sites have three catering outlets which provide a range of hot and cold food and drinks daily.
In addition there are a range of vending machines and cold water dispensers around the site accessible throughout the day