Packaging Technologist: Beverages

• You are responsible for the successful development and launch of good quality, differentiated, sustainable, and cost-effective packaging innovation. This includes re-engineering of existing packaging. You will need to have a deep understanding of material expertise (sourcing, design, manufacture) and category understanding and expertise; and become known in the organisation for this. You will ensure that documentation and reporting around packaging development is timely and concise. Where necessary you will work with and manage packaging suppliers to deliver packaging products.
• Develop the packaging design, and work with Product Technologist and Manufacturing to ensure that it supports both the product requirements and the manufacturing requirements. Create the packaging specification and requirements to support this.
• From development, manage the packaging for innovation through to commercialisation and smooth manufacturing.
• Support Manufacturing on existing packaging where problems may occur and focus on re-engineering and cost efficiency improvements.
• Work with R&D Manager to appropriately allocate your time and expertise to the projects and Category partners.
• Engage with Procurement regarding supplier selection and work with Manufacturing to determine plant requirements and Capex investment if necessary. Complete machine diagrams/ die lines and get it signed off by the unit. Determine pallet configurations and validate via Stack & Travel transit trials.
• If appropriate, work with external suppliers to jointly design and develop packaging. This includes the design and management of packaging specifications and requirements for manufacture.
• Develop deep material expertise through working on specific projects, carrying out research, and working with suppliers. Work with R&D Manager and Lead Packaging Technologist to decide how to capture and share this knowledge.
• Work with R&D Manager, Lead Packaging Technologist and Manufacturing to ensure that packaging design changes are carried out in a controlled and consistent fashion.
• Correct and timeous completion of documentation and systems and ensuring it is correctly captured (Packaging item creation and specification, Trial request, Trial report, PLM, Oracle/SAP, etc.).
• Conduct packaging Pilot Plant trials and management thereof.
• Conduct pre-trial meetings with the unit and thereafter conduct online plant trials to determine capability of the plant. Ensure that the prototype developed is able to run online.
• Carry out and complete shelf life tests (ambient / accelerated), dHACCP studies (communicate any sensitive packaging / changes to the plant or processes), risk assessments and travel tests.
• Packaging mass balance and Packaging yield determination.
• Facilitate the artwork management process via an online tool, including the communication with design agency, pre-production meetings with repro house and printer, etc.
• Manage the circulation, review, and approval of final packaging artwork with internal stakeholders and external print suppliers.
• Management of the online print approval process with the repro house and printer. Attend print runs to confirm packaging within specification.
• Colour standard management with the supplier and in-house colour standard library management.
• Complete and sign off of handover documentation ensuring that this is done in a controlled fashion that ensures due diligence, risk mitigation and governance is maintained at all times.
• Employ sustainable design techniques in the development of new packaging (e.g. life cycle design, design for recycling, reduced waste, etc.).

Experience

• 3 years in packaging development within an FMCG industry
• Packaging Diploma or equivalent
• Food Science Qualification or similar would be an advantage