Packaging Technologist

**Who we are looking for.**
Butternut Box is looking for an experienced Packaging Technologist to join our Technical Team.
You'll play a pivotal role in building our long term packaging strategy, supporting the business sustainability agenda and bringing new products to launch. This will be a dynamic role which will flex across different teams, giving the unique opportunity to have a full view of our business.
You are dynamic, detail orientated and a self-starter who works proactively, and is excited about the opportunity to work in a rapidly scaling business We are looking for someone to come in and hit the ground running with strong experience working with plastics in a manufacturing setting, bringing fresh ideas and enthusiasm to the team.
- **A bit about us.**

At Butternut, the mission is to deliver health and happiness to dogs and their humans all over the world. We believe dogs deserve better, to eat the healthiest, most natural and tastiest food with none of the nasties. That's why we make freshly prepared dog food. Cooked like you would at home. Delivered in perfect portions.
At Butternut, they believe dogs deserve better, and if that's something you think too, we want to hear from you. We have come a long way since our co-founders (Kev & Dave) hand-delivered the first Butternut Box. We are on a mission to feed even more pets in the UK and creating a robust and scalable supply chain will have a vital part to play in this. That's where you come in.
**A bit about the role.**
You will report into our Head of Technical and will work cross-functionally across the whole operation. You will be managing packaging by supporting the product development process, artwork approvals, trials, and delivery. Organising trials at site or supplier sites and delivering against key milestones of the project plan.
You will liaise with design houses, suppliers, and printers; being abreast of the technical advancements within packaging will enable you to guide and support the business continuous improvement and customer growth.
You will act as a troubleshooter for issues arising with packaging, working with the different teams to ensure a root cause is found and rectified. Travel will be required on an ad hoc basis to our suppliers, printers and our 'box office' in London. The role is based at our production site in Blyth (between Doncaster and Worksop).
**_Key responsibilities: _**:

- Packaging Strategy & Innovation_
- Build the Packaging strategy to deliver quality, cost effectiveness and sustainability.
- Challenge and manage suppliers to deliver the required standards and measure their performance against agreed objectives, putting in place corrective actions where necessary.
- Manage our continuously growing supplier base, ensuring we onboard the right suppliers that we can rely on to enable speed, flexibility and quality that supports us with innovation.
- Working with our Sustainability Manager to ensure our sustainability aspirations are mapped in line with our brand goals.
- Working with the Operations team to ensure packaging helps drive continuous improvement and productivity.
- Work closely with our suppliers to maintain an up-to-date knowledge of packaging innovation & sustainability developments.
- Keep a close eye on future market trends and appetites, attending key trade shows domestically and internationally.
- NEPD process_
- Manage the development of all packaging materials and formats for our product development projects to ensure our criteria on packaging grade, format, shelf life and cost are met.
- Translating project briefs into packaging recommendations adapted to the product to ensure successful launch within equipment restrictions and shelf-life requirements.
- Work cross-functionally with Marketing, Proposition, Supply-Chain, Creative, and Operations to land product launches. Your interaction across stakeholders will be key to ensure we build packaging that fits the brand and travels well through the supply chain.
- Organise and conduct factory packaging trials with the support of our Operations, NEPD and Technical teams.
- Deliver on our sustainability and environmental agenda for each product launch.
- Support with the cutter guide creation process.
- Ensure that process operating procedures and specifications are written and communicated correctly for each new product and available to relevant colleagues.
- Compliance_
- Support the artwork checking process which includes liaising with our primary authority.
- Manage the development of all packaging materials and formats for our product development projects to ensure our criteria on packaging grade, format, shelf life and cost are met.
- Packaging efficiency_
- Work alongside the Operations team and machine manufacturers to gain a detailed understanding of our process.
- Operating to best technical practice, maintaining food safety, legality, quality, and customer requirements

**A bit about you**:

- 5+ years experience working with packa