Packaging Workstream Lead

Job Title: Packaging Work Stream Lead

Business Function: R&D

Work Level: WL1D

Location: Leeds Office & R&D

The Packaging Work Stream Lead is a pivotal role within the Deodorant Category, a key strategic growth area in Personal Care at Unilever. This position is responsible for leading innovation and excellence in packaging for flagship brands including Rexona, Axe, and Dove.

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading packaging innovation/renovation projects.  They will lead the development and execution of the packaging design from the creation of concise briefs, through to rigorous execution, ensuring the delivery of superior product experiences and alignment with business objectives, including sustainability and premiumisation.

Managing Stakeholders is key for the PWSL, providing the required information and evidence at key decision points. Responsible for engaging and coordinating all Packaging activities involved in the delivery of a project, including co-ordinating with all Business Units to understand and ensure Global alignment and adherence to regional legislation.

The PWSL will ensure that the Packaging Development Process is followed, and the appropriate levels of technical rigour have been applied to ensure that it can be manufactured efficiently and consistently within specification to maintain quality expectations throughout the product life cycle.

They are responsible for managing all of the project risks involved in the delivery of the packaging solution and will lead all packaging technical risk activities including Risk Level 3 assessments and FMEA's.

The PSWL will be accountable for ensuring that the application of digital tools are used where available and must drive an in-silico first mindset, ensuring all structured data is capturing physical and virtual testing to safeguard its use in building models or future reuse by other project teams.

Based within the Packaging and Aerosol team in the Deodorant Category Design Centre, Leeds UK. 

Responsibilities

• Leads all of the packaging workstreams within the development framework Leads design reviews and risk management activities (e.g. FMEA, Risk Assessments).
• Responsible for the development and validation of robust functional specifications for components and systems.
• Responsible for ensuring appropriate test plans are created and executed to ensure RFT delivery
• Input into innovation networks and is accountable for the delivery of packaging related network activities
• Analyse test results using statistical tools to identify potential production issues.
• Prepare reports for stakeholder feedback and make recommendations to drive decision making
• Manage lab Technicians and Technologists when conducting technical testing activities through to completion including pilot packaging equipment, factory line trials and Design of Experiments.
• Work with strategic partners including design agencies, consultants, injection moulding/assembly suppliers globally to coordinate successful project delivery
• Contribute to the development of future packaging capability initiatives by helping to identify and capture best practice and support the build of testing capability to validate "design rules" for implementation into future innovation projects.
• Support training and to build knowledge and expertise across Personal Care Play an active role in contributing towards the Packaging and Aerosol teams strategy activities.

All about you:

Experience

• Project Management
• Mechanical Engineering Degree calibre
• Experience of manufacturing technology preferred
• Competent in using digital tools (e.g. analytical) to produce evidence to support decision making
• Ability to read technical engineering drawings and understand tolerances
• Building and managing networks and stakeholder management

Key Skills:

• Packaging Development
• Project Management tools and techniques
• Risk Management
• Stakeholder Management
• Aerosol/Stick/Roll on knowledge
• Packaging Materials & Technology expertise
• Network creation/planning
• Digital Tool Proficiency
• Data Analytics
• Environmental Sustainability
• Consumer Insight

What we offer

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace 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. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion ).