Food Packaging Technologist

**Job Purpose**

To create, lead and inspire Oscar Mayer (OM) Packaging innovation to meet the needs and requirements of both OM and our business customer partners.

**Context**

The role of packaging innovation continues to be of critical importance to the OM business in driving packaging innovation in the categories that we operate forward and to support the business to deliver the packaging policies of our business partners.

ESG and Sustainability are at the heart of our business and must always be at the forefront of what we do. Working with suppliers, industry leaders, regulatory and advisory organisations to provide the OM business with a view of the packaging landscape current and future direction to support business strategy direction, and to create and develop a packaging innovation program that improves the packaging knowledge and skills of the OM teams. We want to be seen as Industry Leaders in our category.

**Accountabilities**
- Support the Head of Packaging, Indirects and Group Services to deliver the Group Packaging Strategy.
- Build and co-ordinate the OM Packaging innovation and packaging reduction program to ensure that OM has a continuous pipeline of innovations under review and a bank of innovation propositions that can be drawn from in line with the needs of the OM business (through guidance from the OM Packaging Steering team) and our business partners packaging and sustainability policies.
- Working in alignment with the Procurement Category Manager - Packaging to support and manage the technical elements of OM Packaging Strategy to include supplier agreements/renewal process, introduction of new suppliers/materials, new materials/format to ensure security of supply.
- Lead and attend the required Packaging Trials - accurate generation, submission and booking of Packaging Trials.
- Liaising with Suppliers and Operation Teams to ensure trials are actioned and a trial report is accurately recorded along with the trial trackers maintained.
- Provide technical support and packaging expertise to the OM sites to contribute to problem solving, customer complaint reduction, operational optimisation and therefore contribute to the enhanced profitability of OM.
- Liaise closely and regularly with packaging counter parts across our business partners.
- Ensuring Packaging compliance is maintained for effective delivery of legislative requirements including Plastic Packaging Tax, Packaging Recycling Notes and Extended Producer Responsibilities delivery.
- Ownership of the data for the Packaging Waste Regulations and all submissions to the Regulators.
- Develop a packaging knowledge program working with key suppliers and industry leaders and advisory bodies to develop the packaging knowledge and understanding of the OM teams
- Analyse, monitor, and evaluate key packaging innovation trends and communicate through the publication of a regular updates any potential impact to the business.
- Liaise closely and regularly with Packaging industry leaders and regularity/advisory organisations and provide regular updates on regulatory, industry updates through the publication of a regular reports.
- Delivery of on-going Value Engineering project activity bringing profitability through key initiative projects.
- Provide packaging design and print management to deliver the OM Brand Strategy.
- Report twice a year on packaging improvements and material reduction by business partner.
- Travelling to sites and suppliers when required.

**Knowledge, Skills & Experience**

**Essential**
- Degree/Diploma in packaging technology or an in-depth knowledge of packaging industry with experience in food packaging and systems.
- Ability to be creative, innovative and investigative.
- Ability to work independently and influence others, including senior colleagues.
- Clear communication and good inter-personal skills.
- Travelling between sites, to suppliers and other destinations as necessary.

**Desirable**
- Procurement experience.
- Ability to use a range of software systems/tools to collate and interrogate, interpret, and communicate data.
- 3d Printer experience.
- Health and safety induction.

**Job Types**: Full-time, Permanent

**Benefits**:

- Canteen
- Company pension
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- On-site parking
- Private medical insurance

Schedule:

- Day shift
- Monday to Friday

Work Location: In person