Design for Innovation Specialist

About DS Smith

DS Smith are a leading provider of sustainable packaging solutions, paper products and recycling services in more than 30 different countries. It’s a very exciting time to join, as we have committed to investing in our future across our strategic growth enablers within Innovation (R&D), Sustainability and Digital & Data.

Be a game changer as we invent, re-imagine and redefine packaging

About the role

As a Design for Innovation Specialist, you will be responsible for the daily management and delivery of programmes and projects across the UK North Cluster. The Design for Innovation Specialists will ensure we deliver added value through innovation, continuous improvement projects, market insight and research.

The work will deliver a unique, best-in-class proposition, which will excite customers to want to work with us. They will be able to meet with customers, discuss ideas and offer relevant solutions

Reporting to the Cluster D&I Manager, you will drive the Innovation Agenda using our unique solution driven approach to deliver our Value Proposition to Customers whilst achieving profitable growth for DS Smith.

Projects will encompass but not be limited to the following key strategic areas:
- Operational excellence and continuous improvement- Innovation- DS Smith Sustainability commitments- Support our Sales Team during opportunities that arise, scoping out technical requirements and presenting the best solution that maximises the chances of successful conversion- Meet with customers to present new ideas and solutions to technical challenges.- Support the team in onboarding new business to ensure we ‘get it right first time ‘- Drive sales and growth, through technical innovation- Support and when applicable lead Impact and PackRight Centre visits- Deliver margin enhancement projects- Delivering contractual VE agreements.- Assist the wider marketing and innovation team in its full activities when required- Provide technical support to customer’s, both remotely and at their premises- Walk Customer lines identifying, proposing and managing ongoing technical improvements.- Work with and be able to support interdepartmental business decisions in terms of both the Customer requirements and product design to maximise both runability and machine efficiency.

The role will require monitoring and co-ordination of the key projects that are aligned to Design and Innovation strategic goals. You will regularly review to ensure they are on track to deliver the committed results and ensure successful completion of projects.

About you- Excellent project management track record- Implementation of continuous improvement and value engineering programmes.- Ability to prioritise and execute tasks to strict deadlines.- Experience in the Packaging industry, ideally in a technical/design role- Good technical understanding of our materials and box performance factors- Experienced with Cad software, preferably Artios CAD and of different packaging related software, i.e. Cape, 1A, Optim etc- Technical understanding of 2D & 3D drawings- Strong communication, presentation and organisational skills- Enthusiastic, influential and strives for excellence- An ability to develop and execute alternative solutions- Excellent analytical and problem solving- Excellent project and time management skills- Good communication skills - written and verbal- Deliver the innovation agenda to develop commercially viable solutions aligned to the insight, category management and specific customer challenges- Support the IC content development, Strategic Innovation Sessions and bespoke Packright customer sessions- Support an environment to support cross regional, country and cluster collaboration to co-create and share ideas and best practice- Deliver on Innovation KPI’s for the Cluster- Support the development of customer innovation pipelines and value creation activity (as part of the customer account plans) with the sales community- Manage and prioritise your activity to maximise value creation, business retention and profitable growth.- Continually drive and develop our product and service offer to create value and deliver lowest TCO in the supply chain.- Utilise the Retailer engagement insight & activity to promote and support collaboration with our customers to gather and utilise insight for value creation and solution driven innovative- Fully utilise the individual skills and experience of the team to deliver the best results for our customers- Commit to your personal development programs for continuous improvement

Location

Remote in UK Northern Cluster with travel to DS Smith and Customer sites

**Benefits**:
- Competitive salary- Discretionary bonus- 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays- Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection- Sharesave scheme- Employee Assistance Programme- Employee Discounts- Cycle to work scheme