Senior Packaging Technologist

**BAT is evolving at pace into a global multi-category business. Our purpose is to create A Better Tomorrow by Building a Smokeless World.**
**To achieve our ambition, we are looking for colleagues who are ready to join us on this journey Tomorrow can’t wait, let’s shape it together**

**British American Tobacco UK has an exciting opportunity for a SENIOR PACKAGING TECHNOLOGIST in Southampton**

**What are the key objectives and expectations from this role?**

The objective of this packaging development manager role is to lead and manage complex projects from ideation to commercialization, providing technical advice and solutions regarding all packaging requirements to our Modern Oral (MO) Category.

**What is the direct impact of this role on the team or organization?**

An excellent working knowledge of different packaging substrates such as rigids plastics, printed flexibles, labels, and cartons and it’s prototyping. Working closely with our product innovation, marketing, procurement, supply chain, manufacturing, compliance, legal and quality, the Packaging development manager will own packaging specifications and implementation process to MO new and existing product portfolio.

Strong communication, innovation and influencing skills will be critical to this role to build strong relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

**Your key responsibilities will include**:

- Manage complex projects from design concept, prototype, build and commercialization of rigids (plastics, metals), printed flexibles, labels and carton structures.
- Provide technical support and collaborate with other functions of the business in resolving technical issues during design and development.
- Provide technical support to procurement on new and existing packaging sourcing requirements, identifying, and actualising opportunities for cost and quality improvement.
- Drive the sustainability agenda in collaborations with other functions to deliver on company ESG KPI’s
- Participate in the development of the Quality Control Plans with BAT Quality team.
- Travel to suppliers/plants to support development/fine-tuning and or specification release.
- Attend Material Qualification trials and first off production runs at our manufacturing sites and at suppliers as required.
- Establish strong technical relationships with internal and external stakeholders.

**Rigids Plastics**
- Lead projects through all stages of injection moulding process implementation, from concept evaluation through commercialization
- Leads development of specifications and acceptance protocols to enable the purchase production injection moulds and moulded components.
- Lead pilot and commercial moulds trial run and make sure the new project launch on schedule and successfully.
- Manages suppliers to ensure in the design, development and implementation of injection moulds and conversion of components is done in time and to pre-agreed standards.
- Develops processes by designing and/or performing experimental testing, data analysis, preparation of reports, and providing recommendations.

**Can this be your future role?**
- What is your experience delivering rigid & flexible plastic packaging innovations from concept to launch?
- What is your experience developing consumer relevant and environmentally sustainable packaging solutions?
- What is your experience project managing global projects?
- What is your experience with rapid prototyping of injection moulded containers?

**What are we looking for?**

**Experience Required**
- Experience of working effectively in a FMCG or global companies and within cross functional and a multi-category packaging team.
- Demonstrated ability to lead complex packaging development projects from concept to market commercialisation.
- Previous work experience of packaging development of Injection Moulding packaging (plastic and metal) and flexible plastic packaging, experience of developing complex injection moulded packaging.
- Experience of using CAD software (SolidWorks, etc.) and FEMS software (Moldflow)
- Knowledge of use and properties of common plastic materials especially polyolefins and global sustainability developments in plastics.
- Knowledge of designing and modelling packaging to meet product stability requirements and consumer useability criteria.
- Experience of rapid prototyping techniques especially related to development of injection moulded packaging.
- Working knowledge of developing and validating Child Resistant/Senior Effective packaging
- Strong engineering analysis skills including tolerance analysis, DFA, DFM, DFMEA, validation and documentation.
- Knowledge of use and properties of common plastic materials especially polyolefins and global sustainability developments in plastics.

**Technical / Functional / Leadership Skills Required**
- Effective communication, collaboration, and teamwork.
- Resilience, empathy, self-awareness, and emotional intelligence.
- Tolerance to ambiguity, assertiv