Job detail
Packaging Development Manager - London
Job reference: GB1349
Company: KPI Recruitment Ltd
Location: London
Position Type: Full time
Salary: £32 - 35,000
Posted: 03/07/2008
Our clients are the UK's leader in their sector with a turnover of £27m and in excess of three hundred staff. They have recorded 50% growth on an annual basis. They are now looking to strengthen their team with the appointment of a Packaging Development Manager to work at their London and Hampshire site.
Summary of Role
Identify, develop and introduce packaging and labelling initiatives in support of marketers, the category leaders, company objectives, philosophies and strategy for growth. Work across chilled and ambient categories to refresh and enhance the product portfolio with exiting and profitable packaging opportunities for home delivery, retail sale and internal distribution.
Maintain and enhance company’s reputation by ensuring that they are at the forefront of reusable, recyclable, biodegradable and sustainable packaging. Project manage packaging and product launches through all stages of development with particular personal responsibility for packaging cost, appearance and performance, design development, specification, and efficiency in use. Liaise with Category Leaders and Marketers and make
significant contribution to supplier audits and print quality.
Be the in house expert on packaging technology. Manage multiple projects across a diverse supplier base both in the UK and in Continental Europe. Most packaging formats are present in our extensive product portfolio and are supplied by c10 suppliers and an annual spend of approx £750k growing to approx £1.5m over the next 3 years.
Key responsibilities
New Product Development
• To understand the packaging criteria that must be achieved and ensure that these criteria are always met.
• To work with current packaging suppliers and create new suppliers as required to achieve an enticing and comprehensive range to the highest standard and the right cost price.
• When appropriate liaise between packaging and product suppliers to drive mutual benefit.
• To maintain a time line, methodology and framework for New Packaging Development.
• To produce appropriate documentation to support the timeline, methodology and framework, and install first class packaging development and procurement skills.
• Create and maintain written specifications for all lines, communicate to suppliers and Goods In team.
• To implement standard service level agreements for all new suppliers and a reporting procedure.
• To ensure that realistic timescales and resource requirements are agreed and to carry out the monitoring of packaging introductions against these criteria, taking corrective action as necessary.
• To ensure that any packaging related problems are identified and escalated at the earliest opportunity and that solutions are identified and implemented.
• To coordinate meetings for all internal and external customers to achieve agreed timelines.
• To ensure that the supplier experience is market leading.
• Maintain a detailed understanding of the storage, handling and distribution conditions and methods which Abel and Cole use and ensure that these are reflected in all Packaging specifications and activities.
Partner with the Marketing Dept
• To establish expected requirements for packaging and printed packaging particularly with regard to supplier synergies.
• To identify consumer demand for new packaging and changes to range.
• Ensure all designs of own label and packaging are up-to-date and meet current legislative requirements.
Person specification - experiences, skills and qualities
• A confident and assertive individual ideally from a packaging development background or from within the wider FMCG, food or grocery industry.
• Proven achievements in related project management and or a Packaging Technology background.
• Highly organised with the ability to multi task, balancing day to day problem solving and strategic planning.
• Financially literate with proven track record.
• Demonstrable ability to collaborate and build relationships across the business.
• Professional, honest with integrity.
• IT literate, particularly in MS Office applications including Microsoft Project.
• Calm, methodical approach with strong negotiating skills. Ability to act firmly with supplier.
• Knowledge and or experience of food manufacturing and food safety legislation.
• An additional European language would be useful.
We aim to reply to all applications within 5 working days; however the number of applications received may mean that we are unable to meet this target. If you do not hear from us within 5 working days from the date of making your application then you have not been successful on this occasion. Please do not hesitate to apply for alternative positions of interest in the future.
KPI Recruitment Ltd is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
All candidates registering with KPI Recruitment Ltd. will need to provide proof of identity, and evidence of any experience, training and qualifications our client considers necessary for this position.