The Head of Packaging will play a pivotal role in leading our client's packaging and innovation agenda. Setting out the consumer packaging roadmap for the business, creating momentum for it across markets, supply and NPD and creating a thriving team environment in which packaging excellence is clearly evident.
A new role, this position needs to live and deliver the change our client wants to create, bringing packaging as an equal partner alongside the consumed product to drive the brand forward and delight consumers.
The Head of Packaging will work in partnership with teams across the business to ensure the department delivers a continuous and future focused pipeline of differentiated, innovative and great packaging solutions in the wellbeing drinks/ experience space. The role requires a strategic approach to innovation management and an ability to deliver creative solutions against an ambitious agenda, by finding new ways and thinking differently.
Outstanding influencing and communications skills are a key enabler to this role, ensuring delivery of leading edge thinking, with market insight and trend-led needs into actual product packaging.
Key Accountabilities: Thought Leadership:
Create a vision and strategy that links together all packaging teams and stakeholders in the business
Accountable for the packaging roadmap; identify opportunity spaces for innovation and CPI, through understanding consumer needs, brand and business strategy and also what is feasible and potentially possible.
Own the sustainability packaging roadmap for consumer packaging through understanding the consumer drivers to make meaningful improvements with clear targets
Pulls the different packaging business teams together behind the roadmap, ensuring there are no silos, setting the tone, driving momentum and energy behind it. Be the objective decision maker when required
Continuously build the team’s knowledge of latest developments within the packaging industry
Manage and grow a packaging expert panel to ensure it is fit for purpose and future looking
Build and maintain a network of external expertise through suppliers and institutions
Dedicate at least 10% of working time to working on look outside activities to stay fresh and up to date
NPD Packaging Delivery:
Accountable for the consumer/customer packaging in the business
Work in partnership with local Marketing Teams to support them in development of their packaging strategy.
Ensure the Packaging Team work agilely and flexibly across the different types of innovation project, supporting the philosophy of testing and experimentation
Devise and deliver new and innovative packaging solutions, in conjunction with the product development team, that continually evolve the brand
Working directly or through experts, provide technical expertise to support the delivery of a differentiated innovation packaging pipeline
Team Leadership:
Build a high performing team, ensuring individuals continue to develop and excel in their packaging capability, putting career development, succession and talent management at the heart of team
Instil flexible and agile ways of working to bring performance, drive and pace across packaging projects
Work with the Director of Innovation and Marketing Excellence to shape the direction for Team NPD, instilling the innovation behaviours and creating a culture of progressive and innovative thinking
Drive the team to continuously monitor new and emerging packaging trends in the drink and wellness markets; sharing these across Team NPD and all interested parties
Stakeholder Management:
Build and maintain an internal network including Supply Centre Manufacturing, Quality and Pack Technologists, Procurement, Regulatory and others working collaboratively with them to get the best outcome for the business
·Engage with all stakeholders to create excitement and ‘buzz’ around the work of the Packaging Team, demonstrating how the team are an enabler to our client's future growth
·As a leader within the International Marketing and NPD Team, collaborate with peers across the team to strengthen ways of working across all parts of the team
Person Specification: Essential
Extensive experience working in, and leading teams, in food or drink packaging,
Demonstrable experience of translating NPD insight and briefs into fantastic products - A track record of success!
Led significant change programmes
Extensive experience of working with external suppliers and partners to deliver innovative product solutions
Experience of working with different countries and cultures Evident experience of supply and commercial environment understanding
Skills & Knowledge we look for:
A natural leader who can inspire others and deliver change
High personal accountability for driving results in their area
Strong communicator and influencer
Passionate about new trends and developments in food and drink packaging
Unquenchable curiosity about everything food, drink and wellbeing packaging related and how it affects consumers
Creative thinker who challenges perceptions about what the packaging future of healthy drinks could look like
Delivers through commercial thinking; understanding the commercial landscape of the business and the market and the impact of their role on this.
Ability to operate at a strategic level and also be in the detail when needed
Thrives on problem solving
Strong self-starter and proactive thinker