Senior Manager, Barrier Materials & Packaging Innovation

1KOMMA5° Commercial Solutions GmbH; Espoo; Hybrid; EUR 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Development opportunities

Remote work (1 day/week)

Sustainability commitments

Job summary

Huhtamaki is seeking a Senior Manager, Material Science & Barrier Technologies in Espoo or Hämeenlinna, Finland, with one remote-working day per week. The role leads the fibre-based packaging barriers roadmap and guides projects from concept to production, coordinating with suppliers, researchers and internal teams.

The ideal candidate holds MSc/PhD in chemistry-related fields, has extensive experience with WVTR/OTR testing and barrier analytics, and can lead cross‑functional initiatives across

Qualifications

• An MSc or PhD in emulsion chemistry, polymer science, surface chemistry, dispersion chemistry, coating chemistry or a related discipline is required.
• Applicants need expertise in fibre-based packaging barriers, coating formulations, barrier chemistries and application technologies.
• Strong experience in the design, execution and interpretation of laboratory, pilot and production-scale trials is required.
• Candidates must bring deep knowledge of barrier characterisation, including WVTR and OTR, together with material-performance testing.
• Experience of working with suppliers, converters and external innovation partners is required.
• The role requires independent project leadership, sound technical decision-making, ownership of work and the ability to balance strategic direction with experimental execution.
• Excellent communication skills are needed to translate complex technical subjects for diverse audiences and to build cross-functional relationships.
• Fluent English is required; no professional licence requirement is stated for the vacancy.
• Preferred: The employer ideally seeks 10 or more years of industrial experience in barrier materials, coatings, laminations, specialty chemicals or related technologies.

Responsibilities

• Lead the technology roadmap for fibre and barrier work across paperboard and moulded-fibre platforms.
• Convert technology-roadmap priorities into commercial development projects that contribute to short- and mid-term growth, while coordinating material-science work with fibre-forming technology development.
• Identify emerging fibre and barrier technologies, assess their potential and develop strategic partnerships connected with them.
• Assess and introduce coating, lamination and surface-barrier approaches suitable for the development work.
• Develop and maintain working relationships with suppliers, research institutions and technology partners worldwide.
• Direct material-development projects from their initial concept through industrial implementation.
• Design and carry out laboratory, pilot and production-scale trials, then use the results to prepare development plans.
• Serve as the specialist authority on barrier performance, test methods and material analytics, establishing robust protocols and scientific rigour for material assessment.
• Advance inventions, patents and intellectual-property work while coaching colleagues, sharing expertise, building capability and collaborating across materials, structures and manufacturing processes.

Skills

Barrier materials

Fibre packaging

Coating formulations

Material testing

WVTR/OTR

Lab to production

Supplier collaboration

Project leadership

Coaching

Education

MSc or PhD in chemistry

Polymer science

Surface chemistry

Coating chemistry

Job description

Huhtamaki is seeking a Senior Manager, Material Science & Barrier Technologies in Espoo or Hämeenlinna, Finland, with one remote-working day per week. The role leads the fibre-based packaging barriers roadmap and guides projects from concept to production, coordinating with suppliers, researchers and internal teams.

The ideal candidate holds MSc/PhD in chemistry-related fields, has extensive experience with WVTR/OTR testing and barrier analytics, and can lead cross‑functional initiatives across