Group Packaging Development Manager

The Compleat Food Group; Market Drayton; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary sacrifice schemes

33 days annual leave

Enhanced retail discounts

Free product handouts

EV charging points

GroceryAid access

Wellbeing hub and fitness perks

LMS and training platforms

Job summary

The Compleat Food Group invites applications for the Group Packaging Development Manager to lead packaging format selection, material testing, and feasibility assessments across branded and own-label products. You will drive innovative packaging solutions, aligning with product launches and supplier collaborations to ensure safety and integrity.

Hybrid role with travel to Crewe, Nottingham, Market Drayton; 12-month FTC maternity cover.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in food-contact packaging roles.
• Knowledge of packaging materials: Flexible Plastic, Rigid Plastic, Carton board, Corrugate, Aluminium.
• Experience with retailer customers and packaging development processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead packaging format and material selection, feasibility, testing.
• Integrate packaging across New Product Development from concept to launch.
• Share packaging innovations with brand managers and business divisions.
• Justify material choices to stakeholders with a focus on safety and integrity.
• Develop packaging for new formats, liaise with suppliers, create cutter guides.
• Oversee packaging development across critical paths and supplier relations.
• Drive packaging innovation with suppliers and track emerging technologies.
• Maintain materials tracker and collaborate with specification managers.

Skills

Project management

Communication

Attention to detail

Problem solving

Excel

Driving licence

Packaging materials knowledge

Retailer customer experience

Job description

We have a new opportunity to join The Compleat Food Group as a Group Packaging Development Manager, overseeing our branded and own label products to ensure they have the most sustainable, innovative and commercially viable food packaging!

About The Compleat Food Group

At The Compleat Food Group, we’re proud to be a food business built on purpose and passion. Formed in 2021, we’re on a mission to create Food to Feel Good – great quality, tasty and affordable food that people love to eat.

We’re home to some of the UK’s most exciting and loved food brands, includingWall’s Pastry, Pork Farms, Wrights, The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co., unearthed, Vadasz, Squeaky Bean, Palace Culture, andHarvey & Brockless. Alongside our branded portfolio, we’re a leading supplier of delicious own-label pastry, sweet bakery, party food, olives and antipasti, added-value egg products, continental meats, dips and sauces and plant-based food to the UK’s major retailers, as well as across foodservice.

With over 6,000 talented colleagues across 17 sites, and an annual turnover of £1.3bn, we’re united by a shared ambition to shape the future of food for the better.

Location:

Hybrid working with regular travel to Crewe, Nottingham and Market Drayton. Location base flexible ideally West Midlands area.

Hours:

Monday – Thursday, 8:30 – 17:00, Friday, 8:30 – 16:00

Contract:

12 month FTC – Maternity Cover

Your Duties Will Include:

• Lead the packaging format and material selection, manufacturing feasibility, trialling and testing of new or re-developed packaging.
• Supporting the integration of packaging throughout New Product Development process from concept through to launch
• Sharing packaging innovations with brand managers and working closely with relevant business divisions to ensure packaging is optimised
• Justify material selection to internal and external stakeholders, working across all possible food-grade packaging materials
• Ensuring material selection is suitable for the application, with product safety and integrity as the priority
• Support packaging development for new formats, liaising with suppliers and developing new cutter guides
• Responsible for the packaging development elements of any critical paths requiring new or re-developed packaging
• Lead the packaging innovation agenda and regularly meet suppliers to track emerging technologies
• Packaging data management responsibility working closely with specification managers to ensure specification accuracy, whilst developing and maintaining materials tracker
• Working closely with site teams to ensure factory knowledge is developed and maintained
• People management responsibility for a small team

Knowledge, Experience and Skills:

Experience

• Relevant strong experience in a food-contact packaging-related role, specifying materials such as Flexible Plastic, Rigid Plastic, Carton board, Corrugate or Aluminium
• Understanding of industry bodies and compliance schemes e.g. FSC/PEFC, OPRL, Plastic Packaging Tax, EPR, WRAP etc
• Good technical background both in material technology and the requirements to launch new packaging in a business
• Experience working with retailer customers

Key Skills:

• Planning, organisation and project management
• Communicating at different levels of seniority
• High attention to detail
• Identifying solutions
• Good IT skills including Excel
• Driving licence essential

Qualities:

• A passion for the food industry
• Enthusiasm to learn and grow

Why Join Us?

At The Compleat Food Group, we believe our people are the heart of our success. That’s why we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your lifestyle, wellbeing, and career growth:

• Salary Sacrifice Schemes – including Electric Vehicles, Home & Tech, Cycle to Work, and SMART Pension
• 33 days’ annual leave (including bank holidays) with the option to purchase extra
• Access to enhanced retail discounts online and in-store
• Free product handouts across our sites, so you can sample and enjoy our delicious products first hand
• EV charging points – available at selected sites
• 24/7 access to GroceryAid for free financial, emotional, and practical support
• Physical Wellbeing Hub – free on-demand exercise classes, gym discounts
• Free diet & nutrition advice with access to thousands of healthy recipes
• Online wellbeing support – from mindfulness to lifestyle resources
• Financial wellbeing tools – including mortgage calculators, budgeting tools, and financial aid
• Access to a personalised online learning platform (LMS)
• Formal and informal training opportunities tailored to your role
• Performance Development Plans and regular Career Conversations
• Company Mentoring Scheme to add depth and really support your career journey
• Recognition through Club Compleat rewards

Community & Culture

• 2 paid volunteering days per year to give back to causes that matter to you
• Charity initiatives and fundraising events
• Team socials to connect and celebrate together
• Employee networks & support groups – including Women @ Compleat
• New baby gift for new parents

What You Should Know About How We Recruit

At The Compleat Food Group, we believe great teams are built on difference. We create an inclusive, respectful environment where everyone feels safe, supported, and are able to be themselves at work.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunities employer and are committed to Fairness, Equity, Inclusivity, and Respect. If you need a reasonable adjustment at any stage of our recruitment process, just let us know, we’ll support you — confidentially and with care.

We hire the best people for our roles, not the same people. Whoever you are, wherever you’re from, we focus on what you do and the impact you could make in our business. Our recruitment process is fair, accessible, and designed to give everyone an equal chance.

You’ll also find benefits that support people at every life stage, plus active internal networks — including Women @ Compleat, LGBTQIA+, and Neurodiversity

Recruitment Agencies:

We have a small, active and trusted Preferred Supplier List to assist us if required. We do not acknowledge any speculative CVs or unsolicited candidate introductions. We only accept CV submissions for roles released to you directly by our Talent Acquisition team.