Group Packaging Innovation Manager

Finsbury Food Group; Hamilton; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Enhanced Pension Scheme

Death in Service Benefit

Free Employee Assistance Programme

Retail discounts via Benefits Hub

Company shop at sites

Refer a Friend Scheme

Learning & Development opportunities

Opportunity for growth

Job summary

Finsbury Food Group is seeking a Group Packaging Innovation Manager to lead the development of innovative packaging across the group's bakeries. You will research new materials, technologies and concepts to ensure packaging enhances product appeal while meeting safety, sustainability and brand standards.

Role involves travel to multiple UK sites and suppliers. The ideal candidate holds a degree in packaging or related field with 3–5+ years in packaging development within the food sector, and

Qualifications

• Experience leading packaging development or packaging technology projects in the food sector.
• Strong knowledge of packaging materials used in food applications and safety/regulatory compliance.
• Excellent stakeholder management and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead R&D of innovative food packaging solutions across all business units.
• Research new materials, technologies, and concepts for packaging.
• Ensure packaging delivers on functionality, safety, compliance, sustainability and brand identity.
• Collaborate with suppliers, start-ups and internal teams to enable successful launches.

Skills

Project management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Degree in Packaging Technology, Materials Science, Food Science, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Location: This role can be based at any of our UK sites
Shift: Weekdays
Salary: Competitive with Opportunity for Growth

We have an opportunity for a Group Packaging Innovation Manager to join our Development team.
Finsbury Food Group is a leading speciality bakery manufacturer. We constantly raise quality and efficiency standards, and build long-term relationships with major multiple retailers and the foodservice channel. The bread for your morning toast, ready for butter-spreading or egg-dipping. The candle-filled centrepiece for a memorable celebration. The buns, muffins and other treats that turn teatime into quality time. We make a large percentage of the UK’s sharing cakes from retailer own brands cakes, tray bakes through to party cakes like Caterpillar cakes This is what we do, and why we’re in business. Baking brilliance makes every day special.

The Group Packaging Innovation Manager will lead and support the innovation and development of food packaging solutions across all business units within the group. They will be responsible for researching new materials, technologies, and concepts, ensuring packaging delivers on functionality, safety, compliance, sustainability, and brand identity. This role will drive innovative, consumer-centric packaging solutions that enhance product appeal, support sustainability goals, and promote forward-thinking design across the organisation.
This is a fast paced role, where the successful candidate will have a Degree in Packaging Technology, Materials Science, Food Science, Engineering, or a related field. They should ideally have 3–5+ years’ experience in a packaging development or packaging technology role, ideally within the food sector, they will also have solid knowledge of packaging materials used in food applications (e.g., films/flexibles, paperboard, rigid plastics, barrier materials, MAP, etc.).
This role is based in Hamilton, with regular travel to visit other group sites (Cardiff, Salisbury, Manchester, Sheffield) and suppliers.

This is a great opportunity for someone to gain experience with one of the UK’s largest bakery businesses. They’ll work closely with a friendly and engaging team from both a site and group perspective, offering opportunities for growth and long-term career development.

As the Group Packaging Innovation Manger they will lead the research and development of innovative food packaging solutions, identifying opportunities to improve functionality, reduce environmental impact, and enhance the consumer experience. They will explore and evaluate new materials, technologies, and formats by working closely with suppliers, start-ups, and innovation partners – including feasibility assessments, prototyping, and testing. They will also conduct horizon scanning to monitor trends in packaging, sustainability, consumer behaviour, and regulatory developments – sharing relevant insights with Category Leadership Teams (CLTs) and other relevant key stakeholders.
They will translate consumer, brand, and commercial insights into packaging concepts, working cross-functionally with Development, Marketing, R&D, Operations, Technical, SHE, and Procurement to ensure viability and alignment. As well as develop and implement a packaging benchmarking strategy to evaluate industry trends, identify best practices, and inform future innovation and design decisions. They will lead packaging development projects from concept through to launch, ensuring effective stakeholder engagement and timely delivery.

Ideal you

• Degree in Packaging Technology, Materials Science, Food Science, Engineering, or a related field.
• 3–5+ years’ experience in a packaging development or packaging technology role, ideally within the food sector.
• Solid knowledge of packaging materials used in food applications (e.g., films/flexibles, paperboard, rigid plastics, barrier materials, MAP, etc.).
• Understanding of food safety, hygiene, and regulatory compliance in relation to packaging (e.g., EPR, PPT, BRCGS, Food Contact Materials Regulations).
• Experience working with packaging lines and machinery in production environments.
• Excellent project management, communication, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Able to communicate effectively at multiple levels inside and outside the organisation both verbally and in writing.
• Influencing skills essential to ensure projects delivered at pace.

What’s in it for you?

• Enhanced Maternity & Paternity Leave to allow quality time with your new arrival!
• Enhanced Pension Scheme for our employees
• Death in Service Benefit
• Free Employee Assistance Programme (open to colleagues and their families)
• Retail discounts accessible via our Benefits Hub platform!
• Company shop available at sites (heavily discounted, yummy products!)
• Refer a Friend Scheme (up to £300 per referral – t&cs dependent)
• Employee Recognition Awards
• Extensive Learning & Development opportunities (including opportunities for sponsored professional memberships and our own in-house development course!)
• An opportunity to be part of a fantastic, growing organisation.

Our vision is to be the leading specialty bakery group in the UK and we want the best people in place to achieve this. Our continued success is built entirely on the talented people who work here, so employee development is important to us because everyone is a valued member of the team, and we want every individual to have the skills and capabilities to achieve both your own personal goals and our business goals. We want good people to join our company, to help our company continue to go from strength to strength.

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