Group Returnable Packaging & Apple Senior Specialist

Tennent's; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Join an innovative company as a Group Returnable Packaging & Apple Senior Specialist, where you'll manage returnable packaging types and optimize efficiency across operations. This role is crucial for ensuring effective liaison with apple growers during the harvest season and involves strategic planning to enhance inventory management. You'll lead initiatives to improve processes, manage stakeholder relationships, and contribute to sustainability efforts. If you're passionate about operational excellence and have a background in FMCG, this is an exciting opportunity to make a significant impact in a forward-thinking environment.

Qualifications

• Experience in FMCG, preferably in the drinks sector.
• Proven ability to deliver results against targets.
• Strong knowledge of returnable packaging regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead returnable packaging management and optimization.
• Manage relationships with apple growers and suppliers.
• Prepare insights for effective purchase planning.

Skills

Operational Planning

Inventory Management

Project Management

Analytical Skills

Communication Skills

Problem Solving

Education

Degree-level qualification in relevant discipline

Tools

MS Office Suite

Job description

C&C Group plc is a premium drinks company which owns, manufactures, markets and distributes a unique portfolio of beer and cider brands in its home markets and across the globe. You probably know us best from brands like Bulmers, Magners and Tennent’s.

About the role

The Group Returnable Packaging & Apple Senior Specialist will have overall responsibility for all returnable packaging types inclusive of Kegs, locator boards, CHEP pallets, RET glass and supplier returnable packaging across C&C Group ensuring quantities are right sized for the business whilst optimising efficiency, budget management and working capital.

This person in this role will act as a specialist with operational planning and inventory management.

During the apple season, this role will also have responsibility for overall liaison with the apple growers on tonnage communication, spray records and daily / weekly deliveries.

This role is a 2 year fixed-term contract and can be based in either our Wellpark or Clonmel site.

Key Accountabilities

• Lead current base line regarding volume and use of current RET packaging by liaising with stakeholders across the business to gather accurate data across the C&C business units, including 3rd party customer and supplier packaging.
• Engage with Close Brothers to understand keg management portal capabilities and EMS on pallet movements within the group.
• Identify process, investment in infrastructure and systems required for best-in-class returnable packaging management and traceability.
• Manage current keg and pallet pools to identify opportunity for optimisation and cost reduction.
• Manage CCI keg returns and identify opportunity for optimisation and cost reduction.
• Evaluate and resolve potential material shortages and escalate critical impacts on production schedules.
• Identify methods and best practices within the industry, through Identifying, prioritising, and monitoring the execution of continuous improvement.
• Lead and implement a companywide Management System, develop supporting SOP’s protocols and best practices to ensure consistency, quality, and safety in conjunction with key internal stakeholders.
• Provide leadership, development, and training for group stakeholders, to generate a competent and professional function to ensure business goals and objectives are delivered.
• Prepare and present detailed insights to enable the Planning and Procurement teams to create effective purchase plans to minimise costs and improve processes. Ensuring accurate inventory management through audits and reconciliation
• Manage and maintain accurate stocks to minimise group working capital whilst also minimising risk to customer service or stock shortages to ensure a contingency for busy periods.
• Contribute to production scheduling activities by monitoring material inventories, tracking progress of production and reviewing material factors that affect schedules.
• Accountable for regular reporting on management and KPI’s alongside budget setting.

Additionally, during July – December, accountabilities will include:

• Implement and monitor Service Level Agreements with apple suppliers to ensure consistent service quality.
• Manage and generate initial apple grower correspondence, rate, tonnage allocations.
• Collate and record spray records annually for quality and compliance including FEMAS audits.
• Allocate delivery numbers and liaise with planning on weekly crush volumes.
• Accountable for investigating and resolving invoice queries and corrective actions.
• Manage relationships with growers, attend visual annual visits with limited number of growers annually to manage relationships, general communications and visual inspections.

About you

• Degree-level qualification in a relevant discipline (or equivalent experience).
• Experience in a dynamic FMCG business, preferably drinks sector.
• Wider supply chain operational experience desirable.
• Proven ability to deliver results against targets.
• Demonstrable Project Management experience desirable.
• Focus on improving operational efficiency and reducing waste.
• Experience and knowledge of manufacturing processes in a FMCG environment.
• Strong knowledge of operational planning, inventory management.
• Understand Returnable Packaging and industry regulations.
• Ability to lead, make decisions, and take actions to prevent issues.
• Proficiency in using MS Office Suite, and other relevant tools.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Ability to work on own initiative including effective prioritisation of workload.
• Excellent communication & managerial skills.
• Capable of enabling change, providing fresh thinking and an alternative perspective.
• Strong financial insight.

About us

Operating through the Matthew Clark, Bibendum, Tennent’s and Bulmers Ireland brands, the Group has a market leading range, scale and reach including an intimate understanding of the markets it serves.

From grass to glass, and everything in between, we grow, brew, manufacture, market, and deliver some of the world’s favourite drinks. C&C Group’s portfolio of owned/exclusive brands include: Bulmers, the leading Irish cider brand; Tennent’s, the leading Scottish beer brand; Magners the premium international cider brand; as well as a range of fast-growing, premium and craft ciders and beers, such as Heverlee, Menabrea, Five Lamps and Orchard Pig.

We seek to champion and embed sustainability in everything that we do at C&C. While delivering joy to customers, we always shine a light on people and the planet. We have a clear ESG vision delivering to a better world. We respect, support, and develop all our people to be their best, with a focus on results by creating a culture of winning together.

We also recognize that people come with a wealth of experience and talent beyond just the technical requirements of a job. If your experience is close to what you see listed here, please still consider applying. Diversity of experience and skills combined with passion is a key to delivering on our mission. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.

C&C Group (and inclusive companies) do not accept unsolicited CVs from recruiters or employment agencies in response to any of our roles. For help, please contact our Talent Acquisition Team at [e-mail]. All applications need to come through the candidate portal https://careers.candcgroupplc.com/vacancies/