Ideation and Solutions Specialist

DS Smith; England; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading packaging company in the United Kingdom is seeking an Ideation and Solutions Specialist. The role emphasizes generating new ideas for commercially viable products, utilizing creativity to explore concepts for packaging and manufacturing solutions. Successful candidates will have a strong background in early-stage innovation, hands-on experience with packaging processes, and the ability to shape ideas in collaborative environments. This is a full-time position located in a hybrid work setting, offering the opportunity to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation.

Qualifications

• Experience in early-stage radical or semi-radical innovation.
• Recognised subject matter expert in packaging manufacturing processes.
• Ability to translate emerging materials and technologies into innovative solutions.
• Experience in cross-functional teams contribution.

Responsibilities

• Drive ideation and concept generation for new products and systems.
• Explore and evolve ideas through sketching and prototyping.
• Collaborate with specialists to develop credible concepts.
• Contribute materials for concept development handover.

Skills

Organizational Management

Presentation Skills

Agile

SAFe

AWS

Solution Architecture

Conflict Management

Data Management

Scrum

Team Management

Pre-sales

Management Consulting

Tools

CAD

3D printing tools

Job description

Location: R8 Redditch hybrid

Subject to Consultation

About the role

As Ideation and Solutions Specialist in the Future Innovation Team you will be responsible for generating new ideas that could over time be commercially viable and deliver customer delight. You will work at the front end of concept creation where creativity is fast and free flowing imagining what could be possible and shaping early thinking into credible starting points for future products and systems. While packaging concepts are central your scope will cover a broad range from primary consumer packaging through to industrial solutions. You will consider how new technologies and materials once introduced could be applied to influence how we manufacture how customers pack and how operations could evolve. You will work both independently and in group sessions to explore possibilities and evolve ideas.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive new ideation and concept generation for future products and systems having in mind the innovation road map consisting of a broad portfolio of categories from FMCG to Industrial
• Explore and evolve ideas through sketching prototyping and creative thinking
• Imagine and ideate how new materials and technologies could unlock new possibilities
• Work independently and in collaborative sprints to shape new concepts
• Collaborate with other specialists to develop ideas into credible outcomes
• Contribute to handover materials when concepts move to the next stage
• Ensure a funnel for new ideas with continuous addition.

About You

• Experience working in early-stage radical or semi-radical innovation
• Recognised subject matter expert in packaging manufacturing processes with hands‑on experience of customer packaging lines and operations. Proven ability to turn this expertise into radical credible concepts
• Energised by emerging materials and technologies and their potential to unlock new possibilities with demonstrated capability to translate these into practical innovative solutions
• Expert CAD and 3D printing tools and other applications
• Experience contributing to ideation and concept development in cross‑functional teams
• Curious, passionate and open‑minded self‑starter with a drive to push the boundaries of thinking beyond the box and see the bigger picture
• Strong creative thinking and problem‑solving skills able to communicate ideas clearly and simply
• Comfortable navigating ambiguity and shaping ideas at the front end of innovation.

APPLICATIONS CLOSING DATE: 12th DECEMBER 2025

Required Experience

IC

Key Skills

Organizational Management, Presentation Skills, Agile, SAFe, AWS, Solution Architecture, Conflict Management, Data Management, Scrum, Team Management, Pre‑sales, Management Consulting

Employment Type

Full-Time

Experience

years

Vacancy

1