Packaging Innovation Manager

Blakeney Point Search & Selection; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A premier recruitment agency is seeking a Group Packaging Innovation Manager in the UK. This role involves leading the innovation of food packaging, developing solutions that boost performance and sustainability. The ideal candidate should hold a degree and possess 3-5+ years of relevant experience in packaging development within the food sector. Strong project management and communication skills are essential. This is a fantastic opportunity to work with one of the UK's largest food groups in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years of packaging development experience, ideally in food.
• Understanding of food packaging materials: flexibles, paperboard, rigid plastics, barrier systems.
• Hands-on experience with packaging lines and production machinery.
• Solid grasp of food safety, hygiene, and packaging compliance (EPR, PPT, BRCGS, FCM Regs).
• Hands‑on experience with packaging lines and production machinery.
• Top‑tier project management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Confident, clear communicator—written and verbal.
• Strong influencing skills and a bias for action.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development of innovative packaging solutions.
• Track sustainability trends and convert insights into opportunities.
• Collaborate with teams to shape packaging concepts from idea to launch.
• Benchmark best practice and drive projects from concept to launch at pace.

Skills

Packaging development experience

Project management skills

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Sustainability knowledge

Leadership

Negotiation

Education

Degree in Packaging Technology, Materials Science, Food Science, Engineering

Job description

Blakeney Point Search & Selection provided pay range

This range is provided by Blakeney Point Search & Selection. Your actual pay will be based on your skills and experience — talk with your recruiter to learn more.

Base pay range

Direct message the job poster from Blakeney Point Search & Selection

Director – FMCG & Food Manufacturing Recruitment Partner | Helping Leadership Teams Grow & Thrive | Career coach

This is a brand new role for a Group Packaging Innovation Manager- working in a really innovative ambient category with lots of scope for both your development and packaging innovation

You will be the driving force behind the future of food packaging across the entire group. If it’s new, clever, sustainable, or game-changing, you’ll be leading the charge. From breakthrough materials to smarter, greener designs, this role shapes packaging that works brilliantly, looks sharp, and elevates the brand every step of the way.

You’ll thrive here if you come with a relevant degree (Packaging Tech, Materials Science, Food Science, Engineering, etc.) and 3–5+ years’ real‑world packaging development experience, ideally in food. Solid knowledge of flexibles, paperboard, rigid plastics, barrier systems, MAP?

You can base yourself out of several locations across the UK, either Scotland, Yorkshire, Manchester or South Wales. You do therefore need to be comfortable with travel to sites and also retailer customers.

This is a standout opportunity to join one of the UK’s biggest food groups, working with an upbeat, collaborative team that genuinely wants you to grow, stretch, and build a long‑term career.

What you’ll actually be doing

You’ll spearhead the discovery and development of innovative packaging solutions that boost performance, cut environmental impact, and delight consumers. You’ll hunt down new materials, technologies, and formats, working with suppliers, start‑ups, and innovators to assess feasibility, build prototypes, and run smart trials.

You’ll keep one eye on the horizon, tracking trends in sustainability, consumer behaviour, design, and regulation, then turn those insights into opportunities for Category Leadership Teams and other key players.

You’ll also shape packaging concepts from scratch, working hand‑in‑hand with Development, Marketing, R&D, Operations, Technical, SHE, and Procurement to make sure ideas don’t just look good but actually work. Benchmarking best practice, leading projects from concept to launch, and keeping everything moving at pace.

Ideally, this is you

• Degree in Packaging Technology, Materials Science, Food Science, Engineering, or similar
• 3–5+ years’ experience in packaging development/technology (food experience strongly preferred)
• Deep understanding of food‑packaging materials: flexibles, paperboard, rigid plastics, barrier systems, MAP, etc.
• Solid grasp of food safety, hygiene, and packaging compliance (EPR, PPT, BRCGS, FCM Regs)
• Hands‑on experience with packaging lines and production machinery
• Top‑tier project management and stakeholder engagement skills
• Confident, clear communicator—written and verbal
• Strong influencing skills and a bias for action

Seniority level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Product Management, Manufacturing, and General Business

Industries

Food and Beverage Manufacturing

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