Packaging Technologist

About the Company

SLG is a design-driven international beauty business with a global ambition. Our company designs, develops, and scales incredible beauty brands worldwide.

We are headquartered at Studio 19, our award-winning workspace, studios, and lab, located in the town centre of Cheltenham.

We are excited to offer a fantastic opportunity to join our innovative, collaborative, and highly skilled R&D team.

About the Role

Key Objectives

1. Managing technical packaging solutions through the design, development, testing, and implementation stages of new product development, across multiple projects, balancing creativity, sustainability, quality, and cost.
2. Providing technical packaging expertise throughout the development process with support from the Technical Packaging Manager.
3. Collaborating with third-party agents, suppliers, and manufacturers to ensure successful transition of NPD components and products into mass production.
4. Supporting the implementation of SLG's Packaging Sustainability Strategy.

Responsibilities

1. Managing multiple projects within a fast development cycle.
2. Leading packaging development for assigned projects, focusing on functionality, profitability, sustainability, and brand objectives.
3. Working closely with suppliers to understand their components, materials, and processes to deliver desired product concepts.
4. Ensuring packaging components are risk-assessed, tested, compliant with regulations, legal, brand requirements, and fit for purpose.
5. Managing technical relationships with suppliers to meet critical timelines.
6. Staying updated on technological, regulatory, and market developments in packaging, including sustainability trends.
7. Identifying and applying innovative packaging solutions or technologies to enhance consumer benefits and profitability.
8. Providing necessary packaging documentation for Product Information Files.

Qualifications & Experience Requirements:

1. A degree or equivalent in a science or technology-based discipline.
2. IoM3 Packaging Diploma or similar postgraduate qualification is advantageous.
3. Proven experience as a packaging technologist, preferably in the Health & Beauty sector.
4. Experience working with Far Eastern supply bases is desirable.
5. Experience conducting packaging testing; developing new test protocols is a plus.

Required Skills

1. Expertise in packaging development, understanding components, materials, and manufacturing processes.
2. Strong problem-solving and analytical skills for complex technical challenges.
3. Knowledge of sustainability and environmental impacts of packaging materials and processes.
4. Excellent time and project management skills in a fast-paced environment.
5. High commercial awareness, understanding business implications of packaging decisions.
6. Effective teamwork and communication skills to convey complex technical concepts clearly.