Packaging Technologist (London)

ASR Group; City Of London; Hybrid; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sugar refining company in the United Kingdom seeks a Packaging Technologist to drive packaging innovation. You will lead projects across various categories, ensuring food safety and value. Ideal candidates will have a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field, hands-on experience in packaging development, and strong problem-solving skills. The role offers career growth opportunities with a hybrid working model, requiring some travel within the UK.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant Science or Engineering discipline or equivalent experience in a comparable environment.
• Hands-on experience in packaging development in the Food & Beverage or CPG industry.
• Ability to apply critical thinking translating customer insights into innovative packaging solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead multiple Innovation & Renovation projects from concept through commercialization.
• Develops and executes packaging qualification plans, including plant trials.
• Identify opportunities for innovation and process improvements.

Skills

Packaging materials knowledge

Problem-solving

Project coordination

Critical thinking

Data analysis

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Science or Engineering

Postgraduate qualifications in Packaging Technology

Tools

SAP PLM

Job description

ASR Group is the world’s largest refiner and marketer of cane sugar, with an annual production capacity of more than 6 million tons of sugar. The company produces a full line of grocery, industrial, food service and specialty sweetener products. Across North America, ASR Group owns and operates six sugar refineries, located in Louisiana, New York, California, Maryland, Canada and Mexico. In the European Union, the company owns and operates sugar refineries in England, Portugal. ASR Group also owns and operates mills in Mexico and Belize. The company’s brand portfolio includes the leading brands Domino®, C&H®, Redpath®, Tate & Lyle®, Lyle’s® and Sidul®.

Location: Thames Refinery (Hybrid 3 days office, 2 days home)

Position Summary

As a Packaging Technologist, you will play a key role in driving packaging innovation and renovation projects that support the strategic goals of the Packaging Development team. You’ll be responsible for developing and delivering packaging solutions that meet performance standards, ensure food safety, and provide value to both the business and its customers—while maintaining cost efficiency.

You will benefit from working with circa 20 different packaging categories due to our diverse range of customers & product ranges. Which will allow you to develop your career further. You'll also have the chance to work on exciting projects within sustainability and NPD.

This role requires deep technical knowledge across a wide range of packaging materials, including but not limited to poly films, corrugated board, and paperboard. You’ll collaborate closely with cross-functional teams across multiple sites, as well as external suppliers, to ensure successful project execution aligned with business requirements.

Role Details & Responsibilities

• Simultaneously lead multiple Innovation & Renovation projects from concept through commercialisation using an established stage gate process to achieve business objectives
• Develops and executes packaging qualification plans, including plant trials; reporting against predetermined key performance indicators to verify impact/mitigate risk of packaging changes
• Identifies packaging related innovation, sustainability, cost savings, technology, material standardisation, waste, and productivity/process improvement opportunities; implementing such opportunities when supported by a business case
• Provide technical expertise to multiple functional areas (including but not limited to Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Sales and Marketing) to overcome business challenges
• Challenges conventional thinking on packaging related subjects; implementing creative solutions to continuously improve business impact
• Serves as the technical owner in the creation and maintenance of packaging specifications within SAP PLM across all phases of development
• Performs other duties as assigned

Education and Work Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant Science or Engineering discipline, or equivalent experience in a comparable environment. Postgraduate qualifications or the IOM3 Certificate/Diploma in Packaging Technology are advantageous.
• Hands‑on experience in packaging development, ideally within the Food & Beverage or Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry.
• Developing foundational knowledge of packaging materials and equipment commonly used in Food & Beverage or CPG manufacturing environments, with support and guidance from senior team members.
• Growing experience in problem‑solving, with developing ability to apply technical reasoning to support decision‑making under guidance from team members.
• Developing project coordination skills, with growing experience supporting cross‑functional initiatives and contributing to packaging‑related improvements under supervision.
• Ability to apply critical thinking to translate customer insights and requirements into practical, innovative packaging solutions.
• Building skills in analysing data and supporting root cause investigations to help resolve packaging‑related issues.

Language Requirements

• English is the primary language of communication

Travel

• This position will require travel, primarily throughout UK (approximately 10%) with potential for international travel project depending.

Values

At Tate & Lyle Sugars, our goal is to be the most admired sweetener Company. Service Excellence –Be the industry's Gold Standard by a relentless focus on reliability, providing products with superior quality and excellent customer services. Efficiency and Sustainability –Eliminate inefficiency to be a sustainable, low cost producer and to generate fuel for reinvestment. Value‑Add –create strategic advantage and enhanced profitability through value‑added products and services. The foundation of our values is Talent and Culture as we aim to build, retain and motivate a winning team.