Senior Packaging Technologist

AG Barr Group; Milton Keynes; Hybrid; GBP 48,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

34 days holiday

Bonus

Flexible holiday trading

Living Wage Employer

Healthcare Cash Plan

Peppy Health

Flexible benefits

Life assurance

Save as you earn scheme

Staff sales discount

Free AG Barr products

Pension

Annual salary review

Ongoing professional development

Job summary

AG Barr Group is seeking a Senior Packaging Technologist to lead material development and validation activities within our R&D function. The role focuses on profiling materials, industrialising new components, and validating packaging formats across our supply chain.

You will own packaging material specifications, manage risk, and guide technical governance through Stage & Gate processes, ensuring compliance with quality standards and environmental legislation.

Qualifications

• Experience in technical validation and material profiling across multiple formats.
• Experience leading complex factory trials bridging R&D specs and high-speed operations.

Responsibilities

• Lead technical profiling of materials and validation of packaging formats across the supply chain.

Skills

Technical validation

Material profiling

Factory trials

Quality systems

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree in Packaging/Science/Engineering

Job description

Job title and overview

Job Title: Senior Packaging Technologist - Material Development & Validation Salary: Competitive plus excellent benefits Location: Hybrid working 2-3 days per week from any of our HUBS (Cumbernauld, Bolton, Milton Keynes, London)

Overview

Are you ready to Be Your Best Barr None? Lets Grow!!! We are all about Being Your Best Barr None and having a career with real Moments that Matter! Employing around 850 people across the UK, we are proud to be a responsible business that takes care of our people, values diversity, gives something back to our communities and works to minimise our environmental impact. For 150 years AG Barr has been building great brands and is home to some of the nations favourite flavours. At our core is IRN-BRU, launched in 1901 and still going strong today, the vibrant RUBICON fruit based brand, Boost making every moment better with a caffeine kick, hydration hit or tasty treat, and FUNKIN where real fruit means authentic taste. We also have a number of exciting owned brands within our portfolio including MOMA, which crafts quality oats into great tasting oat drinks and porridges. There's never been a better time to join us!

What we're looking for

We are looking for a Senior Packaging Technologist to join our R&D function and specialise in delivering Material Development & Validation activity. Reporting to the R&D Packaging Manager, this role is the technical bridge between packaging concept and commercial reality. You will lead the technical profiling of materials, the industrialisation of new components, and the rigorous validation of packaging formats across our supply chain. From the technical qualification of advanced polymer resins to the structural optimisation of primary containers and the integration of novel secondary packaging formats, you will ensure our packaging architecture is robust, technically sound, and perfectly calibrated for our high-speed manufacturing assets. Your responsibilities will include...

• Acting as the lead technical authority for the material integrity and functional performance of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging components.
• Designing and executing comprehensive technical validation programmes and factory trials to ensure new formats-such as new container shapes, enhanced closure systems, or alternative collation materials-perform flawlessly on-line.
• Leading material science workstreams, including the profiling and qualification of new resins and recycled material blends to ensure carbonation retention and structural performance.
• Collaborating with Procurement and Production teams to identify and validate supply chain optimisations, including lightweighting initiatives and material efficiency projects.
• Owning the technical specifications for all packaging materials, ensuring they meet AG Barr's rigorous quality standards and comply with evolving environmental and packaging legislation.
• Providing technical governance within our Stage & Gate process, managing risk and feasibility from a material and manufacturing perspective.

What you'll bring

The successful candidate will have; Education to degree level or equivalent, in Packaging, Science or Engineering with significant post-graduate experience in a technical packaging role within an FMCG business. Proven expertise in technical validation and material profiling across multiple formats, encompassing polymer performance (PET/rPET) and injection/stretch blow moulding, as well as aluminium cans, glass, and carton packaging (e.g., Tetra Pak). Experience in leading complex factory trials and bridging the gap between R&D specifications and high-speed operational reality. A sound knowledge of packaging material manufacture, liquid filling technologies, bottle labelling, multipacking and palletisation within the drinks industry. Knowledge and operation of GFSI, BRC, HACCP and other quality management systems is essential. Ability to assess and manage technical risks, develop robust trial protocols, and put in place definitive packaging specifications. Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and external suppliers to deliver technical excellence.

What we offer

We believe in creating a diverse and inclusive culture where your voice can be heard. Our skilled, loyal and committed people are critical to the future success of AG Barr which is why we are continually investing in our employees to develop their talent. We look after our employees by offering a competitive salary and benefits package which includes;

• 34 days holiday
• Bonus
• Flexible holiday trading
• Living Wage Employer
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Peppy Health
• Flexible benefits e.g. discounts & cashback, gym memberships, technology purchases etc
• Life assurance
• Save as you earn scheme
• Staff sales discount
• Free AG Barr products throughout your working day
• Pension
• Annual salary review
• Ongoing professional development
• And much more!

To find out more about what it is like to work for AG Barr, please visit our ca