Innovation Head

Pakka Limited; Bengaluru; On-site; INR 3,000,000 - 5,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Pakka Ltd is seeking a visionary leader to run its Innovation and Business Centre in Bengaluru, driving sustainable packaging innovation from concept to commercial scale. You will own the P&L, funding strategy, and the project portfolio while building partnerships with brands, suppliers and research institutes to deliver profitable, eco-friendly packaging solutions.

You will lead multidisciplinary teams, set roadmaps across rigid and flexible packaging, and oversee licensing and

Qualifications

• 15–20 years in specialty chemicals, paper, packaging or related industries, including 5+ years in business leadership with P&L responsibility.
• Strong knowledge of cellulose chemistry, biomaterials, manufacturing processes, product development and IP management.
• Experience working with international customers, technology partners and research institutions.
• Expertise in technology scouting, digital tools, AI, data-driven decision making.
• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage budgets and drive cross-functional programs.

Responsibilities

• Own the centre’s P&L, funding strategy, financial planning and commercial performance.
• Set the innovation and business roadmap across packaging segments, prioritizing sustainable solutions.
• Allocate budgets and resources across teams with clear decision rights and milestones.
• Build anchor customer relationships and global partnerships for licensing opportunities.
• Lead commercialization, licensing strategy and supply partnerships to improve competitiveness.
• Provide strategic technical direction across materials science and manufacturing processes.

Skills

Business Leadership

Technical & Innovation Expertise

Global Partnerships

Strategic Thinking

Leadership & Collaboration

Education

Materials Science / Fiber Science / Polymer Science

Chemical Engineering / Pulp & Paper Technology

Related disciplines with strong R&D focus

Postgraduate qualification advantageous

Job description

At Pakka Ltd, we are committed to sustainable innovation,creating eco-friendly packaging solutions that align with the needs of modernbusinesses. With over 40 years of manufacturing excellence and a strong R&Dfoundation, we have been revolutionizing three major segments: Wrap &Carry, Food Services and Flexible Packaging. Join us to shape the future ofpackaging and make a meaningful impact.

Mission of the Role

Lead Pakka’s Innovation and Business Centre to replaceplastic at scale while building profitable revenue. Own the centre’s businessperformance, funding, innovation portfolio and strategic partnerships; connectscientific innovation with customer adoption, commercial scale-up andmeasurable environmental impact. Advance Pakka’s mission to revolutionise foodpackaging solutions for a cleaner planet.

Key Responsibilities

• 1. Own the centre’s P&L, funding strategy,financial planning and commercial performance, ensuring that tonnes of plasticreplaced grow alongside revenue and profitability.
• 2. Set the innovation and business roadmap acrossrigid food-service packaging, flexible packaging and waste valorisation,selecting projects that meet Pakka’s mission filter: home-compostable orpaper-stream-recyclable solutions.
• 3. Allocate budgets, people and resources acrossthe Customer, Science, Commercialization, Proof, Ecosystem and establish cleardecision rights, project gates, priorities and performance reviews.
• 4. Build and convert anchor customer relationshipsand global partnerships with brands, QSRs, converters, manufacturers andtechnology providers; translate customer needs into viable innovation andlicensing opportunities.
• 5. Lead commercialisation and licensing strategy,including final licence terms, supply partnerships, tiered royalties and cost-downpathways that improve competitiveness with conventional plastics.
• 6. Provide strategic technical direction throughstrong understanding of cellulose chemistry, material science, formulations,manufacturing processes and application requirements, enablingcross-disciplinary problem-solving.
• 7. Drive disciplined innovation lifecyclemanagement from concept and minimum viable product through testing, customertrials, pilot validation and scale-up; ensure timely delivery, cost control andcorrective action.
• 8. Use emerging technologies, simulation, dataanalytics and AI-enabled approaches to evaluate options, improve formulations,strengthen process performance and reduce ecological impact.
• 9. Build partnerships with research institutes,universities, certification bodies, startups and suppliers; protect an openresearch and startup budget of 10–15% of centre income in line with theproposed operating guardrails.
• 10. Establish systems for intellectual propertycreation and protection covering formulations, designs and processes; overseeexternal validation, certification and relevant regulatory and sustainabilityrequirements.
• 11. Build a high-performing, multidisciplinary teamand a culture of ownership, independent decisions, experimentation,competency-based development and accountability for outcomes.

Qualifications

• Materials Science / FiberScience / Polymer Science
• Chemical Engineering /Pulp & Paper Technology
• Related disciplines withstrong R&D focus
• A postgraduatequalification in a relevant technical or business discipline isadvantageous.

Experience

• Business Leadership: 15–20 years ofexperience in specialty chemicals, paper, packaging or related industries,including 5+ years in business leadership with P&L responsibility,financial management and commercialization.
• Technical & Innovation Expertise: Strong knowledge of cellulose chemistry, biomaterials, manufacturing processes,product development, technology scale-up, IP management and innovationstrategy.
• Global Exposure & Partnerships: Proven experience working with international customers, technology partners andresearch institutions, including participation in global conferences,exhibitions and industry events to drive collaborations and business opportunities.
• Strategic Thinking: Expertise intechnology scouting, digital tools, AI applications, data-drivendecision-making and developing commercially viable sustainable solutions.
• Leadership & Collaboration: Provenability to lead multidisciplinary teams, manage budgets, develop strategicpartnerships and drive cross-functional innovation programs.

Success Measures

Tonnes of plastic replaced; profitable revenue and centreprofitability; number of customers converted; delivery of commercialinnovations; and progress in cost competitiveness and impact.

Long-Term Outcomes(2030 Ambitions in Role Profile)

• Create rigid ready-to-eat meal packagingsolutions supporting sales of over 200,000 tonnes per year.
• Build effective flexible packaging solutions forsnacks and confectionery supporting sales of over 300,000 tonnes per yr
• Achieve process excellence with valorisation ofall solid waste and zero liquid discharge.

What We Offer

This role offers the opportunity to shape Pakka’ssustainable packaging innovation agenda, build a multidisciplinary business andscience ecosystem, and translate new materials and technologies into measurableenvironmental and commercial impact. The position offers leadership scope,collaboration with global partners and opportunities for professional growth.Compensation and benefits will be discussed during the hiring process.

Join us to shape the future of sustainable packaging!