Packaging Innovation&Sustainability Lead

Colgate; Etten-Leur; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation assistance within country

Job summary

Colgate is seeking a Packaging Innovation and Sustainability Lead in the Netherlands. The role leads end-to-end packaging development across dry and wet brands, collaborating with Marketing, Product Development, Manufacturing, and external vendors.

Travel up to 25% is involved and relocation assistance within the country is offered. We are looking for a strong technical background in packaging engineering, with experience in consumer goods, and a passion for sustainable, consumer-centric

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Packaging Engineering, or related field.
• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in a consumer goods, pharma, or food company.
• Minimum 2 years of direct experience in supply chain, packaging, logistics, or R&D.

Responsibilities

• Drive primary and secondary packaging design across categories with cross-functional input.
• Manage end-to-end packaging development with clear timelines and stakeholder approvals.
• Provide technical guidance to manufacturing plants and suppliers for packaging performance and testing.

Skills

Communication

Analytical thinking

Project management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering/Packaging

Tools

SAP

Google Workspace

CAPE

Palletization software

Job description

Packaging Innovation & Sustainability Lead Job Alerts Link Job Description

A part of Colgate-Palmolive since 1976, Hill's Pet Nutrition offers the highest-quality pet nutrition available through product lines Prescription Diet® and Science Diet®. Veterinarians worldwide recommend and feed their own pets Hill's products more than any other brand of pet food.

Available in approximately 80 countries around the world, our extensive line of products includes more than 60 Prescription Diet brand pet foods and more than 50 Science Diet brand pet foods.

We believe all animals should be loved and cared for during their lifetimes. That is why we are proud our pet foods can make a difference in your pet's life.

A career at Hill’s Pet Nutrition or Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.

Information at a Glance

Job Title: Packaging Innovation & Sustainability Lead Travel Required?: Travel - 25% of time Posting Start Date: 23/07/2026 On-site

• Relocation Assistance Offered Within Country
• Job Number#175126 - Etten-Leur, Noord Brabant, Netherlands

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specialising in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.

As a Packaging Innovation and Sustainability Lead within the Hill's packaging organization, the candidate will identify and expand opportunities for growth through emerging consumer trends, breakthrough technologies, and innovative methodologies. The primary objective of this position is to navigate the end-to-end development cycle—from identifying opportunity spaces through prototyping and scale-up—ensuring every solution is both consumer-centric and environmentally responsible. This position is thought to be cross category taking care of the dry and the wet businesses.

Key Responsibilities

This position requires a high degree of interaction with cross-functional teams (Marketing, Product Development, Manufacturing, Procurement, Global Packaging, Quality, Logistics) and close partnership with external packaging vendors.

1. Consumer-Centric Design & Packaging Development

• Drive the design of primary and secondary packaging materials, synthesizing complex requirements from consumers, clients, and the supply chain (manufacturing/logistics)
• Understand, interpret, and refine package testing procedures and standards to support an effective design during validation of new packages. Partners with Marketing and Consumer Insights to prioritize ergonomics and consumer needs in the design phase, serving as the lead engineer responsible for solving complex technical challenges as projects progress
• Ensure technical alignment and approvals from stakeholders throughout all stages of development and implementation, guaranteeing compliance with company protocols and corporate quality/safety standards
• Generate detailed technical specifications using defined systems, maintaining accountability for the information's accuracy

2. Project Execution and Management

• Manage the entire project lifecycle, ensuring every packaging development is supported by a solid business rationale and a clear approval plan
• Develop and adhere to strict project timelines, proactively communicating related activities and any schedule deviations to stakeholders
• Provide essential technical information (specs, drawings, protocols) to cross-functional areas for the execution of their tasks
• Maintain flawless communication with suppliers, defining validation criteria, specifications, and Key Release Specifications (KRS) for new developments

3. Sustainability, Innovation, and Business Continuity

• Champion standardization and simplification programs to enhance overall efficiency
• Proactively identify, evaluate, and implement innovative and experimental projects aimed at cost improvement, manufacturing efficiency (through production data analysis), and risk mitigation
• Provide qualified technical guidance to manufacturing plants to optimize packaging material performance on production lines
• Delivers evidence-based recommendations for packaging changes that balance consumer desirability with rigorous corporate and regulatory sustainability guidelines
• Scout Strategic Innovation constantly researching new trends, suppliers, competitors, and developments to drive packaging superiority and people-centric innovation across materials, products, and processes

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Packaging Engineering, or a related quantitative field
• Minimum 3 years of professional experience in a consumer goods (CPG), pharma or food company
• Minimum 2 years of direct experience in supply chain, packaging, logistics, or R&D.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced understanding of manufacturing processes and the behavior of packaging materials in high-speed line and logistics contexts
• Solid knowledge of the Design of Experiments (DOE) process and statistical methodologies
• Competency across various packaging materials (flexibles, cans, labels, corrugates)
• Familiarity with project management tools and enterprise systems (e.g., SAP, Google Workspace, palletization software like CAPE).

Core Competencies

• Excellent Communicator : Demonstrated ability to translate complex data into actionable insights and communicate effectively with both highly technical and non-technical stakeholders
• Critical and Analytical Thinker : Excellent problem-solving and analytical skills
• Change Management Leader : Ability to effectively champion and embed processes and technologies across a large, cross-functional organization to drive continuous improvement.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Our journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.

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