Packaging Director – Europe & Global Flexibles Lead

Unilever; Polska; Hybrid; PLN 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Unilever is seeking a Packaging Procurement Director – Europe & Global Flexibles Lead to shape and deliver global packaging strategies from Poland. You will direct a 17-person team, govern a substantial €350M+ spend, and work with R&D, Supply Chain, Finance and Legal to optimize cost, quality and sustainability.

Ideal candidates will have extensive senior procurement leadership experience in FMCG, with a track record of delivering multi-year category strategies, supplier transformation, and

Qualifications

• Senior procurement leadership experience in a large multinational FMCG, consumer-goods or manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated success delivering regional/global category strategies with substantial value, cash resilience and supplier-performance outcomes.
• Deep understanding of flexible-packaging value chains, sustainability and supplier economics.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Europe Packaging and Global Flexibles Procurement organisation (17 FTEs) including this Director role.
• Define and implement the global Flexibles strategy leveraging scale, technology and market insights.
• Own end-to-end Europe packaging procurement performance across value, quality, service, resilience, and cash.
• Provide global oversight of Flexibles Packaging as a Service spend with governance and compliance.
• Develop multi-year strategies across flexible packaging value chains and supplier ecosystems.
• Build and maintain strategic supplier partnerships and performance governance.

Skills

Procurement leadership

Category strategy

Negotiation

Stakeholder engagement

Packaging knowledge

Leadership of teams

Education

Postgraduate in Procurement/Packaging/SC

Job description

Earlier this year, Unilever announced an agreement to combine its Foods business with McCormick & Company, creating a scaled global flavour powerhouse. The proposed combination would bring together iconic Foods brands, including Hellmann’s and Knorr, with McCormick’s portfolio to create a global leader across spices, seasonings, condiments and complementary food categories, supported by strong retail and foodservice platforms. McCormick brings more than 135 years of heritage, a presence in 150+ countries and territories, and a portfolio of trusted brands. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, with completion estimated for mid-2027. **Job Title** Packaging Procurement Director – Europe & Global Flexibles Lead**Function** Procurement**Reports to** Head of Directs**Scope** Europe & Global**Country Location and Worksite Details** Poland - Katowickie Centrum Biznesu **JOB PURPOSE**This role exists to lead the Europe Packaging Procurement organisation and the Global Flexibles portfolio, shaping and delivering strategies across an approximate managed spend of €350+ million. The role defines the global Flexibles strategy — what, where, how and when to buy — leveraging scale, supplier capability, technology, market intelligence, cost models and value-chain insight while owning Europe packaging procurement performance across value, quality, service, resilience, innovation, sustainability, cash and working capital. Working with R&D, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Business Groups, market leadership and strategic suppliers, the role enables portfolio value, PaaS spend governance, circularity, supplier transformation, executive insight and strong Europe and global Flexibles capability. **KEY RESPONSIBILITIES*** Lead, develop and empower the Europe Packaging and Global Flexibles Procurement organisation of 17 FTEs, including this Director role, with seven Managers reporting directly to the Director and nine Assistant Managers reporting to those Managers, responsible for approximately €350+ million managed spend.* Define the global Flexibles strategy by leveraging scale, supplier capability, technology, market intelligence, cost models and value-chain insight.* Own end-to-end Europe packaging procurement performance across value, quality, service, resilience, innovation, sustainability, cash and working capital.* Provide global oversight of Flexibles Packaging as a Service spend, ensuring visibility, commercial discipline, value delivery, supplier performance and compliance with portfolio governance.* Develop and execute multi-year strategies across flexible packaging and associated resin, paper, foil, barrier and converted-material value chains.* Build strategic supplier ecosystems and value-based partnerships, establishing joint innovation roadmaps and performance governance across cost, quality, service, resilience, sustainability and capability.* Lead value, circularity and responsible-sourcing pipelines through competitive sourcing, material and supplier harmonisation, cost transparency, specification optimisation, recyclable structures, recycled content and regulatory readiness. **REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS*** University degree with extensive senior procurement, packaging or supply-management leadership experience within a large multinational FMCG, consumer-goods or manufacturing environment.* Demonstrated success developing and implementing regional and global category strategies and delivering substantial value, cash, resilience and supplier-performance outcomes, with experience operating at comparable spend and organisational scale.* Deep understanding of flexible-packaging value chains, films, laminates, substrates, converting technologies, recycled materials, sustainability requirements and supplier economics.* Strong commercial, financial, negotiation and contracting expertise, including cost modelling, forecasting, complex agreements and portfolio risk management.* Strong executive stakeholder engagement and proven leadership of regional, global, virtual and cross-cultural teams, with talent-development and succession-management experience.* Enterprise leadership mindset, with the ability to set clear priorities, lead through ambiguity and packaging-market volatility, balance strategic thinking with execution, build trusted senior stakeholder relationships and develop high-performing procurement talent. **PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS*** Relevant postgraduate qualification in Procurement, Packaging, Supply Chain, Business or a related discipline.* Exposure to Packaging as a Service commercial models, portfolio spend governance or structured performance management.* Experience supporting large-scale sourcing, supplier transformation, innovation, circularity or cross-functional change programmes. We welcome applicants from all walks of life and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive/succeed. All applicants will receive fair and respectful consideration, and we actively support the growth and development of every employee.We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment journey. Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact your Talent Partner.En tant qu'employeur responsable et inclusif, Unilever est attentif à la diversité et à la mixité de ses équipes. Nos recruteurs sont engagés et veillent à l'application de processus de recrutement non-discriminants.Tous nos postes sont ouverts aux personnes en situation de handicap et Unilever accompagne ses collaborateurs dans la mise en place d'éventuels aménagements de poste et de dispositifs d'accessibilité.