Location
Hybrid working 2-3 days per week from any of our HUBS (Cumbernauld, Bolton, Milton Keynes, London).

Hours
Full Time

Salary
Competitive plus excellent benefits

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

Your responsibilities include acting as the lead technical authority for 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 perform flawlessly on-line; leading material science workstreams including profiling and qualification of new resins and recycled material blends; collaborating with Procurement and Production teams to identify and validate supply chain optimisations including lightweighting and material efficiency projects; owning technical specifications for all packaging materials to meet AG Barr’s quality standards and comply with environmental and packaging legislation; and providing technical governance within the Stage & Gate process, managing risk and feasibility from a material and manufacturing perspective.

Experience
Degree level education 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 including polymer performance (PET/rPET), injection/stretch blow moulding, aluminium cans, glass, and carton packaging (e.g., Tetra Pak). Experience leading complex factory trials and bridging the gap between R&D specifications and high-speed operational reality. 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.

About you
Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and external suppliers to deliver technical excellence. Ability to assess and manage technical risks, develop robust trial protocols, and implement definitive packaging specifications.

Qualifications
Education to degree level or equivalent in Packaging, Science or Engineering.