Packaging Development Manager
Join Our Snack-Loving Team as a Packaging Development Manager!
Location: Billingham (Home of McCoys, Wheat Crunchies, POM-BEAR, and more…) with regular travel to our Tanfield site.
Type: Full-time, on-site
If you’re passionate about snacks and ready to make a difference, we want you on our team at KP Snacks! This is your chance to bring your innovative ideas to life, enhance your skills, and be part of a vibrant team that values your unique contributions.
About the Role
As a Packaging Development Manager, you will play a crucial role in our Technical team, where quality is our top priority. Your expertise in Packaging Development and Optimization will ensure our products are safe, high-quality, and consistent every time.
You’ll collaborate with various teams—Operations, Engineering, Procurement, R&D, Marketing, and Project Teams—to design and deliver exceptional packaging solutions. From new product development to continuous improvement, you’ll be instrumental in optimizing performance, reducing waste, and supporting our sustainability goals.
This hands-on role involves active participation in factory trials, production support, and real-time problem-solving. You’ll also have the opportunity to mentor and develop others, fostering a culture of excellence across our site.
What’s in It for You?
At KP Snacks, we believe in rewarding our colleagues and helping them thrive. Here’s a taste of what we offer:
- Competitive Salary: Annual salary review, bonus opportunity (target 7.5%), and a KP Pension Plan with up to 7% matched contributions.
- Generous Holiday: 25 days of holiday, with the option to buy up to five additional days, plus extra holiday after five years of service.
- Comprehensive Healthcare: Including Single Cover Private Healthcare, Health Cash Plan, Digital GP, and Employee Assistance Programme.
- Electric Vehicle Car Scheme: Supporting sustainable and cost-effective travel.
- KP4ME Benefits Platform: Access to discounts, cashback, and wellbeing support.
- Enhanced Family-Friendly Policies: Supporting colleagues at every stage of life.
Your Responsibilities
- Site Packaging Expert: Provide daily support to production, troubleshoot issues, and coach colleagues to enhance their skills.
- Design and Optimize Packaging Solutions: Create and implement effective packaging for new products and cost-saving initiatives, balancing quality, performance, cost, and sustainability.
- Lead Trials and Launch Activities: Plan and execute factory trials, analyze results, and support first production runs for smooth scale-up.
- Drive Quality and Compliance: Own packaging specifications and documentation, implementing robust controls to minimize waste and defects.
- Collaborate for Improvement: Work with cross-functional teams and suppliers to enhance performance and drive sustainability goals.
Who Are We?
We’re KP Snacks, part of the Intersnack family. With over 15,000 colleagues across more than 30 countries, we create the snacks people love—from Hula Hoops to McCoy’s. In the UK, our close-knit team of around 2,400 colleagues thrives across seven sites and our Slough HQ. We celebrate diversity and push boundaries together.
Our Commitment to Inclusion
We’re dedicated to building a workplace where everyone belongs. If you don’t meet every requirement, we still want to hear from you—your unique perspective could be just what we need. Let us know if there’s anything we can do to make the application process easier for you.
What We’re Looking For
- Experience in FMCG or Manufacturing: A background in food, beverage, or consumer goods, with a solid understanding of factory operations and quality standards like HACCP and BRC.
- Technical Knowledge of Packaging: Experience with various packaging formats and materials, understanding their impact on product quality and consumer experience.
- Hands-On Experience: Confidence in leading factory trials and resolving technical issues to deliver sustainable improvements.
- Analytical Thinking: Ability to interpret data, identify trends, and translate insights into actionable improvements.
- Collaboration and Communication Skills: Proven ability to build effective relationships and influence outcomes across teams.
Ready to take the next step in your career? We can’t wait to hear from you!
