Contract: 6 Month FTC
About the Role
Under supervision from the senior packaging project lead, you will ensure on time and effective delivery of packaging projects for which you are responsible. You will achieve this through taking responsibility of packaging from concept to launch; and ensuring that you align with the CPA process to deliver on time and in full. You’ll work on a hybrid basis from our Support Office in Handforth (Cheshire).
You will be measured on ensuring that packaging concepts are both fit for purpose and also align with business strategy in terms of innovation, quality and sustainability and delivery of this is through close working relations with both the internal NPD and product technologists, but also through in depth knowledge of supplier processes – both design agencies, manufacturers and also printers.
Your knowledge of competitor set, in categories for which you are responsible, should be up to date, comprehensive and detailed – and you should be able to defend Pets at Home propositions through effective and regular benchmarking results.
Our diversity and inclusion vision is that everyone is welcome and feels part of our group. If you think you’re a good match to what we are looking for, and you share our belief that together ‘we’re better with pets’, we’d like to hear from you, whatever your background or circumstances
Key Responsibilities
- Develop Packaging Concepts in line with agreed BSM targets.
- Ensure accuracy of cutter guides, material type and finish across categories where you are responsible.
- Provide comprehensive artwork briefs to agencies and ensure that these are delivered in line with business requirements
- Develop the 3 year Packaging Strategy as a framework for the team, and wider business use.
- Set the Framework of KPI measurement systems that need implementing to assure packaging quality, legality and safety consistency.
- Work within our supply base to ensure that packaging strategy is delivered at both a category and product level, and that this is tracked and monitored for continually improvement.
- Ensure that the team are given the opportunity to effectively drive innovation into packaging, and that they are tasked and measured on its implementation within the supply base for their areas of responsibility.
- Identify training needs for the team in respect of knowledge and behavioral gaps and work with the training lead to implement.
- Develop Packaging Technical Specifications that meet both legal and sustainability criteria and give the appropriate level of detail to enable effective and accurate management reporting
- Develop a tool to ensure up to date transparency of key competitors packaging credentials for all category areas, and ensure positive benchmarking parameters are set against these.
- Ensure that the team work to deliver minimal complaints and packaging related issues in NPD and that this is demonstrated within the Post launch review autopsy
- Implement a risk based governance for suppliers of both finished packaging and packaging raw materials, and that this is owned across the team
- Keep the business up to date on emerging issues and trends in packaging, materials and print and contribute to formal “horizon scanning” reports (linking in directly with the Quality Manager)
- Work with the cross-functional teams to support communicating progress against commitments internally and externally
- Support first to market packaging innovation through supplier/industry and joint alliances, and work to protect IP in this regard
- Work with industry experts and academia to identify research and development opportunities
About You
- Previous experience of working within packaging management role
- Degree of equivalent qualifications in packaging, or technology related field
- Significant experience of managing packaging projects across supply chains
- Knowledge of end to end manufacturing from raw materials, into process, packaging, and print delivery
- Capable of providing ongoing coaching and support to internal and external stakeholders
- Experience of People Management.
- Experience of spreadsheet trackers and project management tools.
- Ability to work flexibly and at pace
- Budget Management Experience
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills. The ability to work cross-departments to achieve results.
- Team player.
- Communicate clear decisions, next steps and accountability.
- Highly organized and able to multi-task.
- Good presentation skills.
- Detail oriented, with the ability to pre-empt barriers to progress.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to be detail orientated.
About the Pets at Home Group
Pets at Home Group Plc is the UK’s leading pet care business; our commitment is to make sure pets and their owners get the very best advice, products and care. We have over 450 stores, over 310 Groom Rooms and 440 First Opinion Vet Practices. Our business is fast-paced, innovative and fun and it's our people that make the real difference. This is a fantastic opportunity to come and work for an award-winning company who put people at the very heart of everything they do.
