Packaging Technologist

Summary

M&S Food is changing, and fast! We are undergoing one of the biggest transformations in retailing today to build a bigger, better, fresher food business. This is an exciting and unique opportunity to work in one of the 9 strategic programmes in M&S Food Group. The Packaging Transformation Programme has been set up to deliver strategic change to future proof our business, reduce our environmental impact and deliver clear communicable change and messaging for our customers.
We are looking for an experienced Packaging Technologist who is able to deliver value to the business. The successful candidate will work as part of the Trading team alongside Product Developers, Buyers, Food Technologists and the Innovation Packaging Manager to identify and implement safe, legal, consistently functional and innovative packaging solutions that deliver for our customers whilst minimising our environmental impact.

All the details

What’s in it for you

Being a part of M&S is exactly that – playing your part to bring the magic of M&S to our customers every day. We’re an inclusive, dynamic, exciting, and ever evolving business built on doing the right thing and bringing exceptional quality, value, service to every customer, whenever, wherever and however they want to shop with us.

Here are some of the benefits we offer that make working for M&S just that little bit more special…

• 20% colleague discount across all M&S products and many of our third-party brands for you and a member of your household.
• Competitive holiday entitlement with the potential to buy extra holiday days!
• Discretionary bonus schemes awarded based on how you achieve your personal objectives and our performance as a business.
• A generous Defined Contribution Pension Scheme and Life Assurance.
• A dedicated welcome to our teams with a tailored induction and a wide range of training programmes to develop your skills.
• Amazing perks and discounts via our M&S Choices portal to maximise your financial and personal wellbeing.
• Industry-leading parental, adoption and neonatal policies, providing support and flexibility for your family.
• Access to a fantastic range of wellbeing support for all colleagues including access to our 24/7 Virtual GP and PAM Assist to support you and your family.
• A charity volunteer day to support a charity or cause you're passionate about through a dedicated day away from work.

What you’ll do

Your key accountabilities will include

• Develop and deliver fit for purpose customer and commercial focussed packaging solutions, innovation opportunities and business KPIs in line with the product and packaging strategy and corporate guidelines
• Maintain and deliver efficient packaging governance and compliance in line with legislation, corporate policy and external stakeholders including internal and external reporting on specific targets and KPI’s e.g. Business packaging commitments, Complaints, Audits, Packaging Producer Obligation, Courtauld and NGOs
• Provide active support and inspiration for Trading teams including delivery of the Winning Choices plan and packaging pathway process, verification of packaging specifications, approval of samples, identification, and timely resolution of packaging issues
• Maintain up to date knowledge and good working relationships with a number of external influential stakeholders, NGO’s and centres of excellence to anticipate future requirements, identify new opportunities and trends and influence the packaging and product improvement strategies to ensure we continue to meet the needs of the consumer whilst protecting the business and the brand
• Benchmark M&S product against high street competitors ensuring a market leading position, influencing our development strategy
• Value optimisation to maximise commercial opportunities whilst still meeting M&S quality standards and legal compliance

Who you are

Your skills and experience will include

• Ability to creatively solve problems, drive value and design structural packaging concepts for product and transit
• Excellent communication and influencing skills across stakeholders at multiple levels of the organisation with the ability to challenge
• You'll enjoy collaborating with others and experience in successfully working globally with people from a variety of cultures and backgrounds in a sensitive and understanding manner to achieve results
• Detailed understanding of materials, costs and how to utilise to value engineer packaging format
• Intellectually curious, high energy and resilience

Everyone’s welcome

We are ambitious about the future of retail. We’re disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We’re transforming how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make change happen.

We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together.

If you feel you'd benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don’t hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.