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Unilever is reinventing flexible packaging at industrial scale. We're not just improving what exists - we're commercializing breakthrough sustainable materials and technologies that will transform how billions of products reach consumers worldwide. This role sits at the critical intersection of innovation and industrialization. You'll take pioneering packaging solutions from proof-of-concept to factory-ready reality, working with senior stakeholders across R&D, Supply Chain, and Business Units to deliver technologies that don't yet exist at commercial scale. The Sustainable Packaging Specialist will drive technical programmes and trials for flexible packaging materials, develop and validate sustainable packaging solutions, and ensure the technical readiness of innovations for implementation in categories and supply chain. This is a hands-on, lab-plus-line technical role requiring deep packaging fundamentals, root cause problem-solving capability, self-drive, and cross-functional collaboration.
Job Responsibility:
Drive the flexible packaging technical workstream across sachets, pouches, flow wraps, envelope wrap and other formats from concept through factory validation
Develop and optimize recyclable, mono-material, and paper-based structures aligned to OPC innovation funnels
Independently design and execute material screening, lab characterization, and performance testing programs (optical, barrier, seal strength, COF, machinability)
Lead pilot line and factory technical trials end-to-end: planning, execution, real-time troubleshooting, data capture, analysis, and reporting
Proactively identify risks or performance gaps during trials and propose corrective actions before issues escalate
Translate packaging performance challenges into material science hypotheses and structured experiments
Diagnose material or process failures by connecting symptoms to root causes
Implement cost reduction and lightweighting programs while maintaining or improving performance
Collaborate with converting suppliers to understand and optimize extrusion, lamination, coating, printing, and slitting operations
Stay current on emerging sustainable packaging technologies, materials, and industry trends
Proactively seek out technical knowledge from suppliers, research institutes, and external partners to solve development challenges
Design follow-up experiments based on trial learnings without waiting for direction
Contribute to the team's technical capability by sharing learnings, best practices, and troubleshooting approaches
Maintain rigorous technical records, trial reports, and datasets using AWS, LIMS, CLM, PatBase, and internal OPC tools
Produce clear, data-driven documentation that enables others to build on your work
Use digital platforms for data organization, modeling inputs, patent searches, and prior art evaluation
Partner with Category Packaging Leads, R&D teams, and Supply Chain to define technical challenges and unlock solutions
Build productive relationships with external material suppliers, OEMs, institutes, and technology partners
Support IP generation through data-driven justification, patent drafting inputs, and novelty assessments
Leads digital adoption while ensuring accurate budget updating, forecasting, and tracking to enable efficient and transparent business delivery
Role modelling safety first behaviours and demonstrating curiosity to explore new avenues for continuous improvement
Requirements:
Typically, 2–7 years of experience in flexible packaging R&D, converting industry, FMCG, or packaging supplier ecosystem
Master’s degree in Packaging Technology, Chemical Engineering/Technology, Materials Science, or Paper Technology (or equivalent)
Technical Rigor & Problem Solving
Collaboration & Communication across senior stakeholders
Data driven decision making
External orientation & ecosystem engagement
Project management & prioritisation
What we offer:
A role at the forefront of a global packaging transformation — combining material science, ecosystem partnerships, digital methods, and trial execution
You will be part of a diverse, high performing team shaping Unilever’s future packaging portfolio
An organization committed to diversity and inclusion to drive our business results and create a better future every day for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities