Company Description

At Valeo Foods UK we bring together a family of much-loved UK food brands supported by the scale and ambition of a global investment partner. From Kettle’s bold crunch to Rowse’s natural sweetness, through to Matthew Walker and Barratt Sweets, our portfolio blends heritage, craft and category-leading innovation.

Alongside our branded portfolio, we are also one of the UK’s largest suppliers of private label products, partnering with major retailers to deliver quality and category expertise that meets the needs of millions of households every week.

As a business, we’re on a journey of transformation. We’re strengthening our operations, driving quality and investing in our people. It’s an exciting, fast-moving environment where heritage meets new thinking, and where every colleague contributes to shaping the future of food across the UK.

Join us and play your part in building the next chapter of some of Britain’s most loved brands.

Job Description

Packaging Technologist

Heanor Gate Industrial Estate Full Time, Permanent

About the Role

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Packaging Technologist to join the Valeo Foods team, supporting our iconic Matthew Walker and Rowse Honey brands.

Reporting into the Packaging function, you will be responsible for managing all aspects of packaging development projects, ensuring packaging solutions deliver value to the business while meeting customer, technical, legislative, and sustainability requirements.

This role is ideal for someone with packaging development experience in the FMCG or food manufacturing sector who enjoys managing multiple projects, collaborating with cross-functional teams, and driving innovation from concept through to launch.

Key Responsibilities

As Packaging Technologist, you will:

• Manage packaging development projects from concept to implementation, ensuring delivery against agreed critical paths.

• Work closely with internal stakeholders to define project timelines and successfully deliver packaging elements of projects.

• Provide technical packaging support to the business and customers.

• Support R&D with packaging trials to ensure packaging is fit for purpose and meets performance requirements.

• Manage artwork development and approval processes, providing packaging information to Brand Managers and customers.

• Maintain accurate packaging specifications and documentation within Foods Connected and other internal systems to support customer and BRC audit requirements.

• Assist in the development of innovative and sustainable packaging solutions that meet current and future business and customer needs.

• Support the specification and commissioning of new packaging equipment, plants, and processes.

• Identify and implement value optimisation and cost-saving opportunities.

• Monitor and communicate packaging legislation changes, supporting the wider business with compliance requirements.

• Input and maintain data within customer systems, including platforms such as Valpak.

Qualifications

What We're Looking For

• Minimum of 2 years' packaging development experience, ideally within an FMCG food manufacturing environment.

• Strong understanding of packaging materials, printing technologies, and packaging development processes.

• Knowledge of packaging legislation and environmental considerations.

• Experience working with major UK retailers and understanding customer requirements.

• Excellent project management skills with the ability to deliver multiple projects to challenging deadlines.

• Exceptional attention to detail and organisational skills.

• Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build relationships across all levels of the business.

• Commercial awareness and a proactive approach to problem-solving.

• Good IT skills and confidence working with specification systems and customer portals.

• Full UK driving licence and willingness to travel between Valeo sites, suppliers, and customers as required.

Why Join Us?

At Valeo Foods, you'll be part of a dynamic and collaborative team responsible for some of the UK's most recognised food brands. You'll have the opportunity to contribute to innovation, sustainability initiatives, and continuous improvement projects while developing your career within a growing international business.

Additional Information

What we offer you in return

• Excellent Career Opportunities

• Matched pension scheme up to 10%

• Death in service

• Cycle to work scheme

• Retailer discount platform

• Staff discount

• And plenty more!