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Job Description

Job Description:

The Associate will work closely with associated functions in the global and regional teams to enable delivery. In addition, they will work with a large external network of suppliers and agencies to enable technical solutions to be developed. The associate is autonomous in developing the technical solution for their project portfolio.

What are we looking for?

Minimum Requirements

  • Bachelor’s degree in a technical discipline; Science, Engineering or Packaging/Product Design or equivalent

  • 6+ of years’ experience in packaging development, packaging engineering or a technically related discipline

  • Packaging material understanding including sustainable materials, flexible packaging experience

  • Interaction between product and packaging (e.g., migration, barrier properties) & testing

  • Leveraging internal & external networks

  • 10-20% travel required

Preferred Qualifications

  • Advanced degree in a technical discipline; Science, Engineering or Packaging/Product Design

  • Filling Technologies (material/machine interaction & understanding) preferred.

  • Awareness of printing processes and technologies

  • Design acumen and consumer testing methodologies

What will be your key responsibilities?

Project Delivery: Delivery of all the packaging components for Innovation projects including packaging to support delivery of projects being developed in the Science & Technology programmes. Taking projects from ideas and concepts to technical readiness and managing the packaging timeline & budget. Accountabilities include: Concept & design work at the framing stage; input into Desirability/Feasibility/Viability/Sustainability (DVFS) assessments including financials; material and machinery design and optimisation, trialling and testing. Delivery of global packaging specifications at regional handover. As the role primarily deals with innovations there is a specific accountability in terms of IP, both risks and opportunities and all elements of upfront Packaging Quality Management including the PRA (Packaging Risk Assessment).

Collaborative Teamwork: Being the packaging workstream leader for global projects, working in close collaboration with Global Marketing, R&D, Engineering, Supply and Commercial. Working with CTI/CMI and marketing to develop and evaluate new packaging concepts ensuring a holistic design approach across product/packaging/brand. Working with global and regional engineering and supply to ensure the best global technical engineering solutions for collation and filling. On occasions packaging team members may lead projects in the role of overall project TPL.

Capability Build: Taking an active role in building global packaging capability within the broader team via leadership of an area of the Global Packaging Strategy. Would also play an active role in packaging sub-teams and any packaging communications/town halls.

Design Excellence: As part of capability build would play a supporting role in ensuring that packaging design is considered as central to the holistic product experience and packaging requirements and desires are built into the framing and concept building process. A thorough end to end understanding of packaging inputs and opportunities across the full product consumer journey to ensure consumer centric packaging is delivered. For their projects would be the owner of the global packaging design brief and would hold accountability for design agency briefing.

Technical Excellence: Detailed knowledge and understanding of the internal packaging development process and associated and aligned business processes including PLM and PQM. A thorough understanding of product/pack interactions, DOEs, required test methodologies (including shelf life and palatability) for given technologies and data knowledge management. Accountability for detailed record keeping and reports and global packaging specifications. Responsible for understanding regional trade requirements and on-shelf/off-shelf impact in all channels including Grocery, Specialist Pet Trade, Discounters and E-commerce.

Future Materials: Sourcing, developing and delivery of new material innovations for global roll-out. Taking materials through the Technical Readiness Level (TRL) gates for transfer into Innovation (Quest) or Quality/Efficiency/Sustainability (QES) projects. Ensure that all new packaging Innovations are ‘Designed for Circularity’ (D4C), are designed to minimise plastic use, conform to any required packaging legislation and are tested to ensure compliance.

Packaging Pulse: Ongoing high level of knowledge of up-to-date packaging technologies, materials and solutions, with a focus on sustainable solutions. Maintaining this via an extensive external network with active involvement in external bodies, trade fairs and industry experts.

Coaching & mentoring: Assist the packaging manager in providing training and support to other associates within the team. Accountability for junior team member induction plans and support to IP students/interns/trainees.

What can you expect from Mars?

  • Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by The Five Principles.

  • Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.

  • Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.

  • An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

Mars does not sponsor visas for this role.

#LI-Onsite

#LI-AM1

Company benefits

Open to part-time employees
Open to job sharing
Open to compressed hours
Sabbaticals
Enhanced maternity leave – 26 weeks at 90% pay
Enhanced paternity leave – 26 weeks at 90% pay
24 days annual leave + bank holidays
“Pawternity” leave
Pregnancy loss leave
Bank holiday swaps
Shared parental leave
Adoption leave
Family health insurance
Pregnancy support
Neo-natal leave
Faith rooms
Meditation space
Dog friendly office
Dog friendly co-working space
Annual bonus
Employee discounts
Cinema discounts
Referral bonus
Joining bonus
Cycle to work scheme
Electric Car Salary Sacrifice
Enhanced pension match/contribution
Theme park discounts
Lunch and learns
In house training
LinkedIn learning license
Studying sabbaticals
Open to part time work for some roles

Working at Mars UK

Company employees:

4,000 In the UK

Gender diversity (m:f):

57:43

Hiring in countries

Argentina

Australia

Austria

Belgium

Brazil

Canada

Chile

China

Czechia

Denmark

Egypt

France

Germany

Hungary

India

Ireland

Italy

Japan

Malaysia

Mexico

Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Panama

Poland

Puerto Rico

Romania

Russia

Slovakia

South Korea

Spain

Switzerland

Thailand

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

United States

Office Locations

Awards & Accreditations

1st – Family Friendly

1st – Family Friendly

Flexa awards 2025
2nd – Pet Friendly

2nd – Pet Friendly

Flexa awards 2025
Flexible

Flexible

Flexa awards 2025
Diversity and Inclusion

Diversity and Inclusion

Flexa awards 2025
Work-Life Balance

Work-Life Balance

Flexa awards 2025
Career Progression

Career Progression

Flexa awards 2025
Culture

Culture

Flexa awards 2025
Benefits

Benefits

Flexa awards 2025
1st – Large companies

1st – Large companies

Flexa100 2024
Consumer Goods

Consumer Goods

Industry awards 2023
3rd – Large companies

3rd – Large companies

Flexa100 2023
Retail & Ecommerce

Retail & Ecommerce

Industry awards 2022

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