Packaging Project Manager in Belfast

Core to our success is our people, and we now have a new opportunity within our Operations team for permanent Packaging Project Manager to join the Operations team, based at our Head Office in Belfast, with regular travel to operational sites as required.

The Role: Reporting to the Director of Production, the Packaging Project Manager will develop and implement innovative packaging solutions, which will improve product quality, product appeal and legislative requirements whilst maintaining operational performance.

What you'll be doing:

• Work with key stakeholders in commercial, procurement and marketing to lead packaging change.
• Manage the packaging gate process to engage key stakeholders at appropriate stages.
• Assess and implement packaging innovations to provide benefit whilst ensuring no unforeseen operational consequences.
• Work with site teams to support efficiency optimisation with respect to packaging performance on line.
• Risk manage change through a series of trials.
• Lead on the decision making on how product change should be commercialised.
• Work with packaging material suppliers to understand what is due to come to market and presently in their R+D channel.
• Work with packing machinery suppliers to understand what is due to come to market and presently in their R+D channel.
• Understand potential impacts of changing legislation and how it could be applied to Dale Farm product range.
• Support the Dale Farm sustainability agenda by moving packaging to being lighter weight, more recyclable and with a higher recycled content.
• Gain an understanding of production equipment and be able to understand how changes in packaging may be suitable or not.
• Manage a master register of packaging by SKU which includes packing configurations and formats.
• Review the SKU master register to identify opportunity for rationalisation of formats therefore improving efficiency.
• Carry out other duties as reasonably required.

What we are looking for:

• Minimum 3 years in a similar role.
• Degree in Material Science or similar discipline.
• Proven and demonstrable experience of project management and implementing change.
• Experience in the food industry or FMCG, with an understanding of packaging manufacturing methods.
• Experience with packaging for temperature sensitive products, barrier technologies and familiar with food grade plastics, multilayer barrier films, and vacuum sealing.
• Experience of Microsoft Dynamics NAV and/or Microsoft Business Central (desirable).
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate across all levels.
• Excellent organisational and time management skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively and work under pressure.
• Able to work independently and as a team.
• Proficiency with MS Office (Excel, Word, Outlook etc).
• High attention to detail with excellent analytical ability.
• Right to work in the UK (Sponsorship is not available).

Why Dale Farm? We have a lot to offer our employees, including:

• Salary depending on experience.
• Learning and development opportunities to support your career.
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays.
• Contributory company pension.
• Life Assurance.
• Supportive work environment and culture, which is based on our core values: Teamwork | Positivity | Resolve | Ambition | Curiosity | Accountability.

You can find out more about life at Dale Farm on our LinkedIn and Facebook Career pages, and on our company website. The closing date for applications is 6th March 2026. Only applications with a valid permit to work in the UK, and those within reasonable commuting distance to Belfast, Cookstown or Ballymena will be accepted. No unsolicited CVs from Agencies. We are an Equal Opportunities employer.