At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive innovative packaging solutions and enhance sustainability at DS Smith.
- Company: Join a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, 25 days holiday, pension scheme, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Dynamic work environment with opportunities for growth and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on packaging design while collaborating with creative teams.
- Qualifications: Experience in packaging design and strong analytical skills required.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.
We're looking for a Design for Variation Specialist to help drive smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable packaging solutions at DS Smith. Based within one of the world's leading Global Automotive Distribution Centres, you'll be part of our Mercia Design & Innovation Team, who play a key role in designing, maintaining and enhancing packaging solutions for a major customer's global aftermarket network.
In this role, you'll be responsible for identifying and delivering packaging improvement opportunities that create real value through:
- Reduced customer costs
- Optimised supply chain performance
- Improved product protection & damage reduction
- Improved sustainability impacts
You'll oversee the day-to-day management of packaging Bills of Materials, while also identifying opportunities to simplify, rationalise and standardise our packaging range using an 80/20 mindset. This is a collaborative, hands-on role where you'll work closely with:
- Our customer and their 3PL provider
- Creative and Automotive Designers
- Internal technical, operational and commercial teams
Main Responsibilities will include:
- Design & Innovation
- Develop fit-for-purpose packaging solutions
- Produce conceptual/local prototypes and manage materials
- Create technical drawings, reports and packaging specifications
- Support NPI processes, internal trials and quality improvements
- Create inbound & outbound logistics pallet plans
- Provide design-for-implementation and creative support
- Continuous Improvement
- Apply DS Smith Way principles to drive ongoing improvements
- Build CI pipelines to deliver annual packaging spend savings
- Optimise systems, metrics and standards to maximise performance
- Collaboration & Communication
- Build strong relationships with customers, suppliers and internal teams
- Clearly communicate project requirements and business benefits
- Represent DS Smith with professionalism and customer focus
- Data & Analysis
- Manage and interpret large data sets with strong attention to detail
- Produce compelling justification documents outlining benefits
- Health, Safety & Environment
- Take ownership for safe ways of working
- Promote a proactive culture of safety and continuous improvement
To succeed, you'll need strong analytical skills, the ability to communicate clearly, and the creativity to turn insights into innovative, practical packaging solutions.
Minimum requirements:
- GCSEs (or equivalent)
- Experience designing packaging
- Strong competence in MS Office
- Confident user of CAD and graphics software
- Understanding of 2D/3D drawings
- Self-motivated, detail-focused and able to drive project momentum
- Able to work collaboratively and communicate effectively
- Demonstrates DS Smith values: Caring, Challenging, Trusted, Responsive & Tenacious
Desirable:
- A-levels or degree in a design-related subject
- Knowledge of corrugated automotive packaging & supply cycles
- Experience in manufacturing or warehousing environments
- Strong commercial awareness
Benefits:
- Competitive salary
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection
- Salary sacrifice electric car scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Employee Discounts
- Cycle to work scheme
Location: Swadlincote - Mercia Global Automotive Distribution Centre
Working hours: Monday to Friday - 08:00 - 16:00pm
We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!
To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.
Design for Variation Specialist in Swadlincote employer: DS SMITH PACKAGING LIMITED
At DS Smith, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a collaborative and innovative work culture that empowers our employees to drive meaningful change in sustainable packaging solutions. Located in the Mercia Global Automotive Distribution Centre in Swadlincote, our team enjoys competitive salaries, generous holiday allowances, and a range of benefits including a pension scheme and employee discounts, all while working in a supportive environment that values diversity and fosters professional growth.
Contact Details:
DS SMITH PACKAGING LIMITED Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Design for Variation Specialist in Swadlincote
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research DS Smith's values and recent projects. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions related to design and sustainability. Think about how your skills can directly contribute to packaging improvements at DS Smith.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team!
We think you need these skills to ace Design for Variation Specialist in Swadlincote
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in packaging design and innovation. Use keywords from the job description to show that you understand what we're looking for.
Showcase Your Creativity:As a Design for Variation Specialist, creativity is key! Include examples of your previous work or projects that demonstrate your ability to create innovative packaging solutions. Visuals can really make your application stand out!
Be Clear and Concise:When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. We appreciate well-structured documents that are easy to read. Make sure to communicate your skills and experiences effectively without unnecessary fluff.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently. Plus, you’ll find all the details you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at DS SMITH PACKAGING LIMITED
✨Know Your Packaging Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the world of packaging design. Familiarise yourself with the latest trends in sustainable packaging and be ready to discuss how you can apply these insights to improve efficiency and reduce costs at DS Smith.
✨Show Off Your Analytical Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your analytical prowess by bringing examples of how you've managed large data sets in previous roles. Be ready to explain how you turned data insights into actionable packaging solutions that benefited your past employers.
✨Communicate Clearly and Confidently
Practice articulating your thoughts clearly, especially when discussing technical concepts. Use simple language to explain complex ideas, as effective communication is key in this collaborative role. Consider doing mock interviews with friends to refine your delivery.
✨Emphasise Your Collaborative Spirit
Since this role involves working closely with various teams, be prepared to share examples of successful collaborations from your past. Highlight how you built strong relationships and communicated effectively with customers, suppliers, and internal teams to achieve common goals.
