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- Tasks: Lead innovative projects to develop sustainable barrier solutions for fibre-based packaging.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking company dedicated to eco-friendly packaging solutions.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel opportunities, and professional growth in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainability while working with cutting-edge materials and technologies.
- Qualifications: Degree in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering; project management experience preferred.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with opportunities to travel across Europe.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
As a R&D Project Manager for Surface & Barrier, you will be responsible for developing, testing, and optimizing barrier solutions that enhance the performance of fibre-based packaging. This role focuses on improving material properties such as moisture, grease, oxygen, and aroma resistance while ensuring sustainability, recyclability, and cost-efficient production. You will collaborate with stakeholders to accelerate innovation and bring barrier technologies from laboratory scale to industrial implementation, developing PoCs into industrial demonstrations. The role focuses on cost-effective and sustainable barriers for paper-based board designs for both direct food contact and non-food contact applications.
Responsibilities
- Develop new barrier solutions, surface treatments, and functional layers for fibre-based packaging.
- Screen and evaluate bio-based, water-based, polymer, mineral, or hybrid barrier chemistries.
- Design and run pilot trials for barrier coating applications (e.g., blade, rod, curtain, extrusion, dispersion). Analyse failure modes and identify root causes of barrier performance variation.
- Liaise with new suppliers of surface treatment/barrier solutions/technology to validate their offering.
- Support and carry out lab studies when needed on barrier property testing (WVTR, OTR, grease resistance, COBB, heat sealability, adhesion, etc.).
- Scale laboratory formulations toward pilot and industrial production readiness.
- Develop project framework and project deployment information, preparing projects for hand-over to the business.
- Plan and execute projects as agreed with manager and available steering/reference groups.
- Design, plan and execute pilot trials for business demonstrators.
- Carry out baseline technical work, designing and developing solutions for project success.
Qualifications
- Educated to a degree level in a technology field (Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or similar).
- Previous experience in an industrial environment, preferably within the fibre-based packaging or materials industry.
- Excellent technical, laboratory and measurement skills; knowledge of coating technologies, material characterisation, printing, packaging or recycling technologies.
- Demonstrable success in Project Management, working with teams and managing projects by prioritising workloads and delivering to deadlines and within budget.
- Very good knowledge in Excel, PowerPoint, MS Project.
- Fluent English, written and spoken.
- Critical thinking and problem-solving skills, open minded, creative and curious.
- Excellent organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
- Flexibility to travel across Europe (1-2 times per month).
R&D Project Manager in City of Westminster employer: DS Smith
Contact Detail:
DS Smith Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land R&D Project Manager in City of Westminster
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to industry professionals on LinkedIn or attend relevant events. We can’t stress enough how important it is to make connections that could lead to job opportunities.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. We recommend practising common interview questions and tailoring your answers to highlight your experience in R&D and project management.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills with a portfolio! If you’ve worked on relevant projects, gather evidence of your successes. We love seeing tangible results that demonstrate your ability to innovate and manage effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. We’re always on the lookout for passionate individuals who can contribute to our mission in developing sustainable packaging solutions.
We think you need these skills to ace R&D Project Manager in City of Westminster
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the R&D Project Manager role. Highlight your experience in developing barrier solutions and any relevant projects you've managed. We want to see how your skills align with our focus on sustainability and innovation!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about fibre-based packaging and how your background makes you a perfect fit for our team. Don’t forget to mention any specific projects that showcase your expertise in barrier technologies.
Showcase Your Technical Skills: We love seeing technical skills in action! Be sure to include any relevant laboratory techniques or project management tools you’re familiar with, like Excel or MS Project. This will help us understand how you can contribute to our innovative projects.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and keep track of all the amazing candidates we’re excited to meet!
How to prepare for a job interview at DS Smith
✨Know Your Barrier Solutions
Make sure you brush up on the latest developments in barrier technologies, especially those related to fibre-based packaging. Be ready to discuss specific materials and their properties, like moisture and grease resistance, as well as sustainability practices. This shows your genuine interest and expertise in the field.
✨Showcase Your Project Management Skills
Prepare examples of past projects where you successfully managed timelines, budgets, and team dynamics. Highlight how you prioritised tasks and delivered results. This will demonstrate your ability to handle the responsibilities of an R&D Project Manager effectively.
✨Familiarise Yourself with Testing Methods
Understand the various testing methods mentioned in the job description, such as WVTR and OTR. Be prepared to discuss how you've applied these techniques in previous roles or how you would approach them in this position. This will show that you're not just theoretically knowledgeable but practically capable.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you would collaborate with different stakeholders in the role. Prepare to discuss your communication strategies and how you’ve successfully liaised with suppliers or team members in the past. This will highlight your interpersonal skills and readiness to work in a collaborative environment.
