At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a team to shape and implement technical strategies across nine manufacturing sites.
- Company: Join DS Smith, a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, pension scheme, and 25 days holiday plus bank holidays.
- Other info: Flexible working with travel opportunities across the UK.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a strategic leadership role with a focus on sustainability.
- Qualifications: 8+ years in packaging manufacturing and proven leadership experience required.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
We are seeking an experienced and commercially aware Cluster Technical Manager to build and lead a newly established Cluster Technical function within our Design & Innovation (D&I) team. This is a rare opportunity to shape a function from the ground up – defining how it operates, how it engages with customers, and how it delivers value across nine manufacturing sites.
Reporting to the Retail D&I Manager, you will lead a team of four Cluster Technical Specialists providing customer-facing technical expertise, complaint prevention, technical intelligence, and continuous improvement support. Each Specialist is aligned to specific sites and works on a hybrid basis, so you will be leading a geographically dispersed team – connecting the cluster picture, driving consistency, and ensuring the function’s preventative purpose is protected.
This is a strategic leadership role combining technical excellence, customer engagement, data-driven decision-making, and people leadership. You will shape and deploy the cluster technical strategy while ensuring a proactive approach to technical risk, customer performance, and operational consistency.
You will act as the key technical escalation point for significant, recurring, or cross-site issues, whilst maintaining clear ownership boundaries whereby site quality issues remain the responsibility of local Quality and Production teams.
Responsibilities
- Technical Strategy & Governance
- Define and deploy the cluster technical strategy, aligned to D&I, Quality and Packaging Division priorities.
- Own customer technical governance, establishing structured technical reviews with key customers that complement rather than duplicate existing Innovation and Quality processes.
- Own the escalation matrix and decision-rights framework, acting as escalation point for significant, recurring or cross-site technical issues.
- Own the function’s KPI framework, monthly performance reviews and cluster-level trend reporting to D&I, Operations and Sales leadership.
- Leadership & Team Development
- Lead, coach and develop four Cluster Technical Specialists across a geographically dispersed cluster; own resource planning, site and customer allocation, and workload balancing.
- Protect the team’s proactive purpose – managing the balance of preventative versus reactive work so prevention is not crowded out by firefighting.
- Embed consistent structured problem-solving standards (8D, RCA) and build technical capability, succession and development plans.
- Customer & Stakeholder Management
- Build strong relationships with customers, Cluster Director and MDs, Site General Managers, Site Quality Managers, Innovation and Sales leadership.
- Ensure clean, documented handoffs between the Technical team and site Quality and Production, with ownership boundaries respected and issue status visible to all parties.
- Own cluster-level technical relationships with external suppliers including forme makers, print plate and tooling suppliers.
- Champion the function internally so Sales, Innovation and site teams understand how and when to engage it.
- Insight, Improvement & Consistency
- Aggregate cross-site and cross-customer trend analysis, converting recurring themes into structured prevention and improvement programmes.
- Ensure the team’s involvement in the internal and customer trials programme is planned and prioritised, providing technical insight and data to support it; ownership of trial execution and product conformance remains with site Production and Quality teams. Ensure learnings are captured and deployed across sites.
- Drive the standardisation and product simplification agenda across the cluster, reducing unnecessary complexity.
- Ensure structured technical feedback loops into Design, Innovation and Quality strategy.
- Sustainability
- Champion circular design principles and sustainable packaging solutions.
- Promote a right-first-time culture that reduces waste, rework and manufacturing inefficiency.
About youEssential
- Extensive experience (typically 8+ years) in corrugated or packaging manufacturing across production, quality, technical or design disciplines.
- Deep understanding of corrugated manufacturing processes, covering both corrugator and conversion.
- Proven leadership experience, ideally including geographically dispersed or field-based teams.
- Track record of delivering measurable performance improvement in customer-facing technical, quality or continuous improvement roles.
- Strong customer-facing and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence at senior level in a matrix organisation.
- Experience using structured problem-solving tools such as 8D and Root Cause Analysis (RCA).
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to turn technical data into insight that drives decisions.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities across sites, customers and functions.
Desirable
- Degree in Packaging Technology, Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing, Chemistry or a related discipline – or equivalent vocational experience.
- Six Sigma Green or Black Belt, or equivalent continuous improvement qualification.
- Working knowledge of ISO 9001 and BRCGS Packaging Materials and their application in a packaging environment.
- Experience in Technical, Quality, Design or Innovation roles within packaging.
- Understanding of print, tooling and packaging production technologies.
- Experience supporting product development, trials and material implementation.
- Familiarity with ERP, QMS and CRM systems.
- Knowledge of sustainability and circular economy principles.
Location and travel
Location: Field-based, managing a team covering the cluster’s nine UK sites – Devizes, Fordham, Louth, Belper, Featherstone, Burscough, Neath, Lockerbie and Livingston – and key customer locations. Travel is expected to be approximately 40–50% of your time, including overnight stays, with home-based working in between. You will hold a close working relationship with one cluster site, agreed on appointment.
Hours: Monday to Friday, full time. Full UK driving licence required. Given the geographic spread of the cluster, a central location would be advantageous, though we welcome applications from candidates across the UK who are comfortable with regular national travel.
Our values
We are looking for someone who can demonstrate how our corporate values are applied in the workplace: Caring, Challenging, Trusted, Responsive and Tenacious.
Benefits
- Competitive salary
- Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection
- Employee Assistance Programme
- 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
- Cycle to work scheme
- Employee discounts
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 and 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.
If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.
Cluster Technical Manager employer: DS Smith
DS Smith is an excellent employer, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises safety and employee well-being in the vibrant location of Livingston, Scotland. With opportunities for personal growth and development, alongside competitive benefits such as 25 days holiday and a pension scheme, employees can thrive in a dynamic environment while contributing to meaningful production processes.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Cluster Technical Manager
✨Join Local Manufacturing Groups
Getting involved in local manufacturing groups or associations can seriously boost your visibility. These groups often have insider info on job openings and networking events, plus they help you connect with like-minded folks in the industry. Check out what's happening in your area!
✨Show Off Your Skills in Practical Spaces
Consider participating in workshops or open days at manufacturing companies. It's a great way to show off your hands-on skills in a real-world environment and can sometimes lead to job offers right on the spot. Keep an eye on announcements from local manufacturers for these opportunities!
✨Leverage the Power of Internships
While you're looking for full-time positions, don't underestimate the power of internships! Even if you don't see a direct role, securing an internship at a company can open doors to future jobs. Many manufacturing firms prefer to hire from their intern pool, so it's definitely worth considering.
✨Apply Directly Through Company Websites
When you find a role at a company you love, like DS Smith, apply directly on their website. This way, you’re more likely to be noticed by the hiring team. Plus, showing that you took the time to seek out their application process highlights your genuine interest in the firm!
We think you need these skills to ace Cluster Technical Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Technical Skills:In the manufacturing-production sector, it's crucial to highlight your technical skills and experience. Make sure your CV features any relevant qualifications, such as certifications in machinery operation or production management, and don’t forget about any specific systems or software you’re familiar with. This can really set you apart!
Emphasise Teamwork and Communication:Working in manufacturing often means being part of a larger team. Highlight your experience in collaborative projects or environments where communication was key. Maybe you have experience with lean manufacturing principles? Talk about how you worked with your team to improve productivity and maintain quality.
Tailor Your Cover Letter to the Company:Don’t just recycle an old cover letter! Take the time to tailor your cover letter to DS Smith specifically. Mention what excites you about their production processes or products, and how your previous experiences can contribute to their goals. We want to see your enthusiasm for the role!
Use Concrete Examples of Your Achievements:When detailing your work experience, include measurable achievements that can demonstrate your impact. Whether it’s improving efficiency by a certain percentage or successfully leading a project, these specifics can make a huge difference. Numbers speak volumes in the manufacturing world!
How to prepare for a job interview at DS Smith
✨Know Your Manufacturing Processes
Before you walk into the interview with DS Smith, brush up on the specific manufacturing processes relevant to the role. Understanding lean manufacturing principles or quality control techniques could give you a solid edge to discuss how you’d fit into their operations.
✨Technical Questions Are Key
Be prepared for technical questions around machinery, production scheduling, or materials handling. Make sure you can confidently explain how you've dealt with these in past experiences or internships. Knowing industry-specific software could also be a big plus!
✨Showcase Your Problem-Solving Skills
Manufacturing environments often focus on continuous improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you’ve solved a production issue or implemented a process improvement. It’s all about demonstrating your analytical thinking and hands-on approach.
✨Align Your Values with Quality and Safety
In a full-time role, companies like DS Smith value commitment to quality and safety. Be prepared to discuss how you prioritise these factors in your work. It’s about showing that you’re not just looking for a job, but that you genuinely care about contributing positively to their production environment.
