At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead innovative packaging projects and engage with top FMCG brands to solve complex challenges.
- Company: Join DS Smith, a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 25 days holiday, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Remote work with travel opportunities and a collaborative team environment.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on sustainability while working with industry leaders.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in packaging innovation with strong technical and commercial skills.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 55000 £ per year.
About the Role
At DS Smith, innovation is at the heart of how we help customers solve complex packaging challenges and deliver more sustainable outcomes. We are looking for an experienced Innovation Specialist to join our Strategic Accounts team, working with some of the world's leading FMCG brands, including Mars, P&G, and Mondelez.
This is a customer-facing role where you'll combine your packaging expertise, commercial awareness, and creativity to identify new opportunities, deliver value-driven solutions, and strengthen key customer partnerships. Working closely with customers and internal stakeholders, you'll lead innovation projects from concept through to implementation, helping customers improve efficiency, reduce costs, optimise automation, and achieve their sustainability goals.
Using DS Smith's innovation methodologies, including PackRight®, you'll develop insight-led packaging solutions that create measurable value for both customers and DS Smith. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of strategic customer relationships, influence large-scale innovation programmes, and play a key role in shaping the future of sustainable packaging.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop customer innovation pipelines and turn insights into commercial opportunities.
- Facilitate customer workshops, Innovation Days and PackRight® sessions.
- Drive innovation activity and KPI delivery across strategic FMCG accounts.
- Partner with Sales and Account Managers to identify growth and value creation opportunities.
Value Creation
- Identify and deliver cost-saving, efficiency and sustainability improvements.
- Develop innovative packaging solutions that create measurable value for customers and DS Smith.
- Utilise customer and market insights to uncover new opportunities and demonstrate TCO benefits.
Supply Chain & Operational Excellence
- Provide technical support, problem solving and line-side customer assistance.
- Improve customer line efficiencies through packaging and automation optimisation.
- Manage onboarding, value engineering and continuous improvement projects.
- Support business reviews and coordinate automation initiatives.
Sustainability
- Champion circular design principles and sustainable packaging innovation.
- Support customers in achieving their sustainability and environmental goals.
Collaboration & Development
- Work closely with Sales, Design, Operations and Innovation teams to deliver customer solutions.
- Contribute to pipeline reviews, opportunity prioritisation and best-practice sharing.
- Continuously develop technical, commercial and innovation capabilities.
About You
We're looking for an experienced packaging professional who combines creativity, technical expertise, and commercial awareness. You'll bring:
- 5+ years' experience in an Innovation, Design, or Development role within the packaging industry.
- Strong corrugated packaging knowledge and experience working with FMCG customers.
- A proven track record of delivering innovative, value-driven packaging solutions.
- Understanding of production lines, automation, and manufacturing processes.
- Experience managing projects from opportunity identification through to implementation.
- Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and relationship-building skills.
- Proficiency in ArtiosCAD, CAD and visualisation software, and Microsoft Office.
Desirable:
- Packaging or Product Design qualification (or equivalent experience).
- Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, or Health & Safety qualifications.
- Experience in value engineering and continuous improvement methodologies.
Personal Attributes:
- Creative, proactive, and customer-focused.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
- Collaborative team player with excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
- Passionate about innovation, sustainability, and delivering results.
Benefits
- Competitive salary
- 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
- Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Employee Discounts
- Cycle to work scheme
Location: Remote (UK Based) with approximately 40% customer travel
Hours: Monday – Friday – 09:00 - 17:00
Contract: Perm
About us
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!
Fair recruitment at DS Smith
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.
Innovation Specialist in Solihull employer: DS Smith
At DS Smith, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer that fosters a collaborative and inclusive work culture. Our Global Governance Assistant Secretary role offers not only competitive benefits but also ample opportunities for professional growth and development within a dynamic international environment. Join us in our commitment to sustainability and innovation, where your contributions will make a meaningful impact across our global operations.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Innovation Specialist in Solihull
✨Leverage Innovation Hubs
Tap into local innovation hubs and research centres. These places often host events and workshops where you can meet like-minded people and industry leaders. Plus, they might have job openings that aren't widely advertised, so keep your ears open!
✨Showcase Your Projects
Turn your past innovation projects into compelling stories. Create a portfolio showcasing your creativity and problem-solving skills. This can give hiring managers a real flavour of what you can bring to the table at companies like DS Smith.
✨Connect at Industry Conferences
Make it a point to attend industry conferences and seminars focused on R&D and innovation management. These events are fantastic for networking and often have job boards or career fairs where you can connect directly with firms looking for talent.
✨Use Your University’s Resources
If you're fresh out of university, don't forget to tap into your institution's career services. They often have exclusive partnerships with companies seeking new talent in R&D, especially for full-time roles. It's a good shortcut to landing a gig at places like DS Smith.
We think you need these skills to ace Innovation Specialist in Solihull
Some tips for your application 🫡
Showcase Your Creative Thinking:In innovation and R&D management, it's all about thinking outside the box. Make sure your CV highlights any projects or experiences that showcase your creative problem-solving skills. Use specific examples to illustrate how you've developed and implemented innovative ideas in previous roles.
Tailor Your Experience to R&D:When you're crafting your CV, focus on your experience in research and development. Highlight any relevant projects you've worked on, including methodologies used and results achieved. This will show us at DS Smith that you understand the R&D process and can contribute meaningfully to our projects.
Let Your Passion Shine in the Cover Letter:For a full-time role like this, your cover letter should reflect your genuine passion for innovation and development. Share your excitement about the opportunity to work at DS Smith and touch on how your goals align with our mission. This helps us see your motivation for wanting to join our team!
Quantify Your Achievements:Numbers speak volumes in R&D! Whenever possible, quantify your achievements in your CV. Whether it’s a percentage improvement in project outcomes, the budget size you’ve managed, or the number of successful products you've launched, these figures will help paint a clearer picture of your impact and capabilities.
How to prepare for a job interview at DS Smith
✨Show Off Your Innovative Thinking
In an Innovation R&D Management role at DS Smith, they're going to want to see how you approach problem-solving. Be ready to discuss previous projects where you introduced a new idea or process. Highlight your ability to think outside the box and provide examples where your innovations drove significant results.
✨Familiarity with Tools and Technologies
Make sure you're clued up on the latest tools and technologies related to innovation management, such as project management software and data analysis platforms. Being able to discuss specific tools you’ve used or have experience with will show DS Smith that you’re ready to hit the ground running.
✨Demonstrate Collaboration Skills
Since this is a full-time gig, emphasising your teamwork skills will be essential. In innovation, collaboration often sparks the best ideas, so be ready to talk about how you've worked effectively within cross-functional teams in your past roles. Have concrete examples at the ready!
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect some scenario-based questions in your interview that reflect real challenges you might face in the role. £At DS Smith, they might want to see how you handle tight deadlines or manage conflicting ideas within a team. Prepare some responses that demonstrate your critical thinking and decisiveness in high-pressure situations.
