Packaging Manager

Join M&S on a 12-month fixed-term contract and play a key role in shaping innovative packaging solutions that set us apart from the high street. As Packaging Manager, you will lead the development and delivery of primary packaging across our product ranges, driving excellence in design, production, cost, quality, sustainability and compliance. Working closely with suppliers and cross-functional teams, you will create customer-focused packaging that enhances product presentation, protects quality, delivers value, and supports our commitment to responsible sourcing and environmental standards. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact while contributing to the continued evolution of the M&S brand.

What you’ll do

• Lead and co-ordinate the development of all packaging from initial concepts through to production, ensuring packaging is produced on time to critical path, within budget and to meet the required brief and other requirements including print techniques, formats and price.
• Develop packaging in alignment with the Packaging Sustainability Strategy, BU strategy, marketing plan, and new product development launches.
• Ensure that costs align with agreed business unit budgets, keep collaborators informed of costs during the briefing stage, and ensure final costs stay within planned budgets.
• Be an excellent partner to internal stakeholders including Sustainability team, Buying teams, Designers, Sourcing Offices, Artwork/Photography studios, Cutter development and packaging/product suppliers to ensure that packaging projects are handled efficiently and within the critical path and Sustainability Goals.
• Approval of accurate artwork for Fashion and Home including proof reading of copy, compliance with internal brand guidelines and legal requirements.
• Ensure BU/brand style guides are maintained and issued to key partners when required.
• Lead print pre-production meetings with suppliers, printers and studios.
• Establish common reprographic routes across substrates and suppliers.
• Handle and approve print proofs and colour standards in collaboration with 3rd party pre-press contractor where relevant.

Who you are

• Knowledge of artwork, repro, all print and offline processes across all substrates, understand the benefits and limitations of each process.
• Knowledge and understanding of packaging construction and production.
• Aware of UK packaging legislation and compliance minimums.
• Understanding of the design and buying process including product technology and its impact on the artwork process.
• Ability to influence and lead an external and internal resource to ensure delivery of M&S packaging requirements.

What’s in it for you?

Working at M&S means being part of something bigger - helping to deliver quality, value and service to millions of customers every day. We're inclusive, fast-moving and always evolving, with a strong sense of purpose and a focus on doing the right thing. Here are just a few of the benefits that make working here even more rewarding:

• 20% colleague discount on all M&S products and many third-party brands for you and someone in your household, available once you've completed your probation.
• Competitive holiday allowance with the option to buy more.
• Discretionary bonus schemes linked to your performance and ours.
• Strong pension and life assurance to help plan for the future.
• Tailored induction and training to support your development from day one.
• Exclusive perks and savings through our M&S Choices portal.
• Market-leading family policies, including parental, adoption and neonatal leave.
• 24/7 wellbeing support, including virtual GP access and mental health services.
• One paid volunteer day a year to support a cause that matters to you.

Everyone's welcome. We are ambitious about the future of retail. We are disrupting, innovating and leading the industry into a more conscientious, inspiring digital era. We are transforming how we work together and offering our most exciting opportunities yet. Marks & Spencer strives to be an inclusive organisation, trusted and admired by our colleagues, customers and suppliers. Join us and make change happen. We are committed to building diverse and representative teams, where everyone can bring their whole selves to work and be at their best. We support each other and work together to win together.

If you feel you'd benefit from any support or reasonable adjustments during any stage of the recruitment process, please don't hesitate to let us know when completing your application. This information will be picked up by our team, so we can try and put steps in place to help you be at your best through this process.

To stay close to customers, our support teams are in the office three days a week as we believe that skills are developed through collaboration, and that spending time together makes us more creative and connected.