Senior Packaging Technologist - 12 Month FTC

Ownership of packaging technical excellence across the business, spanning artwork production, supplier management, regulatory audits and innovation roadmaps that propel our packaging and brand forward.

This position is pivotal in owning our packaging from a technical perspective. It is a highly cross‑functional opportunity with real autonomy to shape the scope and make an impact.

You will be responsible for:

• Delivering packaging projects end to end from concept to launch through the NPD process, including technical recommendations, artwork sign‑off process, approvals and risk assessment.
• Representing Brand Management in technical forums, with a strong understanding of our identity and a sharp eye for opportunities to build brand equity through packaging improvements.
• Shaping the packaging pipeline, prioritising opportunities and aligning resources to business needs.
• Planning and overseeing functional packaging testing to support supplier tenders, development and continuous improvement.
• Managing CAPEX budgets for packaging‑related investment.
• Being the face of the function and key point of contact for all packaging matters.

Regulatory compliance and reporting:

• Owning and maintaining our annual formal packaging assessment and RAM (Recyclability Assessment Methodology) for use across the value chain for EPR waste reporting.
• Identifying relevant regulatory changes and driving inclusion into category roadmaps and project plans.
• Maintaining a comprehensive and up‑to‑date record of packaging sustainability credentials, including FSC certifications and recycled content across all materials supplied by packaging partners.

Supplier management and continuous improvement:

• Establishing and continuously refining key packaging KPIs and performance targets.
• Building seamless ways of working with key packaging suppliers.
• Leading proactive evaluation of new packaging technologies.

The skills you’ll bring:

• Expertise in consumer packaging, ideally including new product or brand rollouts.
• Strong attention to detail, with packaging legal and regulatory experience.
• Independence and autonomy, with confidence to drive the function.
• Excellent communication skills and strong stakeholder management.

What’s in it for you? (Fixed‑term contract Roles)

• Competitive salary, reviewed annually.
• Flexible core hours, giving you true work‑life balance.
• Hybrid role to ensure this role works for you.
• 25 days of holiday (excluding bank holidays) which increases over time to a max of 27 days.
• 9/10 day working week to enhance your wellbeing without a reduction in pay and leave allowance.
• Optional 5 days unpaid leave and 1 paid volunteer day each year.
• When you need a change of scenery, you can work from abroad 2 weeks every 6 months.
• Health insurance for you, paid by Tails.com.
• Extended maternity, paternity, shared parental and adoption pay. 6 months at 70% pay.
• Flexible paid care leave to support immediate dependants, people close to you and pets.
• In‑house L&D team, with access to year‑round courses to help drive your development.
• 50% discount on all Tails.com products.
• Discounted gym membership.

Our Commitment:

We’re proud to be an active equal opportunity employer. We want to give everyone a fair chance to join us in changing the world of pet food for good. We do this by conducting a structured recruitment process for all candidates, as well as actively promoting our roles to communities that are under‑represented at Tails.com. During your interview process you’ll meet some of our team with varying levels of responsibility and experience. We want to give every candidate a fair interview process, and if you need any reasonable adjustments made, please let us know.