At #TropicanaBrandsGroup we are passionate about nourishing & delighting our consumers, one sip at a time.
Our R&D Team is is looking for a highly qualified Packaging Engineer based in Belgium to support the Packaging R&D team to ensure the company’s Innovation, goals and initiatives are met.
As part of an entrepreneurial culture, the ideal candidate will be open to stretching within the R&D function and will develop a broad skill set and critical experiences in this role. Ability to create “go to market” solutions that deliver product efficiently via multiple distribution platforms and maintain a current understanding of packaging technologies, process and material sustainability, as well as technology developments within the packaging industry is expected.
The candidate will be required to transfer technology within internal plants and co-packers to optimize overall system cost and efficiency. Tropicana is looking for a critical thinker with exceptional communication, influencing, and relationship management skills who thrives in a fast-paced environment.
In this role, you will :
1. Lead and manage multiple simultaneous packaging projects. Must own the packaging workstream within projects and contribute within internal and external meetings.
2. Develop and maintain effective working relationships across R&D and non-R&D functions as necessary to support business initiatives. Build our network with the Packaging R&D team in the US for networking and continuous development.
3. Work with packaging suppliers to plan trial materials, evaluate packaging components and technologies.
4. Create and execute trial protocols, attending trials where necessary, collect data, and interpret results to drive projects and technical knowledge further. Writes full trial reports and follows up on any actions.
5. Must have great working connectivity with the Zeebrugge Engineering Team, leading and driving the R&D packaging agenda onsite.
6. Test packaging materials and designs to make sure they meet quality standards, with support of our internal QC team and external lab partners.
7. Lead any packaging related issues with Quality and Manufacturing Teams. Provides regular updates to Senior Stakeholders.
8. Collate sustainability data to allow analysis to reduce environmental impact, in alignment with company sustainability goals.
9. Provide technical support to the R&D team and give guidance on packaging requirements for shelf life tests and other packaging related tasks.
10. Identify productivity opportunities with the packaging portfolio and manufacturing opportunities. Drive the productivity projects and future pipeline, maintain close working relations with Procurement, Marketing and Supply Chain.
11. Ensure packaging meets relevant regulations and industry standards. Keep updated with trends, materials and technologies.
12. Contributes to the research and development of innovative packaging solutions.
13. Create reports, technical specifications, and documentation to track packaging developments, testing results, and compliance.
14. Administer PO’s and be POC for use of SAP to organise and manage packaging technical specifications.
This list covers the main duties you will undertake but other duties will be required and added to as required to meet project and business needs. Flexibility to support the business is essential to the role.
The successful candidate will be :
15. Advanced education/degree (preferred) in Packaging Science/ Engineering or related field required.
16. Minimum 4+ Years experience in Packaging Engineering or equivalent technical discipline.
17. Strong project management, organisational and administrative skills.
18. Extensive knowledge of materials science, including plastics, metals, and paper.
19. Experienced with beverage manufacturing processes and systems.
20. Must have experience with organising and managing trials. Is able to travel if required (upto 20% of time)
21. Must work well within the Packaging and R&D teams and have the drive for independent work and development.
This role is based in Zeebrugge Belgium and it will be required to come to the plant.
We also accept UK based candidates to work from home - Travel required ( 20%)