Packaging Technologist

Job Title: Packaging Technologist

Company: Unilever

Location: Port Sunlight Research Lab, Bebington, England, United Kingdom

Unilever is committed to ensuring that all our packaging is fully reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025, and we are using increasingly recycled content. In Home Care, we are reimagining future cleaning products to support a cleaner future.

Business Function: Home Care R&D

Job Purpose: You will be involved in the design, technical development and scale up of packaging solutions that will change the way we see packaging and help us on our journey to zero waste. Working on global brands such as Persil, Skip and Surf, you will deliver new packaging worldwide, balancing consumer and brand experience with business and sustainability demands.

Packaging Development (60%)

• Development of packaging solutions from brief definition through to proving manufacture at scale.
• Identify technologies and assess feasibility of ideas that enable new products/experiences for consumers.
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams (R&D, Marketing, Supply Chain) and external suppliers to deliver projects on time and in full.
• Trial, test and validate the technical specification of packaging components and solutions.
• Maintain accurate specifications and ensure compliance with safety and regulatory standards.

Capability & Excellence (40%)

• Design and deliver best practice guides, technical standards and training programmes for packaging processes.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to embed technical rigour and accelerate innovation delivery.
• Identify process improvement opportunities, implement solutions and embed continuous improvement.
• Lead initiatives to enhance packaging development workflows and embed continuous improvement.

• Ability to balance hands‑on technical delivery with strategic capability initiatives.
• Demonstrated agility in driving speed without compromising quality.
• Strong problem‑solving and continuous improvement mindset.
• Commitment to packaging innovation and capability leadership.

We are looking for someone with the right attitude, mindset and competencies. Experience in a packaging role is an added bonus, but not essential.

• Technical education – engineering, science or design subject.
• Passion and agility for what packaging, innovation and capability experience can unlock for our business in speed.
• A creative, logical and analytical mind.
• Strong project management and organising experience.
• Great collaboration and communication skills.
• A quick learner, not afraid to take initiative and be proactive to get things done.

We offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, discounted staff shop, and shares. The role, advertised as full-time, supports flexible and hybrid working. We provide wellbeing support through hubs, programmes and development opportunities, striving for a family‑friendly and inclusive workplace.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We give full consideration to all applicants and provide reasonable adjustments during the application and interview process. To learn more about our Employee Resource Groups, please :
Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Unilever.

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