Packaging Developer

Job Title: Packaging Developer

Business Function: R&D

Location: Leeds

The Deodorants category is a key part of the Unilever Personal Care Business Group. With a family of Power Brands – Rexona, Dove, Axe – which are critical growth drivers of the company.

As a Packaging Developer within the Deodorant Category Technology Centre, you will play a hands‑on role in delivering innovative, high quality packaging for iconic Power brands.

You will support major innovation and renovation programmes while independently leading smaller projects end to end – from concept and design through to industrialisation and launch. This is a role for someone who thrives at the intersection of engineering, creativity, and consumer experience, working with multi‑functional teams (marketing, supply chain, procurement) to deliver consumer desirable packaging innovation.

• Deliver packaging solutions from brief to launch, ensuring technical excellence, manufacturability, and consumer appeal
• Lead or support packaging work streams on global innovation and renovation projects
• Define and validate functional specifications, test plans, and performance requirements
• Manage technical risk using tools such as FMEA and risk assessments
• Analyse test and trial data to inform decisions and de‑risk scale up
• Coordinate lab testing, pilot trials, and factory line trials
• Work closely with global suppliers, design agencies, and manufacturing partners
• Ensure alignment with global standards, regional legislation, and sustainability goals
• Champion digital tools, data capture, and an in‑silico first mindset
• Contribute to capability building, best practices, and knowledge sharing across Personal Care

• A technical background in engineering, science, design, materials or equivalent experience.
• Experience in packaging development, working with packaging materials and technologies (e.g. metals, plastics, aerosols, complex assemblies).
• Strong project and stakeholder management skills, including experience of risk management.
• Confidence working with technical drawings, tolerances, and test data.
• Experience with measurement and testing techniques (e.g. Metrology) and data analysis & interpretation (e.g. statistical process control).
• Digital fluency and confidence working with data, digital tools and analytics to inform decisions.
• Knowledge of personal care, or specifically deodorant, packaging (aerosol, stick, or roll on formats) is a strong advantage.

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

Whilst the role is advertised on a full‑time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family‑friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self.