Packaging Technologist

9-month fixed term contract / secondment

Your Manager: Project Manager

Team: Manufacturing, New Product Development

Location: Dumbarton - We operate a hybrid working approach.

Be part of something big

We are Pernod Ricard, a leading company in the global wines and spirits industry with over 19,000 employees globally. We own 16 of the world’s top 100 Spirits Brands and hold one of the most prestigious and comprehensive brand portfolios in the industry with 240 premium brands available in over 160 countries, including: Absolut vodka, Ballantine’s, Chivas Regal, Royal Salute, and The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies, Jameson Irish whiskey, Martell cognac, Havana Club rum, Beefeater, Malfy and Monkey 47 gins, Malibu liqueur, Mumm and Perrier-Jouët champagnes as well Jacob’s Creek, Brancott Estate and Campo Viejo wines.

Here in the UK

In the UK, Pernod Ricard is made up of 4 businesses:

• Chivas Brothers, the largest brand company in the Group, responsible for the production and management of our award-winning Scotch whisky portfolio
• Pernod Ricard UK, which markets, sells and distributes our products in the UK market
• Pernod Ricard Global Travel Retail, the global and EMEA home of the group’s duty free, air travel and cruises business.
• The Absolut Group, the brand owner of our global white spirits portfolio, whose Gin brand unit and Business Acceleration team sit in London.

We are an organisation of 2,000 employees in the UK, headquartered in London, in a brand-new office designed with sustainability, ‘conviviality’ and collaboration in mind. We also have offices in Scotland and various distilleries and production sites across the UK from Plymouth to London to Speyside.

Your new team

This position sits in our Chivas Brothers business. At Chivas Brothers, our 1,600-strong team across 27 sites is committed to upholding the heritage of Scotch and ensuring its sustainable future, as well as opening it up to new audiences across the globe.

The scope of Operations stretches from Procurement through conversion (distillation and maturation) and manufacturing (or bottling) to all the downstream Supply Chain activities until the final product is delivered.  In addition, Operations play a very active role in Innovation, Talent Development and Operational Risk Management.

The Manufacturing New Product Development (NPD) team are a team of around 30 people based at our manufacturing site in Dumbarton.  The team support the business by developing new packaging products to support our brand and innovation strategies.

Your unique contribution

The Packaging Technologist will provide technical input to new packaging development from concept to delivery of new products, ensuring that new components and products are fit for purpose, through relevant testing and trialling.

You will have three main areas of responsibility:

Packaging Development – to develop new packaging components that meet the Marketing design brief in terms of functionality, cost, and timings and support concept design with technical solutions based on bottling line capabilities, supplier capability and material knowledge.  You will manage all component developments to ensure key deliverables are met and initiate material product integrity process for new bottles, closures, and corks. Supplier Relationships – to lead technical relationships with suppliers to deliver new designs, technological developments, and all component qualifications across all packaging categories. Process & Compliance - to ensure compliance with quality standards and regulations as well as company specifications.  You will maintain technical and functional specifications for all new developments ensuring that specification systems are updated and initiate and monitor new packaging component codes and new SKU codes and maintain a library for colour standards and quality limit samples for new components.

Who you’ll be working with

Internally, you will work with the wider Manufacturing team, including supply chain, bottling and quality as well as other functions such as Finance and Brand teams.

Externally, you will work with suppliers and vendors to ensure delivery of services to the highest standard.

Your blend of talent

This position could be right for you if you:

• Have a degree in a relevant subject or equivalent industry experience along with experience in a Technical or Design role within industry.
• Have experience and knowledge of packaging materials, including manufacturing processes, design, reprographics, and development.
• Are experienced in managing component development in a competitive environment to agreed timelines.
• Have experience in the measurement and testing techniques and the ability to develop functional specifications on components and materials.
• Can review and interpret data including technical drawings with an understanding of tolerances.
• Can travel internationally and hold a full UK driving license.

Our mix of benefits

For your health, we offer private medical insurance, income protection and a comprehensive Employee Assistance Programme.

Our lifestyle benefits include 25 days’ annual holiday (increasing with length of service up to 27) plus public holidays, your employee pension, share incentive plan, share ownership plan, life assurance and more!

You can access lots of gifts & discounts, including an allowance each year to spend on our brands in our staff shop, our reward & recognition scheme and employee discounts from a range of high street retailers.

We have employee-run networks, a culture of flexibility and trust and a variety of tools and resources to help you focus on your wellbeing and mental fitness.

Conviviality: the Pernod Ricard Way

We have our own way of doing things. We call it conviviality! It’s our way of being, and something unique you feel and experience when working for Pernod Ricard.

We’re committed to conviviality, and with this, you’ll be Proud to Belong to our Pernod Ricard family. You’ll be Empowered to Perform, supported to succeed, and acknowledged for the value you bring.

We combine all this with our Commitment to Care: we are unlocking the magic of human connection to transform our industry and make a positive impact on the world though our strong focus on sustainability and responsibility.

We’re committed to diversity and inclusion

People are at the heart of everything we do at Pernod Ricard and are the foundation of our collective spirit as ‘Créateurs de Convivialité’.

We promote diversity and inclusion throughout our business and supply chain. In our teams, we proactively foster a diverse work force and an inclusive culture – an environment where we can truly be ourselves. 

We will assess your application for this role based on your skills, experiences and achievements, not your gender, age, ethnic or educational background or any other such factors. Please feel free to leave these off your CV and application form if you so wish.

Similarly, if you would like to discuss opportunities for flexible working or require accommodations or support to complete our application process, please let us know.

Responsible drinking

As ‘Créateurs de convivialité’, we want to turn social interactions into genuine and friendly experiences of sharing and wellbeing.

In our culture, we want to create diverse teams in which our differences contribute to our success. Therefore, all are welcome at Pernod Ricard, regardless of your religious beliefs or personal choices on the consumption of alcohol.

In our business, we work together with industry members, civil society, governments, local authorities and UN bodies to promote responsible drinking. 

Closing Date for Applications:

03rd May 2024

Job Posting End Date:

Target Hire Date:

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