Packaging Manager

Packaging Manager

Location: Highbridge, Somerset - Hybrid

Salary: Up to £55k per annum dependent on skill and experience + 10% annual performance bonus

Hours: Monday to Friday 0830am – 1700pm

Why join us.
We’re proud to offer you a career with possibilities. Where you’ll be supported to work hard, aim high and bring your best to work, every day. As a valued Packaging Manager, we’ll support your ambition, reward your resilience, and encourage you to rise to challenges and create a career you can be proud of too.

What we do.

We’re the market leader in the UK fresh prepared food industry - supplying meals, salads, desserts, pizza and bread to leading grocery retailers including Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose.

About this role.

Ready to lead and innovate in food packaging? Join Bakkavor, a market leader in food manufacturing, and be the driving force behind cutting-edge packaging solutions that meet the highest industry standards. This fast-paced, dynamic role allows you to work with major retailers, overseeing packaging across two sites while ensuring compliance, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
 

About the Role:

As Packaging Manager, you'll oversee the entire packaging development lifecycle – from concept to launch – ensuring our products are delivered in innovative, sustainable, and high-quality packaging that meets both Bakkavor’s standards and customer expectations. You’ll be a key driver of process improvements, cost savings, and compliance while supporting product trials and liaising closely with major retailers.
 

• Leading Packaging Development: Own the critical path across our Highbridge site, ensuring all packaging is signed off and delivered on time for production and product launches. Collaborate with internal teams and external suppliers to source the most effective packaging solutions that are fit for purpose, ensuring quality, sustainability, and cost-effectiveness.
• Innovation & Problem-Solving: Drive innovation by trialling new packaging formats, managing tooling, and coordinating travel tests to ensure our packaging is market-ready and retailer-compliant. Problem-solve any risks or delays in the process and plan for contingency measures.
• Compliance & Sustainability: Ensure all packaging materials meet customer codes of practice and are aligned with food safety, health & safety, and environmental standards. Stay ahead of industry trends and legislative changes (OPRL, PPT, EPR, Windsor Agreement) to ensure future compliance and sustainability goals.
• Cost Management: Manage packaging costs by working closely with finance teams, negotiating tooling costs, and ensuring accurate pricing on materials. Benchmark costs across the supply chain and identify savings opportunities.
• Team Leadership: Lead and mentor the Packaging Technologists and Process Administrator, developing their skills and ensuring high performance across both sites. Contribute to Bakkavor’s wider group packaging strategy through active participation in the UK Group Packaging Forum.
• Process Improvement & Administration: Contribute to process improvements that enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the packaging function. Lead initiatives to reduce packaging waste and drive cost-saving projects. Oversee all related administration, from approvals, purchase orders, and specifications to packaging KPIs, ensuring nothing is missed.

About you.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years in a packaging role within FMCG, with strong experience in materials such as carton board, plastic, film, and corrugate.
• A solid track record of managing packaging design, sourcing, and production in a high-volume environment.

Skills:

• Leadership & Communication: Able to guide your team, manage multiple projects, and collaborate across departments and with external partners.
• Resilience & Adaptability: Able to stay organised and proactive in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment.
• Attention to Detail: A strong focus on quality, safety, and compliance, ensuring every detail is covered.
• Problem-Solving: You’re a quick thinker with the ability to navigate and resolve challenges efficiently.

Qualifications:

• PIABC Level 3 or Level 5 in Packaging Technology (preferred but not essential).
• Basic numeracy, literacy, and MS Office skills.

What you’ll receive.
As an equal opportunity employer, we’re committed to providing a safe and rewarding environment for you to thrive in. This is why we work hard to deliver benefits, rewards and wellbeing offerings that are important to you.

You’ll enjoy:

• Life Assurance (1 x salary)
• 25 days holiday plus 8 bank holidays as standard (may vary by role)
• Private medical insurance (after 5 years’ service)
• Staff Shop
• Stakeholder Pension Scheme
• Discount & cashback platform
• Personal Accident Insurance
• Free health check
• Employee Assistance Programme
• A range of voluntary benefits (holiday purchase scheme, additional life assurance, dental & hospital cash plans)
• Salary sacrifice car lease scheme
• Free independent mortgage advice
• Discounted tutoring for children
• Access to financial learning tools and affordable loans via your salary
• Private Medical Insurance
• Free car parking – Site dependant

Plus, a commitment to your wellbeing that includes emotional, physical and financial support services delivered by our fantastic team of wellbeing champions.
 

Proud to be Bakkavor.

We’re proud to be the market leader in the UK fresh prepared food industry. We’re proud to supply meals, salads, desserts, pizza and bread to leading grocery retailers including Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose. We’re driven by the hard work and passion of our people and are delighted to offer a wide range of careers across our business – come and join our dedicated Bakkavor team!

Find out more and apply.

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