PACKAGING INNOVATION DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

Role Overview:

• Development of new products in packaging as per Marketing and innovation strategic plans. 
• Technical feasibility assessment of innovation ideas from packaging and logistic perspective. 
• Ensure that the quality of packaged products are in compliance to packaging standards and quality is preserved until the final clients in trade. Assessing performance of packaging materials suppliers and regular audits for key strategic materials. 
• Identify opportunities of cost reduction with packaging materials (primary, secondary and tertiary) and from logistic perspective. 
• Support to solve the quality issues, trade complaints and quality improvement projects.

Responsibilities:

• Technical feasibility assessment of NPDs, value engineering (VEs) and other initiatives linked to packaging materials 
• Develop business cases for new products / new initiatives related to packaging materials – capex, opex, schedule, packaging performance (KPIs), warehouse / logistic assets utilization, quality, risk assessment and implementation schedules
• Coordinate NPD projects implementation from technical perspective in all breweries (and only for selected projects in Cluj), including post-project reviews for selected projects
• NPDs, VEs and other allocated initiatives capex budget management
• Coordinate packaging materials trials for new materials, new suppliers (test design, test protocols, organization, communication, analysis of results, interpretation, conclusions and recommendations)
• Individual and teamwork together with marketing innovation, procurement (local, hub) and brewery packaging team to identify, propose and implement cost and efficiency improvement projects related to packaging materials to ensure annual cost productivity and reduce losses
• Support packaging problem solving together with quality, packaging, procurement departments and with material and equipment suppliers
• Develop and review standards for all packaging materials (primary, secondary, tertiary). Contribute to standards development at AEI level. 
• Auditing materials suppliers as lead or co-lead auditor
• Annual budget reviews for packaging materials usages (variable costs) and ensure alignment among breweries according local packaging equipment capabilities. Packaging materials information delivered to tax specialist for all SKUs placed on the market
• Relevant information is effectively communicated to the relevant teams and people in the organization, AEI and external partners (material and equipment suppliers)
• Identify, propose and implement initiatives to improve sustainable development (e.g. lightweighting, recycled content, recyclability, etc.) in compliance to AEI / AGH SD vision and legislation (national / EU – e.g. PPWR)
• In trade assessment of our products from quality perspective and comparison with competitor products (brewing, water, soft-drinks or other relevant industries)
• Implementation of NPDs, VEs and other initiatives requires assisting at the site of implementation for extensive period. Period varies depending on complexity of the project – between 1-5 days / site in the week of implementation
• Compliance to applicable legislation, EU directives (incl PPWR) and AEI / AGH standards

Requirements (must have):

• Very good knowledge packaging technology and equipment 
• Proficiency in English 
• Technical engineering university degree 
• Experience in packaging 
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a matrix organization
• Experience with the preparation of technical feasibility studies and business cases of investment projects
• Experience in managing investment projects
• Technical auditing skills

We are committed to nurturing a workplace where we celebrate and respect difference, and support everyone to be true to who they are! At Ursus Breweries, part of Asahi Europe and International, we believe you can SHINE AS YOU ARE - no matter your age, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disabilities, religion, or beliefs.  We want to support you to be courageous in your individuality and to know that whoever you are and whatever your circumstances, you can belong with us without having to conform.