Job Advert Summary
Clover is looking for a Research and Development Specialist: Packaging to manage all packaging-related topics such as Development & Design, Innovation, Optimisation, Compliance, and Technical support. This position is based at Clover Head Office in Roodepoort.
Minimum Requirements
- Bachelor's Degree
- Business English: Fluent
- Code 08 Driver's License
- Good knowledge of packaging raw materials, technologies, and functionality
- Knowledge of relevant printing processes
- Understanding of packaging principles & optimisation strategies
- Project Management experience
- Travel off-site/Overnight Stay
- Computer Literacy (Intermediate)
- Working with Senior Management
Duties and Responsibilities
Design & Development of Packaging Material
- Propose clear packaging recommendations in line with marketing briefs, considering technical feasibility, value analysis, risks, cost, accessibility, timing, food safety, etc.
- Provide the necessary drawings, dummies, workmaps, and all relevant specification requirements.
- Be the technical packaging expert & support to all relevant departments (Marketing, Procurement, Production, Quality, Logistics).
- Coordinate and supervise packaging material trials and manage all the packaging aspects of projects.
- Define the key criteria of packaging quality and the means to control.
- Drive a zero waste & environment-friendly culture.
- Participate in shelf life predictive modelling, relevant shelf life testing, and/or consumer tests.
- Stay abreast of local & international packaging launches & trends and communicate opportunities within the Business.
- Establish frequent strategic innovation sessions with Marketing to share local and global innovations, ideas, and trends.
- Build strong networks with key packaging suppliers to obtain information on innovation, new technology, and application.
- Ensure the development of packaging in line with the Marketing brief and company's business plans, cost targets, and delivering on defined consumer expectations.
- Build strong cross-functional relationships with Marketing, Procurement, Production, NBD, Quality, and other relevant internal functions.
Liaise with Packaging Material Suppliers
- Investigate & develop knowledge on new pack materials & ingredients, functionalities, technologies, printing processes, packaging equipment, innovation, and saving opportunities.
- Build efficient and professional relationships with suppliers to strengthen technical networks.
- Co-ordinate communications amongst suppliers, procurement, production, and quality teams.
- Mitigate risk for Clover by evaluating & auditing potential new and/or alternative suppliers.
- Assist with supplier quality audits and incident investigations.
- Respond to packaging quality issues and work cross-functionally with both Supply Chain & Packaging Suppliers to resolve.
- Ensure regulatory adherence and compliance.
Ensure Compliance with the Operational Requirements of the Factory
- Create packaging item codes, load, and maintain the BOM's.
- Draft, issue, maintain, and control packaging material specifications, pallet configurations, and colour standards.
- Ensure pack material designs & quality aspects comply with operational requirements and constraints of the factories.
- As the packaging technical support, assist and even lead the process of fault finding (including corrective actions), in co-operation with Production, Procurement, Logistics, Quality, and PIT teams, for existing packaging with continuous specification deviations.
- Participate with Engineering and Production in setting up and commissioning of new packaging lines/equipment.
Support & Implement Continuous Improvements/Optimisations of Current Packaging & Processes
- Continuously evaluate & improve the design & quality standards of the product ranges, through local and international benchmarking.
- Take part in technical projects including technical assistance, sourcing, quality improvements, compliance, and productivity cost savings. Also managing timelines, uncovering roadblocks, defining critical paths, and identifying resource constraints.
- Continuously search for and identify new fields of cost saving and/or other optimisation or packaging efficiency improvements.
- Evaluate, control, and implement new packaging optimisations.
- Provide first line support to external factories by acting as the resource for packaging knowledge & expertise to eliminate the root cause of assistance requests.
- Undertake long-term projects with other departments, e.g. reducing waste by improving efficiency.
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