Senior Innovation Manager - Flexible Packaging

<p><strong>NEW VACANCY! (PK9266)</strong></p><p><strong>SENIOR INNOVATION MANAGER - FLEXIBLE PACKAGING</strong></p><p><strong>CHESHIRE, DERBYSHIRE, STAFFORDSHIRE, SOUTH YORKSHIRE, GTR MANCHESTER</strong></p><p><strong>&#163;50K - &#163;60K DOE + 10% Bonus + Company Car + Healthcare + Hybrid Working</strong></p><p><strong>An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Senior Innovation Manager to join a l</strong>eading European-headquartered packaging group. This is a strategic, customer-facing role focused on driving technical excellence, innovation, and value-led solutions across key European accounts.</p><p>Reporting into a central European leadership team, the successful candidate will predominantly support a major UK-based customer, spending time on-site alongside regular travel to customer locations and remote working.</p><p>The Role: You will act as the technical and innovation lead for key accounts, working cross-functionally with sales, R&amp;D, and operational teams to deliver innovative, sustainable, and commercially effective packaging solutions.</p><p><strong>Key responsibilities include:</strong></p><ul><li>Leading technical innovation and value engineering projects for key customers</li><li>Understanding and translating customer needs into commercially viable solutions</li><li>Driving sustainability initiatives, including recyclability and cost optimisation</li><li>Managing project pipelines and ensuring delivery against agreed targets</li><li>Coordinating trials, new product introductions, and technical developments</li><li>Acting as a key technical contact for customers, supporting relationships and growth</li><li>Collaborating with internal European teams across R&amp;D, production, and sales</li><li>Supporting responses to innovation briefs and continuous improvement initiatives</li><li>Providing technical support during issue resolution to protect brand reputation</li></ul><p><strong>Working Pattern &amp; Travel</strong></p><ul><li>Hybrid role: typically, 1-2 days per week on-site</li><li>Remaining time split between home working and customer visits</li><li>Regular UK travel (weekly) to customer sites</li><li>Occasional European travel (typically up to once per month)</li></ul><p><strong>Candidate Profile</strong></p><ul><li>Proven experience within flexible packaging (essential)</li><li>Strong technical background, ideally within food packaging</li><li>Experience in product development, innovation, or technical project management</li><li>Knowledge of materials such as films, adhesives, inks, and coatings</li><li>Understanding of form-fill-seal and packaging manufacturing processes</li><li>Ability to manage multiple projects and stakeholders across regions</li><li>Strong communication and customer-facing skills</li><li>Degree in a technical discipline (e.g. Engineering, Chemistry) preferred</li></ul><p><strong>Key Skills</strong></p><ul><li>Innovation and continuous improvement mindset</li><li>Strong analytical and problem-solving ability</li><li>Commercial awareness and customer focus</li><li>Project and stakeholder management</li><li>Ability to influence and build relationships at all levels</li></ul><p>This is a high-impact role offering real visibility within a European structure, ideal for someone looking to combine technical expertise with strategic customer engagement in a dynamic and growing sector.</p>