Senior Packaging Technologist

Packaging Specialist/ Senior Packaging Technolgist

Hybid Working

Location: Essex Salary: £40,000–£50,000 DOE Sector: Food & Drink / FMCG

About Ballantine Recruitment

Ballantine Recruitment is a specialist recruitment agency focused on the Food & Drink and FMCG sectors.

We partner with manufacturers, brands and suppliers across the industry, supporting them with specialist and senior appointments across technical, operations, engineering, supply chain, commercial and manufacturing functions.

We are currently partnering with an established food manufacturing business in Essex to appoint an experienced Packaging Specialist.

The Opportunity

This is a highly practical, factory-focused role for someone who understands how packaging performs in a live manufacturing environment.

The successful candidate will take ownership of packaging trials, technical performance, supplier relationships, packaging compliance and the introduction of new materials, formats and machinery.

You’ll work closely with production, engineering, technical, procurement and external suppliers to solve packaging challenges and ensure new solutions perform effectively on the factory floor.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead packaging trials from concept through to factory implementation

• Troubleshoot packaging issues across films, materials, sealing and line performance

• Work directly with production and engineering teams to resolve technical issues

• Support the introduction of new packaging materials, formats and machinery

• Manage packaging development projects from brief through to launch

• Work with flexible films, flow wrap and gusset packaging

• Review packaging performance, efficiency, quality and cost

• Support packaging tenders and supplier selection

• Manage relationships with packaging suppliers and technical partners

• Ensure packaging meets relevant legislation and compliance requirements

• Maintain packaging specifications and technical documentation

• Support continuous improvement and packaging optimisation projects

• Work across products including fruit, nuts, seeds and other ambient food categories

About You

• Experience in a Packaging Specialist, Packaging Technologist, Packaging Engineer or similar role

• Background within food manufacturing, FMCG or high-volume manufacturing

• Strong hands-on experience running packaging trials

• Good knowledge of flexible films and packaging materials

• Experience with flow wrap, bagging or similar packaging formats

• Understanding of packaging machinery and production-line processes

• Strong technical problem-solving capability

• Knowledge of packaging legislation and compliance

• Experience working with suppliers and technical partners

• Comfortable spending significant time within the factory environment

What Will Make You Stand Out

• Experience introducing new packaging machinery or equipment
• Packaging sustainability or material optimisation experience
• Supplier tender or cost-reduction experience
• Experience within fruit, nuts, seeds or ambient food manufacturing
• A strong track record of resolving packaging trial or line-performance issues

The Environment

This is a hands-on role requiring a regular presence at the Essex manufacturing site.

The business is looking for someone who enjoys being close to production, solving practical problems and having a direct impact on packaging performance across the operation.

Location: Essex Salary: £40,000–£50,000 DOE

Recruitment Partner: Ballantine Recruitment — specialists in Food & Drink and FMCG recruitment