Context & Challenges of the role
The IDDC (International Design & Development Centre) PACKAGING team will be responsible for :
- Enabling rapid business development through the implementation of ambitious Innovation plans across all categories (Waters, Dairy & Plant-Based Products and First Diet).
- Guaranteeing the creation of unique consumer experiences and an indisputable superiority over the competition.
- Enable and facilitate local and European productivity plans.
- Guarantee the quality and competitiveness of packaging developed within Danone Europe.
- Become the champion for the Packaging transformation to deliver DIJ plans cross category.
- Feed the innovation and renovation ideas portfolio and co-construct the productivity portfolio with Toplines, Ops and C&P.
Missions
- Integrate all packaging skills from all categories (Beverages, First Diet, Dairy and Plant-based products) under a single team, build and implement an ambitious roadmap to develop skills between team members, enable synergies and knowledge transfers between Packaging Hub and between categories.
- Manage the Packaging Categories technical, technological, and human resources to deliver the portfolio of innovation, productivity renovation and business continuity projects in all our categories.
- Develop the necessary capabilities in terms of modeling/simulation, design, rapid prototyping, and semi-industrial qualification of the European packaging development center to support all Regions and make it a global packaging reference center within Danone for all categories and packaging technologies (ISBM, Injection, Thermoforming…). Build the center’s roadmap over 3 to 5 years and the necessary investments.
- Ensure that the consumer is always at the center of innovation and all packaging-related projects in general via One Touch approach.
- Contributes to the elaboration and execution of R&I EU’s strategic vision in terms of developing its capabilities and resources.
- Contribute to the development of the roadmap linked to the transformation of our packaging to meet our DIJ (Danone Impact Journey) targets, and in particular our ambitions to achieve 100% recyclable or reusable or compostable packaging
Major Responsibilities
- Manage the 4 Category packaging teams, Sustainability, Fuel for growth as well as the pilot, design and modeling groups for coordinating project development across EU.
- Lead the packaging contribution to the overall R&I EU strategy with the right monitoring of KPIs and associated portfolio required.
- Validate technical briefs in collaboration with local R&I teams for each EU Category.
- Effectively manage the financial resources under his responsibility to carry out his mission without overspending.
- Ensure that the teams have the means to carry out the industrial test sequences & 1st production validating the commercial launches for each producing CBU.
- If necessary, collaborate with Operations teams on action plans to bring COMAN packaging up to Quality & Food safety standards.
- Co-create and deliver productivity, quality and BCP (business continuity) programs with FIRS DIET (R&I, Ops, C&P and Quality).
- Contribute to R&I leadership by organizing, with local R&I, Innovation Category Days along with R&I Category leads.
- Coordinate technical roadmaps to anticipate future needs (H2, H3), in coordination with the Advanced Packaging Technologies teams.
- Ensure the ongoing development of technical and technological capabilities, in coordination with the Advanced Technologies Packaging teams.
Experience
- Minimum 10 years’ experience in the FMCG industry and in packaging.
- Proven experience in a local business unit (CBU).
- Experience of working in a matrix organization.
Skills
- Technical expertise in packaging design (knowledge of different plastic materials: PS, PET, PP, PLA… and paper / cardboard, knowledge of different packaging manufacturing technologies (ISBM, EBM, Thermoforming, labeling machines, end of line, case packers, stretch wrappers…etc)
- Knowledge of packaging regulations in the food industry.
- Knowledge of regulations and developments in Europe concerning the recyclability of materials, etc.
- Strong leadership and strategic vision, with the ability to translate strategy into concrete, pragmatic action plans.
- Strong managerial skills with a keen interest in and motivation for people development.
- Ability to build long-term partnerships, and to create, develop and manage a network of external partners.
- Proactive, solution- and business-oriented, continuous improvement mindset.
- Flexible and agile, with strong ability to deal with uncertainty and ambiguity.
- Quick to learn and adapt in an uncertain and changing environment.
Extensive travels (Circa 50%) is expected with this role
Read Full Description