Packaging Development Manager

About the role

Nestlé is looking for a Packaging Development Manager to join its team at the Agbara Factory in Nigeria. The role drives business growth by delivering packaging solutions that meet consumer and business needs while satisfying Nestlé requirements for quality, safety, efficiency, sustainability and compliance.

Key responsibilities

• Lead packaging for new product development and launch, delivering solutions on time, on cost and on quality, and drive vertical start-ups across product categories, formats and filling/packing technologies.
• Ensure packaging materials and operations comply with company requirements and national/international regulations.
• Drive food-contact packaging CoC validation and documentation and implement the Packaging Material Monitoring Plan with Quality, R&D/PTC and Packaging stakeholders.
• Lead packaging quality improvements and corrective actions to reduce consumer complaints and safety/quality issues.
• Reduce packaging material use and environmental impact using tools such as PIQET/LCA, and support waste reduction, efficiency and NCE/DMAIC initiatives.
• Manage technical relationships with suppliers, converters and co-packers, including audits, and resolve packaging-material issues with the factory team.
• Develop and coach the three-person packaging team and bring external packaging trends to the factory.
• Contribute to the Factory Management Team and partner with Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality, Marketing, Procurement, Supply Chain, Regulatory Affairs and R&D.

Required profile

• Engineering degree or equivalent in an appropriate engineering discipline.
• Proven packaging experience in a manufacturing environment; FMCG packaging preferred, pharmaceutical packaging also considered.
• Experience with multiple product categories, formats and filling/packing equipment; multi-site or complex-factory exposure is strongly advantageous.
• Ability to lead and coach a team, collaborate at Factory Management level and influence cross-functional stakeholders.

Required skills

• Knowledge of packaging technology, material specifications and conversion processes, and of packaging safety, quality and compliance.
• Supplier/converter management and auditing experience.
• Knowledge of packaging sustainability and environmental-impact assessment approaches.
• Factory experience in filling and packing operations, with understanding of line automation.
• Advantageous: HACCP, hygienic engineering, TPM/LEAN, SHE principles, and SAP, GLOBE, NPDI and Cape Pack.