Temporary Senior Packaging Developer, Wageningen, GE

The Company  
The client is a Dutch dairy company known for its high-quality milk, cheese, yogurt, and other products. It serves consumers in more than 100 countries and is committed to sustainability, innovation, and responsible sourcing. They offer a wide portfolio of brands globally. 

Role Description
As an interim Senior Packaging Developer, you will play a key role in turning complex technical and commercial requirements into effective, future?proof packaging solutions. Working across a broad range of packaging materials—such as metal cans, PET bottles, cartons, flexibles, and industrial formats—you will focus on developing primary packaging and improving supporting secondary and tertiary components. This role spans the full development cycle, from early concept creation to industrial implementation. Operating within a global scope, you will collaborate daily with teams in R&D, marketing, procurement, supply chain, quality, and external partners including suppliers and co?manufacturers. Your work directly contributes to the client’s mission to deliver smart, sustainable packaging that meets legislative demands, consumer expectations, and operational realities. 

Responsibilities

• ??Leading packaging development projects from idea generation through to factory implementation.
• Translating input from internal stakeholders (e.g., marketing, supply chain, procurement) and external requirements into practical packaging concepts.
• Developing and optimizing primary packaging and contributing to improvements in secondary and tertiary packaging solutions.
• Ensuring packaging designs meet consumer expectations, regulatory standards, functional performance needs, sustainability goals, and cost targets.
• Collaborating closely with cross?functional teams within R&D and business units across multiple categories and markets.
• Working with suppliers and co?manufacturers to evaluate materials, technologies, and potential improvements.
• Supporting industrialization activities, including filling?line assessments, material validations, and production trials.
• Contributing to value chain optimization—for example, by improving pallet stability, enhancing line efficiency, or reducing material usage.
• Representing the packaging expertise within project teams and provide technical guidance where needed.
• Regularly travel to manufacturing sites in Lummen and Nuenen  to support trials and implementation activities (approx. every other week). 

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Industrial Design, Engineering, Packaging Technology, or a comparable technical field.
• At least 8–10 years of experience in packaging development, ideally within the food or FMCG industry.
• Relevant hands?on experience with metal packaging or aerosols is highly desirable.
• Solid understanding of packaging materials, processing methods, and (aseptic) filling technologies.
• Ability to translate material and process capabilities into effective, sustainable, and cost-efficient packaging solutions.
• Strong decision-making skills, ownership, and continuous improvement mindset.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to collaborate across multiple disciplines and cultures.
• Practical approach combined with strong technical depth; able to take over ongoing projects and manage them independently.
• Valid driving license and willingness to travel regularly to NL and BE sites. 

Other information
Apply to our vacancy for more information. Looking forward to getting in touch!  

57324