Senior Packaging Technologist

Location: Henley-on-Thames (hybrid working with travel across UK & EU)

Join us at Ella’s Kitchen and help us create food and packaging that’s good for little ones, good for people and good for the planet.

Ella’s Kitchen is part of the Hain Celestial Group, a global family of purpose-driven brands. We exist to help little ones grow up happy, healthy and never hungry - and we’re proud to be a certified B Corporation, using business as a force for good.

We’re now looking for a Senior Packaging Technologist who shares our passion for innovation, sustainability and quality, and who wants to make a real difference across our international business.

The Role

This is a high-impact, hands-on role where you’ll lead packaging performance, productivity and sustainability across Ella’s Kitchen and Hain International.

You’ll manage a portfolio of cost-saving, performance-improving and sustainability-driven packaging projects, ensuring we focus on the initiatives that deliver the greatest value — while keeping everything safe, compliant and fit for purpose.

Working closely with Procurement, Marketing, Manufacturing and Technical teams, you’ll play a key role in shaping the future of our packaging and supporting innovation across multiple sites and brands.

You’ll also lead and support an interim packaging resource and act as a subject-matter expert for packaging across the business.

What you’ll be doing

You will:

• Lead and prioritise a programme of packaging productivity, quality and cost-saving initiatives across Hain International sites

• Identify and drive new opportunities for efficiency, waste reduction and complaint reduction

• Build strong networks across manufacturing sites to embed improvements and best practice

• Support delivery of packaging sustainability targets, including reduction and recyclability

• Partner with Procurement so packaging changes are well-managed and supplier-aligned

• Manage business continuity challenges (e.g. supply risks) as they arise

• Ensure packaging specifications are accurate, up-to-date and usable

• Align all packaging projects with the Hain Packaging Strategy

• Support new product development, introducing new materials, formats and technologies

• Ensure packaging remains fit for purpose throughout product launches

• Track and respond to changing UK & EU packaging and safety regulations

• Build collaborative relationships with suppliers and co-manufacturers

• Support supplier performance management through KPIs and audits

• Manage and support the interim packaging resource

• Lead packaging technical reporting for Ella’s Kitchen (e.g. WRAP, EPR, retailer requirements)

• Be a key voice in shaping packaging data and reporting systems

What you’ll bring

You’ll need:

• A degree in food science, packaging or a related field (or equivalent experience)

• At least 5 years’ experience in food manufacturing or technical operations, ideally with strong packaging exposure

• Experience delivering packaging innovation projects across multiple sites

• Excellent organisation, attention to detail and problem-solving skills

• A passion for food, packaging, sustainability and quality

• The confidence to challenge, influence and improve

• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills

• Ability to manage multiple complex projects with minimal supervision

• Solid MS Office skills (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

• Willingness to travel across the UK and EU

• A genuine fit with our values:
  We Want to Win, We’re Business-Minded, We’re Childlike, We Think Differently, We’re Good to Each Other

Nice to have:

• Proven success in sustainable or circular-economy packaging

• Strong knowledge of food safety, legal and packaging regulations

• Experience with BRC, NPD and quality systems

• Great presentation and influencing skills

What you’ll get in return

We offer much more than just a job — we offer a place to grow, belong and make an impact:

• Competitive salary

• Discretionary bonus

• Private medical & dental, life assurance and pension

• 25 days holiday (with the option to buy more)

• High-street discounts & wellbeing events

• Give It A Go days and plenty of opportunities to learn

• A beautiful working environment at our Oxfordshire barns, with flexible hybrid working

Our commitment to inclusion

At Ella’s Kitchen, we believe everyone should feel safe to be themselves. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and offer full and fair consideration regardless of age, disability, gender identity, race, religion, sexual orientation, or family status.

If you need any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know — we’re here to support you.