Packaging Solution Manager

PPWR (Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation) is reshaping how pharma and consumer health companies design and manage packaging. Cooper Consumer Health (CCH) needs a dedicated expert to own that agenda.

The Packaging Solution Manager is CCH’s internal reference for PPWR and packaging sustainability: building the compliance roadmap, setting internal standards and personally leading the projects that follow.

Beyond compliance, the role bridges two worlds: helping Marketing leverage packaging as a consumer experience and shelf‑performance driver, while ensuring those ambitions hold up on the factory floor — at our sites and across our CMO network.

You will set the sustainability direction, then personally drive the projects — working alongside the Group Packaging Manager and cross‑functional team across our portfolio and CMO network.

Key responsibilities

1. PPWR Compliance & Packaging Sustainability — Primary Driver

This is the heart of the role. You will own CCH’s response to PPWR end‑to‑end — from regulatory analysis through to concrete action on the portfolio.

• Map the portfolio against PPWR and EU Green Deal targets; maintain a live compliance gap analysis by market, category, and packaging type.
• Define CCH’s eco‑design guidelines and sustainability standards — the rules all future packaging changes must meet.
• Own the PPWR action roadmap: prioritise projects, align stakeholders, and track delivery against regulatory milestones.
• Evaluate sustainable alternatives (PCR resins, mono‑material blister, FSC board, weight reduction) and build business cases for adoption.
• Embed sustainability criteria in the NPD and change management stage‑gate, with RA, Quality, Procurement, Production, Supply Chain, R&D, Sustainability and Marketing; monitor evolving EU packaging legislation and translate it into actionable steps.

2. Packaging Project Leadership — Leader & Doer

The projects you define, you deliver. Beyond PPWR‑driven changes, you bring your expertise to other packaging transformation initiatives across the portfolio.

• Own priority packaging projects end‑to‑end — feasibility, qualification, regulatory support, and launch — on existing and new products.
• Maintain project plans, risk registers, and stage‑gate docs; track milestones in Wrike against portfolio commitments.
• Coordinate cross‑functional workstreams (RA, Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, Production, Supply Chain, R&D, Sustainability, Artwork, Marketing) across sites and CMOs to deliver on time and on spec.
• Ground project decisions in manufacturing reality — what is achievable at site and CMO level.

3. Packaging Systems & EPR Declarations

• Coordinate EPR declarations across all markets (France/Citeo, Germany/Grüner Punkt, Italy/CONAI, BeLux/Fost Plus, Netherlands) — data accuracy, filling deadlines, and cost tracking as schemes evolve.
• Own the packaging data system (Packa or equivalent): drive adoption, maintain master data (materials, weights, recyclability), and ensure CMOs supply data on time.
• Use EPR cost data to sharpen the PPWR roadmap: identify where eco‑modulation levers (recyclability, recycled content, weight reduction) generate most value; share with Finance and Procurement.

Education

Master’s degree or Engineering school (Bac+5) in packaging, materials science, industrial engineering, or a related field.

Required Experience & Skills

• 7+ years in pharma, consumer health, or FMCG packaging — combining factory/industrial experience with corporate or project management roles.
• End‑to‑end packaging change projects: design, specs, supplier qualification, regulatory filing, and launch.
• Proven ability to define packaging standards and specs applied consistently across a multi‑site or multi‑CMO organization.
• Working knowledge of PPWR, EU sustainability regulation, and EPR schemes — able to translate requirements into action.
• Experience in international companies, navigating cross‑functional environments (Marketing, RA, Quality).
• Proficient across packaging materials (glass, plastic, aluminium, board, laminate) and printing technologies.
• Strong Project Management skills (structured and autonomous, comfortable managing concurrent projects in a matrix environment).
• Fluent in English; French and/or Italian a strong plus.

Soft Skills & Ways of Working

• Autonomy & ownership
• Leader & doer
• Cross‑functional credibility
• Industrial pragmatism
• Clear communicator