Packaging Technologist

Job Title: Packaging Technologist

Business Function: R&D

Location: Leeds

JOB PURPOSE

The Deodorants category is a key part of the Unilever Personal Care Business Group. With a family of Power Brands – Rexona, Dove, Axe – which are critical growth drivers of the company.

We are looking for a Packaging Technologist to help shape the future of deodorant packaging for some of the world’s most recognisable Personal Care brands.

This is a hands-on technical role at the heart of innovation—translating ideas into robust, scalable packaging solutions that deliver outstanding consumer experiences while embedding sustainability, quality and speed to market.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead and support packaging development across innovation and renovation projects, from concept through to industrialisation

• Provide technical packaging expertise to cross‑functional project teams, ensuring designs meet performance, quality and manufacturing requirements

• Define functional specifications, risk assessments (including FMEA), and validation strategies for components and systems

• Plan and deliver packaging trials, lab testing, pilot runs and factory line trials, including management of technicians and external partners

• Analyse test data using statistical and digital tools to identify risks, drive decisions and improve design robustness

• Collaborate with Design and Simulation teams to validate and calibrate virtual models using physical test data

• Work with suppliers globally to improve, harmonise and qualify aerosol and deodorant packaging components

• Contribute to capability building and continuous improvement, including development of new test methods and design rules.
  

ALL ABOUT YOU

• A technical background in engineering, science, design, materials or equivalent experience.

• Experience in packaging development, working with packaging materials and technologies (e.g. metals, plastics, aerosols, complex assemblies).

• Confidence working with technical drawings, tolerances, and test data.

• Experience with defining & developing testing methods, and comfortable with data analysis & interpretation (eg statistical process control). Experience in metrology is preferred.

• Digital fluency and confidence working with data, digital tools and analytics to inform decisions

• Knowledge of personal care, or specifically deodorant, packaging (aerosol, stick, or roll‑on formats) is a strong advantage.

NOTES

About Unilever

Unilever is one of the world’s leading suppliers of Food, Home and Personal Care products with sales in over 190 countries and reaching 2 billion consumers a day. Unilever has more than 400 brands found in homes around the world, including Dove, Tresemme, Lynx, Lifebuoy, Shea Moisture, Persil, Domestos, Ben & Jerry’s, Magnum, Marmite, The Vegetarian Butcher, Graze and Pot Noodle.

Faced with the challenge of climate change and the need for human development, we want to move towards a world where everyone can live well and within the natural limits of the planet. That’s why our purpose is ‘to make sustainable living commonplace’ 

What We Offer

Not only do we offer a competitive salary and pension scheme, we also offer an annual bonus, subsidised gym membership, a discounted staff shop and shares. You’ll have the opportunity to work directly with our renowned and exciting brands in a flexible and hybrid working environment.

Whilst the role is advertised on a full-time basis, we would be happy to discuss possible flexible working options and what this may look like for you. We are a key advocate of wellbeing and offer a variety of support for our people including hubs, programmes and development opportunities. We strive to achieve a family-friendly and inclusive workplace and to, above all, create possibilities for all.

Diversity at Unilever is about inclusion, embracing differences, creating possibilities and growing together for better business performance. We embrace diversity in our workforce. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants and continuing development of all employees regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity. We are also more than happy to provide reasonable adjustments during our application and interview process to enable you to be present your best self. To find out more, including about our Employee Resource Groups, please click here Equity, Diversity & Inclusion at Unilever | Unilever.

Recruitment Fraud

Cyber criminals advertise fake job adverts with prestigious employers as a way of stealing information or even defrauding individuals out of money.In the most sophisticated cases, they will set up fake websites, which have a similar address to companies like Unilever. They even conduct fake telephone interviews and then offer candidates a role with the proviso they pay a fee for background checks or to cover work visa costs. These types of attacks are becoming more common as more people are looking for employment in the economic climate.

How is Unilever tackling this?

Many of Unilever’s recruitment sites publish a warning to candidates about recruitment fraud. The Cyber Security team also proactively scan for signs of people setting up fake Unilever sites and act to close them down.

What can I do?

If you become aware of potential recruitment fraud, spot fake Unilever recruitment adverts or fake LinkedIn profiles, report them via Una Live Chat.

Unilever does not accept responsibility or liability for any candidates who are financially impacted by recruitment fraud. Your vigilance is key!