Packaging Director – Europe & Global Flexibles Lead

Earlier this year, Unilever announced an agreement to combine its Foods business with McCormick & Company, creating a scaled global flavour powerhouse. The proposed combination would bring together iconic Foods brands, including Hellmann’s and Knorr, with McCormick’s portfolio to create a global leader across spices, seasonings, condiments and complementary food categories, supported by strong retail and foodservice platforms. McCormick brings more than 135 years of heritage, a presence in 150+ countries and territories, and a portfolio of trusted brands. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, with completion estimated for mid-2027.

Job Title Packaging Procurement Director – Europe & Global Flexibles Lead

Function Procurement

Reports to Head of Directs

Scope Europe & Global

Country Location and Worksite Details Poland - Katowickie Centrum Biznesu

JOB PURPOSE

This role exists to lead the Europe Packaging Procurement organisation and the Global Flexibles portfolio, shaping and delivering strategies across an approximate managed spend of €350+ million. The role defines the global Flexibles strategy — what, where, how and when to buy — leveraging scale, supplier capability, technology, market intelligence, cost models and value-chain insight while owning Europe packaging procurement performance across value, quality, service, resilience, innovation, sustainability, cash and working capital. Working with R&D, Supply Chain, Finance, Legal, Sustainability, Business Groups, market leadership and strategic suppliers, the role enables portfolio value, PaaS spend governance, circularity, supplier transformation, executive insight and strong Europe and global Flexibles capability.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead, develop and empower the Europe Packaging and Global Flexibles Procurement organisation of 17 FTEs, including this Director role, with seven Managers reporting directly to the Director and nine Assistant Managers reporting to those Managers, responsible for approximately €350+ million managed spend.

• Define the global Flexibles strategy by leveraging scale, supplier capability, technology, market intelligence, cost models and value-chain insight.

• Own end-to-end Europe packaging procurement performance across value, quality, service, resilience, innovation, sustainability, cash and working capital.

• Provide global oversight of Flexibles Packaging as a Service spend, ensuring visibility, commercial discipline, value delivery, supplier performance and compliance with portfolio governance.

• Develop and execute multi-year strategies across flexible packaging and associated resin, paper, foil, barrier and converted-material value chains.

• Build strategic supplier ecosystems and value-based partnerships, establishing joint innovation roadmaps and performance governance across cost, quality, service, resilience, sustainability and capability.

• Lead value, circularity and responsible-sourcing pipelines through competitive sourcing, material and supplier harmonisation, cost transparency, specification optimisation, recyclable structures, recycled content and regulatory readiness.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• University degree with extensive senior procurement, packaging or supply-management leadership experience within a large multinational FMCG, consumer-goods or manufacturing environment.

• Demonstrated success developing and implementing regional and global category strategies and delivering substantial value, cash, resilience and supplier-performance outcomes, with experience operating at comparable spend and organisational scale.

• Deep understanding of flexible-packaging value chains, films, laminates, substrates, converting technologies, recycled materials, sustainability requirements and supplier economics.

• Strong commercial, financial, negotiation and contracting expertise, including cost modelling, forecasting, complex agreements and portfolio risk management.

• Strong executive stakeholder engagement and proven leadership of regional, global, virtual and cross-cultural teams, with talent-development and succession-management experience.

• Enterprise leadership mindset, with the ability to set clear priorities, lead through ambiguity and packaging-market volatility, balance strategic thinking with execution, build trusted senior stakeholder relationships and develop high-performing procurement talent.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Relevant postgraduate qualification in Procurement, Packaging, Supply Chain, Business or a related discipline.

• Exposure to Packaging as a Service commercial models, portfolio spend governance or structured performance management.

• Experience supporting large-scale sourcing, supplier transformation, innovation, circularity or cross-functional change programmes.

We welcome applicants from all walks of life and are committed to creating an environment where everyone can thrive/succeed. All applicants will receive fair and respectful consideration, and we actively support the growth and development of every employee. 

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment journey. Should you require additional information or reasonable adjustments to allow you to present your best self during this process, please contact your Talent Partner.

Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.

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