Packaging Development Manager – pladis Global – Zaandam

  • Zaandam

pladis Global

Want to help us bring happiness to the world? Want to join an ambitious and fast growing global biscuits and confectionery business investing heavily in iconic global brands, infrastructure and people? Then this is the place for you.

As proud bakers and chocolatiers and custodians of iconic global brands, we don’t compromise on the quality of ingredients in our products or on the people we hire. We are looking for entrepreneurial spirits who share our passion for bringing happiness to our consumers and who embody our Winning Traits.

To succeed at pladis you need to be purpose-led , resilient and positive to succeed here because we expect pace and agility , we insist on collaboration and demand accountability. If that is your thing, then pladis offers global ambition, a clear Vision and roadmap for success, challenge, and unrivalled opportunities to learn and make an impact

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The Challenge

We are looking for an enthusiastic Packaging Development Manager with a big passion for biscuits and confectionery to lead our ambitious innovation, sustainability and productivity agenda for pladis. We offer you the opportunity to join our team and contribute to our mission to bring ‘Happiness with every bite’.

The position entails

The position of Packaging Development Manager is part of the R&D team based in our historic Verkade factory in Zaandam. Reporting to the Head of Packaging EDM, this role is instrumental in developing and delivering the Category growth plan for pladis EDM region through the following key focus areas: Sustainability, cost saving and innovation.

The role oversees packaging development activities for Zaandam, co-manufacturing and co-packing sites supporting the Netherlands and Belgium business. The role will work with the extended team members across the broader organisation, as necessary, to deliver projects. Pladis is a dynamic and multicultural organization where you collaborate closely with marketing, product development, operations, supply chain/engineering and procurement in delivering our exciting portfolio to our consumers.

Your main responsibilities

  • Delivery of the agreed Packaging portfolio OTIF with strong focus on value creation, innovation and sustainability.
  • Collaborate closely with product development, marketing, procurement and supply chain to integrate packaging solutions into the product lifecycle.
  • Create and manage packaging specifications in line with project, quality and regulatory requirements.
  • Own the packaging central database for Zaandam plant, intra company SKU’s and co-manufacturing/co-packing products in full compliance with GS requirements.
  • Continuously optimize packaging designs to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and minimize environmental impact.
  • Ensure all quality testing and reporting is carried out for new packaging formats, shelf-life, travel tests, functional packaging tests, etc.
  • Stay updated on packaging trends, innovations, and environmental regulations.
  • Create material codes and provide logistic data for new products in JD Edwards system.
  • Manage the creation and delivery of relevant packaging documentation cutter guides, artwork approvals, pallet patterns, component drawings, technical standards, travel tests, line trial protocols and reports.
  • Build timelines, identify risks and build mitigation plans to address them in close cooperation with all areas.
  • Communicates to the sites and stakeholders in all relevant functions all key information relating to their current projects and initiatives, highlighting any issues.
  • Ensure that the correct project management process, stage gate, is followed for all projects.
  • What do you bring?

  • Min. + years in technical packaging roles within the food industry.
  • Packaging development degree, engineering or related.
  • Working knowledge in flexibles, paper and corrugated board.
  • Up to date with sustainable packaging materials and industry regulations.
  • Experience in specification management handling large data sets of information is essential. GS know how desirable.
  • Excellent project management and communication skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
  • Knowledge of Cape Pack, MS Office (Proficiency in Excel) and CAD. Experience with JD Edwards desirable.
  • Flexibility and pragmatism.
  • Resilient and results driven.
  • Fluent in English and Dutch.
  • Able to work in NL.
  • What we offer

    Working for pladis means challenging jobs, career opportunities and an inspiring environment that allow you to enhance your personal development. pladis recognizes that the on-going success of the company depends on the continued development and engagement of our employees and pursues a fair and competitive remuneration policy, recognizing individual and team competencies and performance.

    A few of our benefits:

  • Fixed term employment ( months) with possibility of a permanent contract
  • Development opportunities through our pladis Academy & other training programs
  • A competitive salary
  • Fulltime employment (, hours per week)
  • holidays (based on fulltime)
  • Pension in pensionfund ‘Zoetwaren’
  • Discounts on health insurance, gym memberships, bikes etc
  • Biscuits, chocolate and other snacks from our personnel store;
  • The best colleagues in an informal working environment.
  • Who are we?

    Koninklijke Verkade, founded in , with amazing brands like Verkade en Sultana, is part of pladis since . pladis  is one of the world’s leading snacking companies. We are the proud steward of over years of family baking and confectionery experience. A worldwide community with colleagues around the world. Each of us bring our experience in happiness. Each of us is unique, but we find each other as a family of bakers and chocolatiers, hardworking, with pride and purpose. After all these years we believe that biscuits and chocolate bring people together. We are pladis. We bake Happiness. Happiness with every bite.

    pladis succeeds because of people like you. People who wake up in the morning excited to get to work. Who believe in themselves and their potential. Who want to grow as part of a global community of like-minded colleagues.

    pladis colleagues care deeply about being the best. About winning, staying the course and never giving up. Whichever part of the world we’re in, whatever our role. Whether we’re baking, working in HR, finance, marketing or many other areas – we win as one pladis team.

    And while we’re all unique, we share something in common. It’s the code by which we live and work. We call it our ‘Winning Traits & Behaviours’:  Purpose Led Agile, Collaborative, Positive  and  Resilient . Five aspects of pladis life that define who we are, how we interact and get things done.

    If pladis sounds like the place where you can thrive and help write the next chapter in our growth story, then check out opportunities around the world and follow us for the latest information from our teams.

    More information can be found at

    Interested?
    To apply for this job, please send your letter of application and resume to pladis Global via our website. Questions? Please reach out to Rafael Graterol, Head of Packaging EDM, via email to:

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