Senior Packaging Development Engineer

ABOUT US

tms unites technology, marketing, and sourcing to drive transformational change for the world’s leading brands. With 1,200+ employees across 26 countries, we offer an impressive range of solutions – from inspiration and innovation to category management and delivery.

Operating as a creative agency, a strategic consultancy, a sourcing business, and a technology provider, we engage with over 110 million customers every single day for our clients, including McDonald’s, T-Mobile, O2, Starbucks, and adidas.

Most importantly, we're a place where you can achieve great things, and be recognized as the best.

WHAT MATTERS THE MOST

Breakthrough, business-driving ideas come from extraordinary people with the freedom to be their most authentic selves at work. Authenticity and diversity are critical elements of our business. They can only be realized when we create access and equity for all. We foster a culture of inclusion and belonging and aspire to be ever-evolving.

tms is a place where brilliant people are better together. If you want your ideas to be heard and to contribute to a culture of inclusion and authenticity, bring us your voice! Visit us at tmsw.com.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF ROLE

She/he will support all McDonald’s customers within the designated Greater China cluster and associated markets in regards to the development of sustainable and commercially appropriate packaging solutions. 

Provide functional (Project Management and Packaging Development) and subject matter expertise in guiding customers though appropriate legislative requirements and in delivering packaging technology solutions & innovation programs inline with the Category Strategy. 

Build and maintain supplier relationships to extract best in class solutions for customers, both functionally and commercially. 

Work cross functionally within all TMS touch points such as Client Management, Supply Chain Operations, Sustainability, Quality Assurance & Graphics. 

Requires the ability to lead significant, multi-phase packaging development programs with a cross-functional teams including from preliminary concept development, testing and validation thru national commercialization / execution. 

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

•    Lead on the delivery and project management of appropriate packaging solutions, including cost benefit and risk, piloting and implementation timelines.
•    Clear understanding of the local and over arching legislative landscape to ensure the most appropriate solutions are applied;
•    Co-creation, development and delivery of innovative packaging solutions, in alignment with suppliers and external innovation;
•    Establish methodology and reporting metrics to support relevant customer goals, working with independent experts and sharing best practice adopted from other markets and working in 

•    Lead on the delivery and project management of appropriate packaging solutions, including cost benefit and risk, piloting and implementation timelines.
•    Clear understanding of the local and over arching legislative landscape to ensure the most appropriate solutions are applied;
•    Co-creation, development and delivery of innovative packaging solutions, in alignment with suppliers and external innovation;
•    Establish methodology and reporting metrics to support relevant customer goals, working with independent experts and sharing best practice adopted from other markets and working in collaboration with stakeholders e.g. distribution companies, packaging suppliers, industry experts;
•    Horizon scanning, innovation and sharing best practice from other markets and the industry to support the above priorities;
•    Communicate in a timely manner to TMS company leadership teams, work with other TMS departments to ensure effective delivery of milestones and project exercusion. 
•    Identify and meet customer needs and increase TMS value.
•    Build and maintain strong relationships with the key stakeholders internally and externally.
•    Understand and proactively support customer business strategies.  
•    Constantly seek best packaging solutions to answer the needs of our clients.
•    Regularly review and challenge common processes and propose improvements and standardisation of packaging specification.
•    Engage with and influence suppliers for effective and timely delivery; 
•    Keep clear overview of all activities happening and issue regular reports and presentations.
•    Manage allocated packaging/sourcing projects and proactively suggest solutions to McDonald’s markets and customers.
•    Partner with Cluster Commercial team to ensure execution of the agreed market packaging plans and initiatives with method.
•    Through regular meetings with appropriate account stake holders, review and update the objectives and maintain alignment.
•    Liaise with internal TMS departments based worldwide to achieve clients’ requirements.
•    Provide packaging development support and material expertise in-line with the needs and expectations identified by TMS customers; solutions should include a balance of innovation on consumer insight, sustainability strategy, risk management and product cost.
•    Interface with various customer departments, not limited to operations, menu management, supply chain, and marketing, to identify customer needs and focus on speed-to-market solutions
•    Coordinate packaging testing, including those at supplier facilities and at customer facilities, such as test kitchens, in-store testing, and any outside 3rd party test labs, to validate the performance of the package against operational and consumer criteria.
•    Fully leverage and develop supplier capabilities and technical specialists that deliver results effectively and in a timely manner. Participate in supplier review meetings to provide feedback on supplier performance.
•    Execute commercialization plans to ensure the product meets customer requirements and is transitioned to a continuous supply item with contingency built-in.
•    Develop and maintain packaging specifications within the designated specification system. 

JOB REQUIREMENTS

•    5+ years in packaging technology and/or business/packaging strategy development 
•    Strong technical competencies in packaging science including knowledge of substrates, structural design and manufacturing processes
•    Experience with project management tasks and timeline development
•    Ability to connect abstract thoughts and ideas and materialize into an actionable long-term packaging strategy
•    Experience working with multi-functional teams to formulate objectives and action plans
•    Analytical approach to problem solving and decision making
•    Excellent communication and facilitation skills 
•    High level of collaboration and teamwork 

Preferred:
Experience in Foods, QSR, FMCG or Packaging manufacturing / converting industry

Knowledge of packaging forms, coatings & conversion processes