Interim Product Specialist

Interim Packaging Specialist

£600–£680 per day | Outside IR35 | 6–9 month project | London + regional travel | Immediate start

A high impact packaging transformation project with a rapidly scaling consumer brand

We are exclusively partnering with one of the UK’s fastest growing sustainable consumer brands as they enter a critical phase of operational scale.

With 200,000+ active subscribers, sales having grown 5x in the last year, and recognition as #1 in the 2025 FEBE Growth 100 and #9 in the 2025 Sunday Times 100, this is an exciting opportunity to join a business at a pivotal stage of growth.

We are looking for an experienced Packaging Specialist / Packaging Consultant to take autonomous ownership of high priority packaging development, optimisation and regulatory projects.

Reporting to the Head of Product, you will act as the technical packaging lead across several workstreams, working with suppliers, manufacturing partners and senior stakeholders to turn technical requirements into practical, scalable solutions.

The Project

This is not a BAU packaging role. You will deliver a defined portfolio of projects across packaging optimisation, EPR compliance, NPD validation and technical documentation.

Packaging & Fulfilment Optimisation

Lead the technical validation and implementation of a significant secondary and tertiary packaging redesign.

You will:

• Oversee rollout of the new packaging solution

• Review and optimise cardboard specifications

• Improve pack line efficiency

• Reduce material waste, costs and transit damage

• Maintain the premium customer experience

• Work with manufacturing and fulfilment partners to implement solutions

UK EPR Compliance

Own the technical packaging data required to establish a robust UK Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) reporting pipeline.

You will:

• Audit packaging data across the supplier network

• Identify and resolve gaps and inconsistencies

• Establish accurate material specifications and reporting inputs

• Work with internal compliance and PMO teams

• Create reliable, structured packaging data for ongoing reporting

NPD & Technical Validation

Support upcoming product launches by owning packaging technical validation from specification through to manufacturing.

This includes:

• Material and component specification

• Compatibility, drop, leak, transit and compression testing

• Shelf life testing

• Line trials and manufacturing validation

• Supporting right first time scale up

You will work closely with manufacturing partners across Hemel Hempstead and Berkshire.

Technical Specifications & Documentation

Create greater structure across the packaging component library, establishing:

• Master packaging specifications

• Technical tolerances and component standards

• Quality requirements

• Documentation controls

• Consistent specifications across glass, triggers, pumps, closures and other components

About You

We are looking for someone who can hit the ground running and operate autonomously.

Ideally, you will bring:

• Strong hands on experience in packaging development, technology or engineering within FMCG, beauty, cosmetics, skincare or liquids manufacturing

• Technical knowledge of glass, pumps, triggers, closures and e commerce transit packaging

• Experience working directly with manufacturing and packaging suppliers

• Practical packaging testing, validation and line trial experience

• Strong understanding of UK EPR and packaging data requirements

• Experience taking packaging projects from specification through to implementation

• Confidence challenging suppliers and making technically sound recommendations

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to engage senior stakeholders

• A genuinely hands on approach and a desire to get into the detail and make things happen

The Opportunity

An excellent opportunity for an experienced Packaging Consultant, Packaging Technologist, Packaging Development Manager or Packaging Specialist who enjoys project based work and wants to make a tangible impact within a rapidly scaling consumer business.

You will have genuine ownership, direct access to senior stakeholders and the opportunity to influence packaging strategy, technical standards and operational scalability.

Interested?

If you are an experienced packaging specialist or independent consultant with a background in FMCG, beauty, cosmetics, skincare or liquids, and are available immediately, we would love to hear from you.

Please get in touch with your CV/profile, relevant project experience and availability for a confidential conversation.