Lead Product Developer

As part of the UK&ROI Consumer Goods commercial team, this role identifies, develops and delivers the project change portfolio across Essity's branded and retail branded products to drive growth and optimises the existing range to create value. These products include, but not limited to, our brands such as Plenty, TENA, Cushelle and Bodyform. This position requires regular travel to our manufacturing sites located in the North East and North West regions.What You Will Do As Lead Product Developer, you will be responsible for developing new and existing products to meet consumer and business needs (eg. performance, manufacturability, cost and competitiveness). You will lead and deliver product launches, product changes, product improvement programmes and packaging development activities ensuring high quality, product safety and regulatory compliance. You will be the expert for your product area, advising projects and colleagues across functions. Reporting to the Development Director you will: Define and Lead Product and Packaging change initiatives through the product lifecycle. Manage the product assortment for your brands and customers including new product introduction, product improvement and eventual withdrawal. Lead development projects (product and packaging) in collaboration with Marketing/ Retail Brand Marketing, Initiatives Managers, Product Supply. Understand consumer wants, competitor activity and technology developments in the field and use to initiate value creation projects. Identify and initiate value optimisation projects including product, packaging and process. Use agreed processes to deliver projects and manage regulatory, retailer and internal compliance.Be the guardian of consumer quality for your brands. Champion product quality, managing deviations and concessions to optimise quality and manufacturing performance. In collaboration with Product Supply identify and when appropriate lead Quality Improvement Projects. Drive improvement in our approach to development Be a source of technical expertise on all aspects of product design including paper making, converting, packaging and quality. Review competitor performance and use as a source of product improvement/ innovation. Identify and implement improvements to ways of working across Business Unit.

This role is all about identifying and delivering change. Ideally you will already have operated in a technical, development or quality role through which you will likely have the following experience:

• Application of technical knowledge in Development, Technical, Supply or Quality roles
• Product design development and implementation in FMCG ideally in consumer tissue
• Understanding of manufacturing processes and the requirements of industrialisation
• Ideally expertise in Paper Converting and Paper Making.
• Demonstrated Ability to use scientific principles to understand and resolve technical development challenges
• Cross functional Project management of complex product development projects
• Demonstrated ability to deliver multiple development projects simultaneously
Alongside your experience, you will be action-oriented with a results focused approach. You will have demonstrable people skills and a proven ability to facilitate and influence effectively through building effective relationships with stakeholders. You will have commercial awareness, an understanding of business decision making and a value creation mindset. Good knowledge of English language both written and spoken and an ability to visit multiple Essity UK and European sites at short notice to carry out trials in line with production timelines are mandatory.

Guided by our Beliefs & Behaviour, our culture is the foundation that connects our history with our future. At Essity, care, collaboration and inclusion are more than buzzwords, they are practiced on an everyday basis. And with a purpose of breaking barriers to wellbeing, promoting gender equality and enable customers and consumers to lead a fuller life at all stages of life, DEI is in our core.

Want to work for a global organisation that focuses on health & hygiene? A company where there are opportunities to develop and grow? If so lets talk… There are many of reasons to work at Essity:
• High reaching starting salary with annual reviews
• Pension 10% employer contribution
• Annual sales incentive bonus
• Company car
• Holidays starting at 27 days plus bank holidays (with flexible bank holiday options)
• Staff product and discounts
• Essity Rewards (online and in-store shopping discounts)
• Benefits include: EAP support service, cycle to work scheme, gym membership discount and many more
• Local community activities and charitable initiatives