Senior Packaging Technologist

Job Title: Senior Packaging Technologist – Material Development & Validation 

Salary: Competitive plus excellent benefits

Location: Middlebrook, Bolton

We Are Barr - Are You?

We are about being brilliant. We are always learning. We are results driven and relationships matter to us. AG Barr has been quenching the nation’s thirst for over 145 years and is home to some of the UK’s most loved drinks brands. Employing over 1,000 people across four business units and ten UK locations, we are proud to be a responsible business that takes care of our people, values diversity, gives something back to our communities and works to minimise our environmental impact. At our core is Barr Soft Drinks, home to some of the UK’s most loved soft drinks. Whether it’s the iconic IRN-BRU, launched in 1901 and still going strong today, the vibrant RUBICON fruit based brand or the unique range of BARR flavours, we brighten people’s lives with refreshingly different drinks. And we’re growing, thanks to some exciting acquisitions in recent years, including the functional drinks brand Boost, FUNKIN which operates in the exciting and growing cocktail market and MOMA, which crafts quality oats into great tasting oat drinks and porridges. There's never been a better time to join us!

What we’re looking for...

We are looking for a Senior Packaging Technologist to join our R&D function and specialise in delivering Material Development & Validation activity. Reporting to the R&D Packaging Manager, this role is the technical bridge between packaging concept and commercial reality.

You will lead the technical profiling of materials, the industrialisation of new components, and the rigorous validation of packaging formats across our supply chain. From the technical qualification of advanced polymer resins to the structural optimisation of primary containers and the integration of novel secondary packaging formats, you will ensure our packaging architecture is robust, technically sound, and perfectly calibrated for our high-speed manufacturing assets.

Your responsibilities will include...

• Acting as the lead technical authority for the material integrity and functional performance of primary, secondary, and tertiary packaging components.
• Designing and executing comprehensive technical validation programmes and factory trials to ensure new formats—such as new container shapes, enhanced closure systems, or alternative collation materials—perform flawlessly on-line.
• Leading material science workstreams, including the profiling and qualification of new resins and recycled material blends to ensure carbonation retention and structural performance.
• Collaborating with Procurement and Production teams to identify and validate supply chain optimisations, including lightweighting initiatives and material efficiency projects.
• Owning the technical specifications for all packaging materials, ensuring they meet AG Barr’s rigorous quality standards and comply with evolving environmental and packaging legislation.
• Providing technical governance within our Stage & Gate process, managing risk and feasibility from a material and manufacturing perspective.

What you’ll bring...

The successful candidate will have;

• Education to degree level or equivalent, in Packaging, Science or Engineering with a minimum of 5 years of post-graduate experience in a technical packaging role within an FMCG business.
• Proven expertise in technical validation and material profiling across multiple formats, encompassing polymer performance (PET/rPET) and injection/stretch blow moulding, as well as aluminium cans, glass, and carton packaging (e.g., Tetra Pak).
• Experience in leading complex factory trials and bridging the gap between R&D specifications and high-speed operational reality.
• A sound knowledge of packaging material manufacture, liquid filling technologies, bottle labelling, multipacking and palletisation within the drinks industry.
• Knowledge and operation of GFSI, BRC, HACCP and other quality management systems is essential.
• Ability to assess and manage technical risks, develop robust trial protocols, and put in place definitive packaging specifications.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and external suppliers to deliver technical excellence.

We are Barr - Are you?

We believe in creating a diverse and inclusive culture where your voice can be heard. Our skilled, loyal and committed people are critical to the future success of AG Barr which is why we are continually investing in our employees to develop their talent.

We look after our employees by offering a competitive salary and benefits package which includes;

• 34 days holiday
• Flexible holiday trading
• Healthcare Cash Plan
• Flexible benefits e.g. discounts & cashbacks, gym memberships, technology purchases etc
• Life assurance
• Save as you earn scheme
• Staff sales discount
• Free AG Barr products throughout your working day
• Pension
• Annual salary review
• Ongoing professional development
• Flexible working requests

And much more!

To find out more about what it is like to work for AG Barr, please visit our careers platform here.

We are an equal opportunities employer and happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments that may be needed for successful candidates with a disability, health or mental health condition.

While we have highlighted our ideal requirements for this role, we are realistic that the successful candidate probably won't meet every single requirement in this advert, but we are big advocates of people growing in role. So even if you don’t meet every single requirement, we encourage you to submit an application - you may be just what we are looking for! Apply now!

Speculative CVs from agencies will not be accepted.

Latest closing date for applications is

Please note, we may close vacancies early where we receive significant numbers of applications, so apply now!