Job Description

Job Title

Packaging Material Development Lead - Decorative Paints

Reporting To

Head - Packaging Procurement & Development

Location

Corporate Office

Role Purpose

Lead the development, qualification, cost optimization, and commercialization of packaging materials for decorative paints, including plastic pails, rigid containers, corrugated cartons, and metal cans, ensuring packaging performance, product protection, sustainability, regulatory compliance, and cost competitiveness across manufacturing locations.

The role works closely with Procurement, R&D;, Operations, Quality, Marketing, and Packaging Suppliers to deliver cutting-edge and reliable packaging solutions for interior, exterior, wood coatings, waterproofing, and ancillary product portfolios.

Key Responsibilities

Packaging Development & Innovation

- Develop and commercialize packaging solutions for:
- Injection-molded and blow-molded plastic pails (1L-20L)
- Metal containers and cans
- Corrugated shipper cartons and retail-ready packaging
- Lids, handles, closures, labels and fitments

- Lead packaging design from concept through commercialization.
- Evaluate new materials, technologies, and packaging innovations to improve functionality and customer experience.
- Support new product launches through packaging development and qualification.
- Ensure packaging performance throughout product shelf life and supply chain conditions.

Supplier Development & Qualification

- Identify and develop packaging suppliers for plastic, carton, and metal packaging.
- Conduct supplier technical assessments and Vendor audits.
- Drive supplier innovation, quality improvement, and cost reduction initiatives.
- Lead vendor qualification and approval processes.

Cost Optimization & Value Engineering

- Identify opportunities for:
- Resin reduction
- Gauge optimization
- Carton grammage optimization
- Standardization across SKUs
- Alternate material qualifications

- Drive annual packaging cost savings programs.
- Develop should-cost models and benchmarking studies.





Sustainability & Circular Economy

- Increase recycled content utilization in packaging materials.
- Improve recyclability and reduce packaging carbon footprint.
- Support sustainability goals related to plastic reduction and circular packaging.
- Evaluate biodegradable and eco-friendly packaging solutions where feasible.

Manufacturing & Commercialization Support

- Support packaging commissioning at manufacturing plants.
- Resolve packaging-related production and field issues.
- Ensure packaging compatibility with filling lines and automation systems.
- Lead packaging change management activities across plants.

Quality & Compliance

- Establish packaging quality standards and acceptance criteria.
- Ensure compliance with:
- BIS requirements
- Legal metrology regulations
- Transportation and handling standards
- Internal quality management systems

- Investigate packaging failures and implement corrective actions.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

- Partner with:
- R&D;
- Procurement
- Manufacturing
- Supply Planning
- Marketing
- Quality Assurance

- Lead cross-functional packaging improvement projects.
- Provide packaging technical expertise during customer complaints and root cause investigations.

Key Deliverables

- Successful commercialization of new packaging platforms.
- Packaging cost reduction targets achieved annually.
- Improved packaging quality performance.
- Supplier qualification and capability enhancement.
- Sustainability improvement initiatives implemented.
- Reduction in packaging-related customer complaints and manufacturing losses.

Required Qualifications

Education





- Bachelor's Degree in Packaging Technology, Polymer Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
- Master's Degree preferred.

Experience

- 10-15 years of experience in packaging development.
- Experience in paints, coatings, FMCG, chemicals, lubricants, adhesives, or related industries.
- Strong exposure to:
- Plastic packaging development
- Corrugated packaging
- Metal packaging systems
- Packaging testing and validation

Technical Competencies

- Plastic processing technologies (Injection Molding, Blow Molding)
- Polymer material selection
- Corrugated packaging design
- Metal can manufacturing processes
- Packaging testing equipment and standards
- Design for manufacturability (DFM)
- Packaging specifications management
- Value engineering and cost optimization
- Sustainability and recyclability assessment
- Root cause analysis and problem-solving

Leadership Competencies

- Project Management
- Stakeholder Management
- Supplier Relationship Management
- Negotiation & Influencing
- Innovation Mindset
- Analytical Thinking
- Cross-functional Team Leadership
- Continuous Improvement (Lean/Six Sigma)

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

- New packaging developments commercialized
- Packaging cost savings (% and value)
- Packaging-related customer complaint reduction
- Packaging quality PPM/defect reduction
- Supplier OTIF and quality performance
- Speed of packaging qualification and launch
- Sustainability targets (recycled content, packaging weight reduction)
- Plant packaging efficiency improvements

Typical Scope in Decorative Paints Industry

- Packaging portfolio covering 0.5L to 20L packs
- Plastic buckets/pails, cans, lids, handles, shrink sleeves, labels, corrugated cartons, and metal containers
- Multi-site manufacturing support
- Collaboration with regional and national packaging suppliers
- Management of packaging spend ranging from 50-300+ Crores annually (depending on company size)

📌 Lead Packaging Material Development (Mumbai)
🏢 Aditya Birla Group
📍 Mumbai