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 innovative 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.

- Robust 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 (Maharashtra)
🏢 Birla Opus
📍 Maharashtra