Thai Union Europe
Thai Union Europe (www.thaiunion.com) is a global FMCG company with multiple affiliates across EMEA. Thai Union Europe (TUE) is a subsidiary of Thai Union Ltd (TU); a global seafood business with more than 35,000 employees worldwide and HQ located in Bangkok. TU owns some of the world’s largest seafood brands – Petite Navire, Parmentier, Mareblu, John West, Red Lobster, King Oscar are well known examples. TU also has private label capabilities. Besides the sustainability strategy SeaChange 2030, innovation is one of the Group’s major strategic priorities to achieve growth ambitions. To accelerate the innovation progress, TU launched the Global Innovation Center (GIC) in Bangkok, Thailand in 2015. In this R&D center Thai Union challenges itself to think boldly, question the status quo and take calculated risks to unlock revolutionary changes in the way seafood is procured, produced, packaged and consumed. To accelerate innovation in Europe, TUE has recently launched an Innovation Hub in Wageningen, The Netherlands. At the moment the Innovation Hub is preparing a move to a state-of-the-art innovation location, also in Wageningen. To further strengthen the Innovation Hub team and to bring seniority, capabilities, vision and leadership into the packaging organization we are searching for an ambitious and highly motivated Packaging Director.
Leading the packaging strategy and implementation
Functie
- Responsible for developing, leading and implementing the short and long-term packaging innovation strategy for Thai Union Europe (TUE)
- Building and managing a compact but effective packaging team consisting of 2 Packaging Engineers and 1 Packaging Data Officer; setting up the packaging laboratory with necessary equipment
- Creating a central position within TUE, in close collaboration with the GIC in Bangkok, European operational functions (Marketing, Operations, Procurement and Quality) and external stakeholders
- Managing and realising the packaging project portfolio in terms of innovation, sustainability, quality and regulatory, in close cooperation with the operational functions
- Ensuring the conformity of all packaging used in TUE plants and co-packing sites and sold on the TUE ambient markets
- Monitoring regulatory, quality and supply chain issues related to packaging and arranging corrective actions where needed
- Developing a strong network with packaging suppliers and other packaging experts, by utilizing their knowledge and support for packaging improvements and innovations
- Reporting to the Senior Ambient Innovation Director.
Profiel
- Master’s degree in Packaging Technology/Engineering or an equivalent
- Senior packaging management experience in the FMCG business, preferably in the food industry
- Actual knowledge about multi-material packaging developments
- Relevant experience with sustainability issues, by defining and implementing packaging solutions
- Capable of building and leading a compact packaging team with the required packaging expertise and packaging laboratory facilities
- Demonstrated leadership in managing projects with cross functional teams involving Marketing, Operations, Procurement and Quality
- Experience with creating project plans and roadmaps for short-term and long-term results
- Fit with a ‘start-up environment within a multinational’; comfortable working in an international organisation with various cultures, able to travel approximately 25% – 30% of time
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with fluency in English and preferably one other European language
- Personal skills: self-starter, business acumen, autonomous, convincing, results and goal oriented, resilient, responsive, can-do mentality and team player.
