DS Smith is a leading provider of sustainable fibre-based packaging worldwide, which is supported by recycling and papermaking operations. We play a central role in the value chain across sectors including e-commerce, fast moving consumer goods and industrials. Through our purpose of ‘Redefining Packaging for a Changing World’ and our Now and Next sustainability strategy, we are committed to leading the transition to the circular economy, while delivering more circular solutions for our customers and wider society – replacing problem plastics, taking carbon out of supply chains and providing innovative recycling solutions.

About the role

We’re looking for a Innovation Product Manager to play a leading part in our Innovation Transformation Agenda by driving growth through offering a portfolio of product innovations that meets customer strategic challenges in circularity, cost efficiency, sales growth and managing risk. You will work collaboratively with regional colleagues and cross functional squads to bring innovations through the Innovation Stage Gate process from Prototype, through Product Development, and into Market Deployment

Your remit will include but not limited to:

• As a Member of the Product Development squad, the Product Manager ensures the product meets the needs and relieves the pain points of the customer(s)
• Represents the input of Sales and Marketing (Voice of the Customer) in the development of Products
• Facilitates cross functional squad(s) to scale Products through the Stage Gate process, ensuring the squad take a consistent WoW and pragmatic approach for on-time commercialization
• Supporting the Regional Product Manager(s) and associated squads in the Commercialization stage as required.
• Facilitator of squad actions & their outputs, undertaking activities aligned to and interfacing with the Customer, Marketing, Sales and internal communications
• Squad path of escalation to the Product Sponsor and Packaging Division leadership
• Responsible for stakeholder management, aligning everybody around the product vision, business goals and objectives.

About you

Minimum requirements:

• Analytical skills to drive product portfolio management
• Experience in managing complex portfolios to drive business decision
• Technical knowledge of our materials, products, manufacturing processes.
• Knowledge of commercial aspects; costing, MOVC, pricing, etc.
• Driving for results in matrix organizational structures
• Inspires, communicates and leads on the Category Product Innovation
• MS Office skills – advanced (esp. excel)
• Strong project management skills
• Fluent in English, any other European languages are a plus
• Strong written and spoken communication skills
• Tenacious, pragmatic, task orientated, completer finisher, resilient, bringing clarity and alignment where there is ambiguity
• Proven experience in product management role in a manufacturing environment operating across different countries.
• Experience managing cross functional teams to deliver ambitious projects