Innovation Specialist

About the Role

At DS Smith, innovation is at the heart of how we help customers solve complex packaging challenges and deliver more sustainable outcomes. We are looking for an experienced Innovation Specialist to join our Strategic Accounts team, working with some of the world's leading FMCG brands, including Mars, P&G, and Mondelez. This is a customer-facing role where you'll combine your packaging expertise, commercial awareness, and creativity to identify new opportunities, deliver value-driven solutions, and strengthen key customer partnerships.

Working closely with customers and internal stakeholders, you'll lead innovation projects from concept through to implementation, helping customers improve efficiency, reduce costs, optimise automation, and achieve their sustainability goals. Using DS Smith's innovation methodologies, including Pack Right®, you'll develop insight-led packaging solutions that create measurable value for both customers and DS Smith. This is an exciting opportunity to take ownership of strategic customer relationships, influence large-scale innovation programmes, and play a key role in shaping the future of sustainable packaging.

• Develop customer innovation pipelines and turn insights into commercial opportunities.
• Facilitate customer workshops, Innovation Days and Pack Right® sessions.
• Drive innovation activity and KPI delivery across strategic FMCG accounts.
• Partner with Sales and Account Managers to identify growth and value creation opportunities.

• Identify and deliver cost-saving, efficiency and sustainability improvements.
• Develop innovative packaging solutions that create measurable value for customers and DS Smith.
• Utilise customer and market insights to uncover new opportunities and demonstrate TCO benefits.

• Provide technical support, problem solving and line-side customer assistance.
• Improve customer line efficiencies through packaging and automation optimisation.
• Manage onboarding, value engineering and continuous improvement projects.
• Support business reviews and coordinate automation initiatives.

• Circular design principles and sustainable packaging innovation.
• Support customers in achieving their sustainability and environmental goals.

• Work closely with Sales, Design, Operations and Innovation teams to deliver customer solutions.
• Contribute to pipeline reviews, opportunity prioritisation and best-practice sharing.
• Continuously develop technical, commercial and innovation capabilities.

We're looking for an experienced packaging professional who combines creativity, technical expertise, and commercial awareness. You'll bring:

• 5+ years' experience in an Innovation, Design, or Development role within the packaging industry.
• Strong corrugated packaging knowledge and experience working with FMCG customers.
• A proven track record of delivering innovative, value-driven packaging solutions.
• Understanding of production lines, automation, and manufacturing processes.
• Experience managing projects from opportunity identification through to implementation.
• Excellent stakeholder management, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency in ArtiosCAD, CAD and visualisation software, and Microsoft Office.

Desirable:

• Packaging or Product Design qualification (or equivalent experience).
• Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing, or Health & Safety qualifications.
• Experience in value engineering and continuous improvement methodologies.

• Creative, proactive, and customer-focused.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Collaborative team player with excellent presentation and facilitation skills.
• Passionate…