Design to Operations Lead

Location: R8 Redditch - onsite

Subject to Consultation

About the role

TheDesign to Operations Leadacts as the key interface between packaginginnovationteams across EMEA to support the development of concepts with the use of the pilot capabilities at R8.

In this role you will ensure that corrugated packaging solutions are technically feasibleandoptimised for the diverse manufacturing capabilities within the companys industrial network. The role combines strong technical expertise in corrugated board and converting processes with an understanding of design intent industrial constraints and production efficiency.

This role is a part of Design & Innovation EMEA Team directly reporting to the Head of Design Community Excellence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Serve as the technical bridge betweeninnovation teams the pilot facilityand plant operations teams

• Act as a technical advisor providing insights on manufacturing feasibilityand potential optimisation

• Identify potential issues (materials processes tolerances cost drivers)

• Optimisemachine settingsand push the boundarieson the pilot equipment in R8 to understand art of the possiblefor concepts indevelopmentwith the ambition toindustrialiseand bring concepts to commercial scale

• Translatemachine settings/findingsinto production-ready technical documents and process standards

• Lead thesafetyassessment maintenance log and setting ofa large rangeof R8 machinery park

• Act as a backup for the Pilot Operations Lead operatingforklifts and machines asrequired in a safe and responsible way

• Promote Design for Manufacturing (DfM) principles to simplify designs without compromising performance and develop guidelines and manufacturing constraints that designers must considerensuring consistency and manufacturability

• Facilitate collaboration betweensub regional innovation/pilot champions and the pilot facility

• Capture and analysepilotor commercialproductionfeedback (quality issues rejects line efficiency) and feed lessons learned back into the design process for continuous improvement

• Cost and Efficiency Optimisation- supportif needed the sub-regional Design for Innovationteaminselecting therightequipment process or supplier for each product.

About You

• Educated to a degree level (Mechanical / Industrial / Packaging / Process Engineering degree preferred) or equivalent combination of education and experience with the ability to set up and run pilot equipment independently

• Experience in bothpackaging solutiondevelopment and manufacturing environments

• Deep understanding ofcorrugatedproduction processes materials and industrial constraints

• Forklift licenserequired(if the successful candidate doesnt hold a licenseit will berequiredto obtain one)

• Ability to trouble shoot and find solutions to complex technical challenges and to balance creativity and pragmatism able to take a strategic high-level view on topics while also being able to dive into specific issues in detail

• Strong communication and project management skills

• Comfortable with ambiguity.

APPLICATIONS CLOSING DATE: 12th DECEMBER 2025