Packaging Material Development Specialist at Haco Industries Kenya Limited

Job Description

Role Summary

Reporting to the Quality Assurance & Regulatory Affairs Manager, this role leads the end-to-end lifecycle of packaging materials, spanning development, qualification, approval, optimization, and continuous improvement for both existing portfolios and New Product Development (NPD) initiatives. The position ensures that all packaging solutions successfully balance quality standards, regulatory compliance, sustainability targets, cost efficiency, consumer needs, and manufacturing capabilities, while actively supporting supplier management, operational excellence projects, trade-market quality, and broader business growth strategies.

Key Responsibilities

Packaging Development, Innovation & Commercialization

• Lead end-to-end development, testing, and scaling of packaging materials across formats (bottles, cans, cartons, labels, closures, and corrugated materials).
• Drive cross-functional collaboration (R&D, Marketing, Procurement, and Manufacturing) to ensure seamless product compatibility, shelf-life integrity, and successful NPD/commercialization trials.

Quality Assurance & Regulatory Compliance

• Establish and enforce rigorous packaging specifications, technical drawings, artwork standards, and performance test protocols (drop, compression, seal integrity).
• Ensure absolute compliance with local and international regulatory frameworks (KEBS, EAC, FDA, NEMA, SWM) and quality management systems (GMP, ISO 9001).
• Drive Root Cause Analysis (RCA), CAPA implementation, and resolve line-efficiency or customer quality issues.

Supplier Management & Value Optimization

• Qualify, audit, and manage strategic suppliers to drive continuous improvement, resolve non-conformances, and monitor performance KPIs.
• Spearhead value engineering, cost-saving initiatives, and sustainable packaging redesigns (waste reduction, recyclability)without compromising quality or brand protection.
• In-Market Performance & Analytics
• Evaluate real-world packaging durability, support anti counterfeiting/authentication measures, and maintain material databases.
• Track and report analytics on defect trends, supplier performance, and quality KPIs through structured dashboards.

Qualifications & Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Technology, Chemical/Industrial Engineering, Materials Science, or a related field.
• Experience: 4–7 years in packaging development, QA, and FMCG manufacturing with deep expertise in diverse packagingformats, testing methodologies, and supplier auditing.
• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Packaging Defect Rates, Cost Savings, NPD Launch Success, Line Efficiency, WasteReduction, Supplier Compliance, and Sustainability Target Achievement.