Design and R&D Manager

At De Jong Verpakking by Stora Enso, we strive to provide the most innovative and sustainable packaging solutions in the cardboard industry. With a strong focus on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, we are committed to creating products that are both environmentally friendly and functional. To strengthen our team, we are looking for a driven and creative Design and R&D Manager.

We are active in the sectors of Fresh Produce, Industry, Horticulture, and Egg & Export. Our range varies from display boxes to American folding boxes and cardboard trays.

As a Design and R&D Manager, you will play a crucial role in leading our design and research and development team. You will be responsible for driving innovation, improving existing products, and developing new packaging solutions that meet the needs of our customers and market trends. You will take into account production capabilities, sustainability, cost and waste minimization. Additionally, you will be responsible for the procurement budget for necessary services and materials, such as equipment calibration, testing machines, and ICT solutions.

Your responsibilities will include:

- Ensuring execution (qualitative and quantitative) and making adjustments when necessary

- Ensuring timely and high-quality delivery of designs

- Cost reduction, quality improvement, and optimization of the department

- Prioritizing, planning, and distributing tasks

- Managing and maintaining supplier contacts

- Participating in various sustainability projects

- Collaborating on automation solutions related to software and/or systems

- Leading technical discussions

- Advising on optimizations and improvements for products, tools, and machinery

- Providing technical support to colleagues

What are we looking for?

- A completed HBO degree, preferably in a technical or packaging design field

- Experience as a Packaging Designer and/or Packaging Technologist

- Analytical skills and proficiency in various ICT systems and design software

- Excellent communication skills in Dutch and English

- Good interpersonal skills, service-oriented, open to new challenges in your work, and operationally minded

- Knowledge of production processes, printing techniques, and packaging materials

- Project management experience

- Experience in the corrugated cardboard industry is a plus

What do we offer you?

- Full-time position (32 hours negotiable)

- 28 vacation days with a full-time contract

- Fixed-term contract with the possibility of a permanent contract

- Competitive salary with pension scheme and travel allowance

- We are a fast-growing company, so there is room for growth for you as well.

About De Jong

In a world of packaging and sustainability, two leading forces come together: Stora Enso and De Jong Verpakking. Stora Enso, a global player in the bioeconomy and a market leader in renewable products across various sectors, acquired De Jong Verpakking at the beginning of 2023. Stora Enso, which is also one of the largest private forest owners in the world, embraces the belief that what is currently made from fossil materials can be realized tomorrow with the help of trees.

De Jong Verpakking seamlessly aligns with this vision of sustainability and progress. Within the Packaging Solutions division, De Jong Verpakking has built a reputation as a specialist in corrugated cardboard packaging for various sectors, including Fresh Produce, Industry, Horticulture, and Egg & Export. With over 700 employees and well-equipped production facilities, including a new high-tech production site, De Jong Verpakking is the largest and most advanced manufacturing site in Europe.

The range of products offered by De Jong Verpakking is diverse and includes display boxes, American folding boxes, and cardboard trays. These boxes and trays are delivered flat or assembled to both resellers and end customers in the Benelux, Germany, and the United Kingdom. Additionally, De Jong Verpakking provides storage space and erecting machines with accompanying maintenance.

With Stora Enso's leading position in renewable products and sustainability, and with De Jong Verpakking now being part of their team, they join forces to shape the future of packaging together.

The Stora Enso film: What a tree can do

The Stora Enso company page on LinkedIn: Stora Enso

The Stora Enso privacy policy: Privacy Policy

Where will you end up?

You will be working within one of the most innovative and growing organizations in the corrugated cardboard industry in Europe. Every day, we produce 2.5 million packages with a large team that we deliver in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, United Kingdom, France, and Ireland. You will be working in a highly ambitious organization that is rapidly expanding.

The atmosphere in our (family) company is informal, open, respectful, and entrepreneurial towards the market. We are big, powerful, but not bureaucratic or cumbersome. This means there is plenty of room for individual initiative, ideas, and input from our people.