R&D Manager – Flexible Packaging

Department

Research & Development / Technical / Quality

Reports To

Managing Director / Operations Director

Location

Factory-based, with cross-functional coordination with Sales, Procurement, QA, Production, and Supply Chain.

Role Purpose

The R&D Manager is responsible for developing, improving, and validating flexible packaging structures, materials, and processes to support customer requirements, cost optimization, quality improvement, food safety compliance, and business growth.

This role bridges customer needs, material science, production capability, supplier development, and commercial competitiveness.

Key Responsibilities

1. Product & Structure Development

2. Material Substitution & Cost Optimization

3. Trial Management

4. Supplier Qualification Support

5. Customer Technical Support

6. Quality & Complaint Investigation Support

7. Specification Management

8. Process Improvement

9. Compliance & Food Safety

10. Documentation & Reporting

Required Qualifications

· Bachelor’s degree in Polymer Science, Chemical Engineering, Packaging Technology, Materials Science, Industrial Engineering, or related field.

· Minimum 5–8 years of experience in flexible packaging, film, lamination, printing, resin, or related manufacturing.

· At least 2–3 years in a technical, R&D, QA, or process improvement leadership role.

Technical Knowledge Required

Strong understanding of:

· Flexible packaging structures

· Gravure printing

· Dry lamination and solvent-free lamination

· Extrusion lamination

· Film properties and applications

· PE, PP, PET, NY, CPP, VMPET, ALU, and barrier films

· Adhesives, inks, solvents, and coatings

· Bond strength, seal strength, COF, OTR, WVTR, GSM, thickness, and yield calculations

· Packaging defects and root cause analysis

· Food packaging requirements

Skills & Competencies

The ideal candidate should be:

· Technically strong but commercially practical

· Data-driven and organized

· Hands-on in production trials

· Able to communicate with Sales, QA, Production, Procurement, and customers

· Strong in problem-solving and root cause analysis

· Comfortable challenging suppliers and internal assumptions

· Able to document clearly and conclude decisively

· Cost-conscious without being reckless

· Curious, disciplined, and persistent