Cluster Technical Manager (Packaging)

Location: Field-based across nine UK sites and key customer locations, with approximately 40–50% travel, overnight stays, and home-based working between visits. A full UK driving licence is required.

Company

hirify.global is a global packaging manufacturer focused on sustainable packaging solutions and fibre-based products across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

What you will do

• Define and deploy the cluster technical strategy across Design & Innovation, Quality and Packaging priorities.
• Lead, coach and develop four Cluster Technical Specialists across nine geographically dispersed manufacturing sites.
• Own customer technical governance, escalation frameworks, KPI reporting and cross-site technical relationships.
• Analyse recurring technical issues and customer trends, converting insights into prevention and continuous improvement programmes.
• Standardise problem-solving, product simplification, trial feedback and technical processes across the cluster.
• Champion circular design, sustainable packaging solutions and right-first-time manufacturing.

Requirements

• Typically 8+ years of experience in corrugated or packaging manufacturing across production, quality, technical or design disciplines.
• Deep knowledge of corrugated manufacturing processes, including corrugator and conversion operations.
• Proven leadership experience, ideally with geographically dispersed or field-based teams.
• Experience delivering measurable improvement in customer-facing technical, quality or continuous improvement roles.
• Strong customer, stakeholder and senior-level influencing skills in a matrix organisation.
• Experience with 8D, Root Cause Analysis, technical data analysis and managing priorities across multiple sites and customers.

Nice to have

• Degree or equivalent vocational experience in Packaging Technology, Engineering, Materials Science, Manufacturing, Chemistry or a related discipline.
• Six Sigma Green or Black Belt qualification.
• Knowledge of ISO 9001, BRCGS Packaging Materials, print, tooling and packaging production technologies.
• Experience with product development, trials, material implementation, ERP, QMS or CRM systems.
• Knowledge of sustainability and circular economy principles.

Culture & Benefits

• Values-led environment focused on being Caring, Challenging, Trusted, Responsive and Tenacious.
• Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection.
• Employee Assistance Programme and employee discounts.
• 25 days of holiday plus bank holidays.
• Cycle to work scheme.