About the role
At DS Smith, we're redefining packaging through innovation, sustainability, and customer-focused solutions. We are looking for a Design for Implementation Specialist to join our team and play a critical role in transforming packaging concepts into manufacturable, commercially successful solutions.
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced packaging professional who combines technical expertise, creativity, and project management skills to deliver high-quality packaging solutions that meet customer requirements while driving operational efficiency and continuous improvement.
Key responsibilities
- As a Design for Implementation Specialist, you will:
- Process and manage daily design enquiries from internal and external stakeholders.
- Assess customer insights and translate requirements into practical packaging solutions.
- Develop fit-for-purpose designs that balance performance, sustainability, manufacturing capability, and cost.
- Create and maintain technical and manufacturing drawings, including structural and graphic specifications.
- Support New Product Introduction (NPI) processes and manufacturing approvals.
- Route specifications through business systems to ensure accurate implementation.
- Produce prototypes and manage prototype materials to support customer and internal evaluations.
- Raise and manage tooling orders and technical specifications.
- Support production line trials, efficiency improvements, waste reduction initiatives, and margin enhancement projects.
- Provide support for board grade modelling, PACE activities, and packaging optimisation projects.
- Develop inbound and outbound logistics pallet plans to maximise supply chain efficiency.
- Collaborate closely with manufacturing, sales, innovation, commercial, and customer teams to ensure successful project delivery.
About you
Essential Skills & Experience
- Minimum 3 years' design experience, packaging experience would be advantageous.
- Technical knowledge of packaging materials, manufacturing processes, and product development preferred.
- Experience using CAD software, preferably ArtiosCAD, alongside packaging-related software such as CAPE, Optim, or similar.
- Understanding of 2D and 3D technical drawings.
- Excellent project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
- Proven ability to work collaboratively with both internal and external stakeholders.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and organisational skills.
Qualifications
- Packaging industry qualification or equivalent relevant experience.
- Product Design qualification or related discipline.
- Maths and English qualifications.
- Competent user of Microsoft Office applications.
- Competent user of CAD and graphics software.
- Health & Safety qualification desirable.
- Lean Manufacturing and/or Six Sigma qualification desirable.
We're looking for someone who:
- Is a proactive self-starter with a creative mindset.
- Enjoys solving complex challenges and finding innovative solutions.
- Thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
- Shares best practices and supports continuous improvement.
- Demonstrates enthusiasm, resilience, and a commitment to excellence.
- Champions health and safety in everything they do.
- Builds strong relationships and collaborates effectively across teams.
Benefits
- Competitive salary
- Discretionary bonus
- 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
- Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Employee Discounts
- Cycle to work scheme
Location: Hinckley
Hours: Full Time
About us
We are DS Smith, together with International Paper, we are a global leader in sustainable packaging solutions and other fibre-based products. We believe a better, more sustainable tomorrow is possible with the right people, who challenge and support one another to enact positive change. We employ more than 65,000 colleagues in North America and Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), who are experts in innovation, manufacturing, design, sales, sustainability, supply chain, and much more. Together with our customers, we make the world safer and more productive, one sustainable packaging solution at a time. Become part of a world-leading organisation and do your best work with us!
Fair recruitment at DS Smith
To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world, we aim to build a diverse, motivated, and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued, and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.
Our people come from diverse backgrounds, bring different perspectives, ideas and experiences to generate unique solutions focused on present and future
#LI-CE
Skills Required
- Minimum 3 years of design experience
- Packaging industry experience
- Technical knowledge of packaging materials, manufacturing processes, and product development
- Experience using CAD software, preferably ArtiosCAD
- Experience with packaging software such as CAPE, Optim, or similar
- Understanding of 2D and 3D technical drawings
- Project management skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
- Analytical and problem-solving capabilities
- Ability to collaborate with internal and external stakeholders
- Excellent communication, presentation, and organizational skills
- Packaging industry qualification or equivalent relevant experience
- Product Design qualification or related discipline
- Maths and English qualifications
- Competent use of Microsoft Office applications
- Competent use of CAD and graphics software
- Health and Safety qualification
- Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma qualification
DS Smith Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about DS Smith and has not been reviewed or approved by DS Smith.
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Fair & Transparent Compensation — Pay is considered okay to good across many roles, with some plants indicating competitive or above‑market hourly rates for operators and similar positions. This supports a broadly fair perception of base pay even as experiences vary by site.
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Healthcare Strength — U.S. offerings include day‑one medical/vision and dental, employer HSA contributions, and 100% company‑paid life and short/long‑term disability, alongside an EAP. Some role descriptions also highlight mental‑health and fertility options.
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Retirement Support — Packages commonly reference a 401(k) with company match and, in some locations, pension eligibility or company‑funded retirement contributions. This positions retirement benefits as a meaningful component of total rewards.
DS Smith Insights
What We Do
DS Smith provides innovative packaging solutions, paper products and recycling services with a commitment to sustainability and a circular economy. Our core purpose is to Redefine Packaging for a Changing World, and our expert teams work closely with like-minded partners to incorporate renewable resources for products that minimize our environmental impact, reduce complexity and increase profitability through supply chain optimization
