Location: Valencia, Spain (onsite)
About the Role:
DS Smith has an exciting new opportunity for a Product Safety Laboratory Manager to lead our new Product Safety laboratory based in Valencia, Spain. You will provide analytical chemistry testing and technical expertise for R&D, strategic innovation projects, and major business initiatives.
The role combines hands-on technical leadership - designing, executing, and interpreting experiments in line with agreed milestones - with management skills: leading a team, running the laboratory as a well-governed operation, and owning its budget and performance.
Beyond laboratory and people management, you will act as the technical face of the laboratory to DS Smith's customers and internal stakeholders - presenting results, explaining technical findings in commercial terms, and building trust directly with clients. The successful candidate will bring seniority and confidence operating at manager and customer level, alongside strong analytical and laboratory management credentials.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
Lead the laboratory and team, managing daily operations, workflows, and resource allocation
Serve as the primary technical contact for customers, presenting results and providing commercially relevant recommendations
Represent the laboratory during customer visits, audits, and technical reviews
Support R&D projects through experimental design, testing, data interpretation, and technical reporting
Manage the laboratory budget, purchasing, inventory, and cost control
Drive continuous improvement of laboratory methods, processes, and equipment
Maintain knowledge of food contact regulations and testing methodologies
Collaborate with R&D teams to ensure consistent quality, productivity, and best practices
Ensure compliance with health, safety, quality, and maintenance standards
Prepare and review scientific reports, maintaining confidentiality and professional standards.
About You
MSc (or equivalent) in Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Food Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, or a related discipline. A PhD is advantageous
Previous experience using analytical instrumentation within an industrial, R&D, testing, or CRO environment
Experience assessing food contact materials and regulatory compliance
Strong practical experience with HPLC, GC, ICP, method development, validation, and troubleshooting
Sound understanding of food contact regulations and packaging materials, particularly paper, board, and cellulose-based products
Proven ability to analyse data, solve technical problems, and communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences
Experience managing projects, laboratory operations, quality systems, and regulatory compliance activities
Previous experience with paper, board, or packaging materials is an advantage
Very good written and spoken Spanish and English - level B2/ C1
Travel: Occasional travel within the UK and Europe to support R&D trials and business activities.
Interested? Apply today! Please send us your CV in English and a member of our recruitment team will be in touch, if shortlisted.
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 sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.
Skills Required
- MSc or equivalent in Analytical Chemistry, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Food Chemistry, Materials Chemistry, or a related discipline
- Previous experience using analytical instrumentation in an industrial, R&D, testing, or CRO environment
- Experience assessing food contact materials and regulatory compliance
- Practical experience with HPLC, GC, ICP, method development, validation, and troubleshooting
- Understanding of food contact regulations and packaging materials, particularly paper, board, and cellulose-based products
- Ability to analyze data, solve technical problems, and communicate findings to technical and non-technical audiences
- Experience managing projects, laboratory operations, quality systems, and regulatory compliance activities
- Very good written and spoken Spanish and English at B2/C1 level
- PhD
- Previous experience with paper, board, or packaging materials
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
