Join DS Smith Retail Marketing as a Production Controller
Are you highly organised, detail-focused and looking for a role where no two days are the same?
About the role
We're looking for a Production Controller to join our Retail Marketing team in Ely, where you'll play a pivotal role in bringing innovative retail displays and marketing solutions to life. This is an exciting opportunity to become part of a close-knit two-person team, reporting directly to the Production Control Team Leader, while working with a wide range of specialists across the business.
This is a complex and varied role that sits at the heart of our operation. You'll be the key link between Sales, Structural Design, Artwork, Planning,
Manufacturing and Logistics, ensuring customer projects move smoothly from concept through to production and delivery.
If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy solving problems, building relationships and managing multiple priorities at once, this could be the perfect next step in your career.
What you'll be doing
As Production Controller, you'll oversee customer orders from initial brief through to final delivery, ensuring every detail is accurately managed throughout the production process.
Key responsibilities include:
Acting as the central point of contact between internal teams and customers
Processing orders and translating customer requirements into clear production briefs
Coordinating with Sales, Structural Design, Artwork, Planning, Manufacturing and Logistics teams
Monitoring projects through each stage of production and ensuring deadlines are met
Maintaining accurate records and project documentation
Managing multiple jobs simultaneously within a fast-paced environment
Proactively identifying potential issues and helping to resolve them quickly
Building strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
Supporting continuous improvement initiatives to enhance efficiency, reduce costs and improve customer experience
Why this role?
This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who enjoys variety and wants exposure to multiple areas of the business.
You'll:
Work on different projects every day
Develop skills across production, planning, design, artwork and customer management
Build relationships with a wide range of stakeholders across the business
Be part of a collaborative and supportive team
Gain valuable experience that can open doors to future progression opportunities within DS Smith
Play a key role in delivering innovative retail marketing solutions for leading brands
About you
We're interested in candidates who enjoy working in a busy environment and take pride in delivering high-quality work.
You'll ideally have:
Experience in a similar production, planning, customer service or project coordination role
Knowledge of 3D and large format print
Exceptional attention to detail
Strong organisational and problem-solving skills
Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities
The ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
Good IT skills and confidence using a variety of systems and software
Location: Ely – Monday – Friday
Hours: 40 Hours on-site – 09:00 – 17:00
Benefits
• Competitive salary
• Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection
• 25 days’ holiday plus bank holidays
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Sharesave scheme
• Corporate discounts
• Cycle to work scheme
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 and 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.
If you require any reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please let us know and we will be happy to support you.
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Skills Required
- Experience in a similar production, planning, customer service or project coordination role
- Knowledge of 3D and large format print
- Exceptional attention to detail
- Strong organisational and problem-solving skills
- Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines
- Good IT skills and confidence using a variety of systems and software
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

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