laboratory manager jobs

R&D Manager Packaging, Permanent

At Costa Coffee, we’re on a mission to reimagine coffee experiences across the globe. From bustling cities to local communities, we’re creating meaningful coffee moments, powered by innovation and driven by purpose.

As a proud part of the Coca-Cola system and working hand in hand with our pioneering partners, we’re in over 50 countries and counting. Whether it's served in-store, from a machine, at home, or on the go, every cup is thoughtfully crafted by our passionate teams who put heart into every moment.

Our teams truly make a difference. Whether it's pioneering new tech for the perfect pour, launching award-winning campaigns, developing exciting new menu items, or supporting our people to grow – together, we stir up success.

Costa is on an exciting journey to become Bigger & Better, and we’re expanding our packaging team with a newly created role designed to elevate our food and beverage experiences across every platform and market. This permanent position will lead consumer-centric innovation and sustainable material development while strengthening the processes and testing protocols that ensure Costa’s global packaging quality and brand consistency. If you’re passionate about materials, operational excellence and creating packaging that delights consumers and drives growth, this is your opportunity.

We value curiosity, inclusivity, and a problem-solving mindset. If you thrive in a fast-paced, global environment and are excited to make a meaningful impact, we encourage you to apply.

With inspiring experiences, development programmes, and our apprenticeship scheme, your career can grow far beyond the day-to-day.

What you’ll do

Being a R&D Packaging Manager is about so much more than bringing our coffee to the world. It’s your chance to stir up real success - which means you’ll be:

• Lead packaging innovation and project delivery across Retail, Express, and Away-From-Home platforms, ensuring new and renovated products are delivered on time, on budget, and drive brand growth.
• Manage the Packaging Laboratory and testing protocols, maintaining global consistency, ensuring all packaging meets food safety, regulatory, and sustainability standards.
• Scout and implement materials and technologies, exploring opportunities to enhance consumer experience, support Costa’s sustainability agenda, and drive margin improvement.
• Develop and optimize packaging processes, ensuring continuous improvement, operational efficiency, and alignment with global specifications and best practices.
• Collaborate across teams and stakeholders, including suppliers, internal functions, and external partners, to deliver packaging that excites consumers, supports business growth, and minimizes quality risks.

Who you are

It’s your unique ingredients we’re interested in:

• Strong knowledge of packaging materials and regulations, including food contact and recycled plastics, with ideally experience across paper cups, plastics, multilayer pouches, and other packaging formats.
• Proven experience in end-to-end packaging development, from concept to launch, with a track record in FMCG or similar fast pace environment, R&D, sustainability initiatives, and specification approval.
• Strong technical and process skills, including design for manufacture, testing/validation, component tooling, print processes, and familiarity with quality management systems.
• Highly adaptable, results-driven, and curious, with the ability to work independently, manage complexity, support project teams, and continuously seek better solutions that improve consumer experiences.
• Excellent communication and planning abilities, able to structure work effectively, influence stakeholders, and present ideas clearly both verbally and in writing.

So, why Costa?

We didn’t become a global coffee brand by sitting back. When you work here, you join a community that values passion, progression, and integrity—with some brilliant perks to sweeten the deal. We work in a hybrid environment, giving us the flexibility to balance life while still spending meaningful time together and building strong connections:

• Own a piece of Costa’s success by becoming a share owner in Coca-Cola with our Share Investment Plan (SIP)
• An annual discretionary bonus scheme, based on business results and individual contribution.
• A smart pension that saves you money on tax and national insurance, and matches your contributions up to 10%
• The Costa Financial Support Fund, supporting team members who find themselves in unexpected financial pressure
• 50% discount in all Costa-owned stores, and 25% off in other participating stores
• Private medical cover thanks to our Private Healthcare scheme
• And that’s not all. Explore even more of our perks here: https://bit.ly/costaperks

Location – Hybrid – Loudwater – required to attend our Loudwater office a minimum of 3 times a week.

For any reasonable adjustments and general queries, please get in touch with costa.recruitment@costacoffee.com

We believe in living life with heart – and that starts with our people.
By showing up as our authentic selves, we create a culture where everyone belongs. We celebrate diversity in all its forms and are committed to building an equitable and inclusive environment—one that embraces the unique blend of experiences, identities, and perspectives each person brings. This rich diversity strengthens our teams and reflects the spirit of our global brand.

Grounded in our core values—Passion for Progress, Win with Warmth, Courage to Challenge, and Trusted Team Players—we strive to make a meaningful impact in everything we do. From empowering communities through the Costa Foundation to supporting local initiatives, we’re committed to changing lives in coffee-growing regions and right here at home.