About the role
We’re looking for a Design for Variation Specialist to help drive smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable packaging solutions at DS Smith.
Based within one of the world’s leading Global Automotive Distribution Centres, you’ll be part of our Mercia Design & Innovation Team, who play a key role in designing, maintaining and enhancing packaging solutions for a major customer’s global aftermarket network.
In this role, you’ll be responsible for identifying and delivering packaging improvement opportunities that create real value through:
1. Reduced customer costs
2. Optimised supply chain performance
3. Improved product protection & damage reduction
4. Improved sustainability impacts
You’ll oversee the day‑to‑day management of packaging Bills of Materials, while also identifying opportunities to simplify, rationalise and standardise our packaging range using an 80/20 mindset.
This is a collaborative, hands-on role where you'll work closely with:
5. Our customer and their 3PL provider
6. Creative and Automotive Designers
7. Internal technical, operational and commercial teams
Main Responsibilities will include:
Design & Innovation
8. Develop fit-for-purpose packaging solutions
9. Produce conceptual/local prototypes and manage materials
10. Create technical drawings, reports and packaging specifications
11. Support NPI processes, internal trials and quality improvements
12. Create inbound & outbound logistics pallet plans
13. Provide design-for-implementation and creative support
Continuous Improvement
14. Apply DS Smith Way principles to drive ongoing improvements
15. Build CI pipelines to deliver annual packaging spend savings
16. Optimise systems, metrics and standards to maximise performance
Collaboration & Communication
17. Build strong relationships with customers, suppliers and internal teams
18. Clearly communicate project requirements and business benefits
19. Represent DS Smith with professionalism and customer focus
Data & Analysis
20. Manage and interpret large data sets with strong attention to detail
21. Produce compelling justification documents outlining benefits
22. Health, Safety & Environment
23. Take ownership for safe ways of working
24. Promote a proactive culture of safety and continuous improvement
About you
To succeed, you’ll need strong analytical skills, the ability to communicate clearly, and the creativity to turn insights into innovative, practical packaging solutions.
Minimum requirements:
Essential
25. GCSEs (or equivalent)
26. Experience designing packaging
27. Strong competence in MS Office
28. Confident user of CAD and graphics software
29. Understanding of 2D/3D drawings
30. Self-motivated, detail-focused and able to drive project momentum
31. Able to work collaboratively and communicate effectively
32. Demonstrates DS Smith values: Caring, Challenging, Trusted, Responsive & Tenacious
Desirable
33. A-levels or degree in a design-related subject
34. Knowledge of corrugated automotive packaging & supply cycles
35. Experience in manufacturing or warehousing environments
36. Strong commercial awareness
Apply now and become part of a team that challenges the ordinary and leads with innovation
Benefits
37. Competitive salary
38. 25 days holiday plus bank holidays
39. Pension scheme, life assurance and income protection
40. Salary sacrifice electric car scheme
41. Employee Assistance Programme
42. Employee Discounts
43. Cycle to work scheme
Location: Swadlincote - Mercia Global Automotive Distribution Centre
Working hours: Monday to Friday – 08:00 – 16:00pm
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 sustainability challenges. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria