Senior R&D Packaging Specialist

<h3>Job Description</h3><p>Come join our Amsterdam based Innovation department as our new Senior R&amp;D Packaging Specialist and contribute to Rituals’ success by developing packaging solutions</p><p>We are growing rapidly worldwide, which means our team is expanding. As a Senior R&amp;D Packaging Specialist, you’ll play a vital role in bringing our iconic rituals to life through packaging that is as thoughtful and beautiful as the products inside. </p><p>You’ll be at the forefront of developing innovative, sustainable, and premium packaging solutions that align with our commitment to wellbeing, design excellence, and a better planet. In close collaboration with other teams within Innovation, Sourcing, Sustainability &amp; Impact, Quality and Regulatory, you’ll shape the future of Rituals’ packaging, from early-stage feasibility testing and briefing till validation where we team up with Quality and our partners. .</p><p>You are passionate about purposeful design and sustainability. You’re analytical yet creative, precise but open-minded. You thrive in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment and love turning technical challenges into elegant, high-performing solutions. You combine technical expertise with a commercial mindset — and you never lose sight of the customer experience.</p><p>Your role</p><p>As a Senior R&amp;D Packaging Specialist, you are the bridge between creativity and technical feasibility. You help translate bold ideas into tangible, sustainable packaging solutions that reflect the Rituals aesthetic — elegant, functional and future-ready towards Net-Zero target. </p><p>You will:</p><ul><li>Lead the technical development of innovative packaging solutions for new product launches within your product category, from concept to production-ready designs.</li><li>Perform early-stage technical feasibility assessments and risk analyses to ensure packaging concepts can be produced efficiently, meet recyclability standards, and retain their design intent.</li><li>Drive sustainability initiatives by evaluating packaging through Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), assessing material choices, and advising on recyclability and environmental impact.</li><li>Stay ahead of packaging legislation and compliance by translating complex regulatory requirements (such as PPWR) into practical design and development standards.</li><li>Collaborate cross-functionally with internal teams in Innovation, Sourcing, Impact, Quality and Regulatory, as well as with external suppliers and manufacturing partners.</li><li>Explore and assess new materials and technologies — especially those that support Rituals’ Net Zero goals — and bring relevant innovations into the development pipeline.</li><li>Guide and support product category teams by offering expertise in packaging sustainability, circular design, and material optimization.</li><li>Ensure the accurate reporting of sustainability data and support internal and external communication on packaging performance and compliance.</li><li>Contribute to knowledge-sharing and best practices within the R&amp;D Packaging team and across departments, helping to elevate the packaging craft at Rituals.</li></ul><p>This role offers a unique opportunity to shape the look, feel, and environmental impact of Rituals’ products — and to bring joy and beauty into the daily lives of millions</p><h3>Qualifications</h3><p>High on energy, low on ego and with a of little bit humour. </p><ul><li>A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Packaging, Industrial Design Engineering, Material Chemistry, or a related field.</li><li>4–6 years of relevant experience in packaging development within cosmetics, personal care, home care or FMCG.</li><li>You have affinity with cosmetics.</li><li>Deep knowledge of packaging materials, production technologies, and sustainability frameworks.</li><li>Experience in early-stage packaging development and technical briefing.</li><li>Familiarity with packaging legislation (e.g. PPWR), circular design, and LCA tools.</li><li>A proactive, detail-focused mindset with strong project management skills.</li><li>You have a strong personality with excellent communication &amp; persuasion skills</li><li>You are savvy, accurate and persuasive.</li><li>Ideally you have experience with data-driven development tools (e.g., Power BI, Power Query for Excel).</li><li>Fluent in English (verbal and written communication).</li><li>You are keen to be the best in class. You are flexible, you enjoy making things better every day and you are a team player who thrives within a dynamic and fast-growing company. </li></ul><p>Grow with us! The next steps are:</p><ul><li>Please apply via our career site</li><li>Our recruiter, Peter Swinkels, will contact you within 10 working days</li><li>An introductory meeting with a team member and the hiring manager follows</li><li>An online assessment and business case to prepare for the second interview</li><li>A second interview</li><li>In the event of a positive outcome,