Packaging Manager

About the job B.
E.
S. (Business & Engineering Solutions) is growing and is therefore welcoming a new Packaging Manager within a major automotive logistics organization. As a Packaging Manager, you will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership and development of the Packaging Team, while driving strategic initiatives related to packaging, regulatory compliance, safety and continuous improvement. You will ensure effective team execution, monitor project delivery and performance, remove operational barriers, and act as a change leader to ensure packaging activities support business objectives, regulatory requirements, operational excellence and safety standards. Context: Join the packaging and logistics organization of a major company located in the Flemish Brabant (Belgium), within an international environment responsible for supporting efficient and reliable parts operations. You will lead a team of approximately 6 Packaging Specialists, working closely with suppliers, operations, engineering, quality, procurement and logistics stakeholders. A key part of the role will be the implementation of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), ensuring organizational readiness, supplier compliance and appropriate governance processes. At the same time, you will drive Kaizen and continuous improvement initiatives focused on reducing packaging costs and waste, optimizing returnable packaging, improving logistics efficiency and increasing asset utilization. This role is particularly suited to an experienced packaging, logistics, supply chain, manufacturing or engineering manager with a strong leadership mindset and proven experience in Lean/Kaizen, regulatory compliance and operational improvement. Your

Responsibilities:
• Lead, coach and develop the Packaging Team, establishing clear priorities, responsibilities and performance expectations.
• Manage team workload, resources and project progress while ensuring effective execution and timely delivery of objectives.
• Act as a change leader, identifying and removing organizational or operational barriers and ensuring appropriate follow-up of risks and issues.
• Promote a strong safety culture, including safe packaging design, material handling, transportation and storage, while supporting risk assessments, audits and corrective actions.
• Lead and coordinate the implementation of PPWR requirements, working with suppliers and internal stakeholders to ensure compliance and organizational readiness.
• Drive Kaizen, Lean and continuous improvement initiatives, including packaging cost and waste reduction, returnable packaging optimization, logistics efficiency and asset utilization.
• Establish and monitor KPIs to measure the effectiveness and business impact of packaging and improvement projects.
• Act as a key point of contact for packaging, compliance, safety and improvement initiatives, ensuring effective communication with senior management and cross-functional stakeholders.

Your Profile
• Minimum 5 years of leadership experience, ideally within Packaging, Logistics, Supply Chain, Quality, Manufacturing or Engineering.
• Master’s or Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Logistics, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related technical field.
• Proven experience managing and developing teams, with the ability to establish priorities, manage performance and drive accountability.
• Strong experience in Packaging Management, ideally including packaging specifications, returnable packaging, logistics or packaging process optimization.
• Experience implementing regulatory compliance initiatives, with knowledge of PPWR considered a strong advantage.
• Demonstrated experience with Kaizen, Lean Management or Operational Excellence, ideally involving cost reduction, waste reduction or process optimization.
• Strong project management and execution skills, with the ability to manage multiple initiatives, resources, risks and deadlines.
• Experience working with suppliers and cross-functional stakeholders, including operations, engineering, quality, procurement and logistics.
• Strong understanding of safety, risk assessment, root cause analysis and corrective actions, with a hands-on and Gemba-oriented mindset.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management and problem-solving skills, with the ability to influence others and drive change in an international environment.
• Fluent in English, both written and spoken.