Procurement Manager - Packaging

Company Overview

PEP is an energetic personal care company that includes two innovative brands—mCaffeine and Hyphen. Our mission is to reshape personal care by delivering effective, thoughtful, and well-loved products. mCaffeine is recognized as India's first caffeinated personal care brand known for its invigorating and playful personality, while Hyphen focuses on simplifying skincare using science-based formulas. Together, these brands uphold PEP’s commitment to quality, creativity, and care for millions of consumers, embracing confidence beyond skin and body biases.

Role Summary

We seek an experienced Packaging Procurement Manager to lead packaging functions across our beauty and personal care brands. This position entails spearheading packaging innovation, strategic sourcing, supplier collaborations, cost management, sustainability efforts, and packaging implementation for product launches. The role works closely with multiple departments such as Product Development, Marketing, Procurement, Supply Chain, Quality, Manufacturing, and Design to develop scalable and customer-centric packaging solutions suited for a fast-moving D2C and FMCG environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct overall packaging strategy, from development through commercialization and procurement across all product categories.
• Champion packaging innovation by exploring new materials, formats, decoration techniques, sustainable options, and international trends.
• Plan and implement a packaging roadmap aligned with business goals and brand strategies.
• Develop strategic partnerships with suppliers, converters, manufacturers, and technology providers.
• Lead supplier selection, evaluation, negotiations, onboarding, and monitor supplier performance focusing on quality, innovation, and scalability.
• Initiate value engineering and cost reduction efforts without sacrificing quality or consumer experience.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure timely product launches.
• Manage packaging development activities including sampling, artwork approvals, validation, testing, tooling, and commercialization.
• Institute packaging specifications, quality controls, testing standards, and governance frameworks.
• Conduct packaging risk assessments and ensure supply chain resilience via supplier diversification and contingency plans.
• Drive sustainability initiatives targeting waste reduction, recyclability, recycled content, and eco-friendly material use.
• Monitor packaging performance and market trends for continuous improvement.
• Lead and mentor the packaging team, fostering collaboration and innovation.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Packaging Technology, Polymer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related disciplines.
• Extensive experience in packaging development, engineering, and commercialization within beauty, personal care, cosmetics, or FMCG sectors.
• In-depth knowledge of packaging materials including tubes, bottles, jars, pumps, droppers, closures, labels, cartons, flexible, mono, corrugated, and secondary packaging.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, tooling, decoration methods, packaging specifications, and supplier capabilities.
• Familiarity with packaging regulations, quality measures, sustainability practices, and compliance requirements.
• Proven project management, stakeholder engagement, analytical, negotiation, and leadership capabilities.
• Ability to handle multiple concurrent product launches in a dynamic, high-growth context.
• Preferably 5 to 12 years’ relevant experience including leadership roles in Beauty, Personal Care, Cosmetics, FMCG, Consumer Goods, or D2C companies.