Circular Packaging Advocacy Manager

Job Description

Manager, Circular Packaging Advocacy

About Kraft Heinz

Kraft Heinz is one of the world’s leading food and beverage companies, with iconic brands enjoyed by millions of consumers across Europe and the UK. Packaging plays a critical role in our business: it protects food, ensures quality and safety, extends shelf life, enables efficient distribution and helps prevent food waste.

Packaging is at the centre of public policy, with governments across Europe introducing ambitious measures to reduce packaging waste, increase recycling and promote a more circular economy. These policies have a direct impact on product design, packaging materials, innovation, cost, supply chains and consumer communication.

Effective advocacy is therefore essential to ensure that policy frameworks are ambitious, workable, science-based, proportionate and supportive of innovation, while enabling Kraft Heinz to meet its sustainability commitments.

For Kraft Heinz, packaging is therefore not only a sustainability priority — it is a strategic business and public policy issue.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a Manager, Circular Packaging Advocacy to drive Kraft Heinz’s advocacy on packaging policy across Europe, including the UK.

The role will shape and execute the company’s external engagement strategy on the rapidly evolving packaging agenda, with a particular focus on national packaging levies, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes and fee structures, and the implementation of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).

The successful candidate will work at the intersection of Government Affairs, Regulatory, R&D, Sustainability and business teams, ensuring that Kraft Heinz has a strong voice in the development and implementation of packaging policy and that policy developments are translated into clear business priorities and action.

Key Responsibilities

1. Drive European Packaging Advocacy: Develop and execute Kraft Heinz’s advocacy strategy on circular packaging across Europe and the UK.

· Identify emerging packaging policy risks and opportunities across priority markets.

· Develop clear policy positions and advocacy strategies.

· Engage with European and national policymakers, regulators, industry associations and other stakeholders.

· Represent Kraft Heinz in relevant industry coalitions and policy forums.

· Build strong relationships with key decision-makers and influencers.

· Ensure consistent messaging across European markets while adapting advocacy to national circumstances.

2. Steer PPWR Implementation: In close collaboration with Regulatory, lead Government Affairs engagement on the implementation of the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR).

· Monitor the development of implementing and delegated legislation and related guidance.

· With Regulatory, assess implications for Kraft Heinz products, packaging and operations.

· Identify critical implementation issues and develop advocacy strategies.

· Coordinate engagement with EU institutions, Member State governments and relevant national authorities.

· Work with Regulatory, R&D, Sustainability and business teams to ensure that Kraft Heinz is prepared for implementation.

· Support the development of practical and commercially viable approaches to implementation across Europe.

3. Shape National Packaging Levies & EPR Policy: Lead advocacy on national packaging levies and EPR frameworks.

· Monitor existing and emerging packaging levies across European markets.

· Engage governments on the design and implementation of packaging taxes.

· Advocate for effective and proportionate EPR systems and fee structures.

· Influence eco-modulation criteria to ensure they appropriately recognise packaging design, recyclability and real-world recycling outcomes.

· Identify opportunities to improve consistency and effectiveness across national systems.

· Assess potential financial and operational implications for Kraft Heinz and translate these into advocacy priorities.

4. Partner with R&D, Regulatory & Sustainability: Act as the key Government Affairs partner to the teams responsible for packaging innovation and regulatory compliance.

· Translate policy developments into clear implications for R&D and packaging development.

· Bring technical and scientific expertise into policy discussions.

· Ensure that advocacy positions are grounded in packaging science, feasibility and consumer needs.

· Support Regulatory and R&D in engaging policymakers on innovation and alternative packaging solutions.

· Work closely with Regulatory and Sustainability to align policy, compliance and corporate commitments.

5. Build Internal Alignment & Strategic Intelligence: Ensure that senior leadership has a clear understanding of the evolving packaging policy landscape.

· With Regulatory, provide regular updates on major policy developments, risks and opportunities.

· Develop executive briefings and recommendations for senior leadership.

· Establish clear priorities across markets and policy files.

· Coordinate advocacy with country teams and external advisors.

· Develop horizon-scanning capabilities to anticipate emerging packaging legislation.

Candidate Profile

We are looking for an experienced Government Affairs or Public Policy professional with a strong understanding of European regulatory and political processes.

The ideal candidate will bring:

· 7+ years of experience in Government Affairs, Public Policy, Regulatory Affairs or a related field.

· Strong knowledge of European policymaking and national regulatory environments.

· Expertise with packaging, circular economy, sustainability, EPR, waste policy or related legislation.

· Experience engaging with EU institutions and national governments.

· The ability to understand complex technical and regulatory issues and translate them into compelling policy arguments.

· Strong stakeholder management and coalition-building skills.

· Excellent written and verbal communication skills. European languages additional to English is a plus.

· The ability to operate effectively across multiple European markets.

· Strong strategic judgement, with the ability to distinguish between technical issues and those that require senior-level advocacy.

· Experience working cross-functionally with technical, regulatory, R&D and commercial teams.

· Experience within the food, FMCG, packaging, recycling or consumer goods sectors would be an advantage.

What Success Looks Like: Success in this role means that Kraft Heinz is:

· Ahead of policy developments, rather than reacting to them.

· Recognised as a credible and constructive voice on circular packaging.

· Effectively influencing the design and implementation of packaging policy across Europe.

· Well positioned on national packaging levies and EPR systems.

· Successfully navigating PPWR implementation.

· Ensuring that packaging policy supports both environmental ambition and practical business implementation.

· Creating strong alignment between Government Affairs, R&D, Regulatory and Sustainability.

This role will report to the European Government Affairs Director and ideally will be based out of Amsterdam or Brussels. Regular travel across Europe and the UK will be required.

Location(s)

London - The Shard

 

Kraft Heinz is an Equal Opportunity Employer – Underrepresented Ethnic Minority Groups/Women/Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities/Sexual Orientation/Gender Identity and other protected classes.