Packaging Manager

About Marou

Our mission is to connect the world with award-winning Vietnamese Chocolate. We are a vertically-integrated chocolate company dedicated to crafting the finest artisanal chocolates using only the highest quality ingredients. With a commitment to exceptional taste, sustainability, creativity, and design, we aim to provide a unique and indulgent chocolate experience to our customers. Our products are distributed worldwide, and we pride ourselves on maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction.

Role Purpose

At Marou, chocolate is not just a product, it’s an experience. The Packaging Manager plays a critical role in translating our brand’s identity into tangible, impactful, and sustainable expressions through both product packaging and in-store brand presence. This role leads the development of packaging and merchandising solutions that balance functionality, storytelling, beauty, and environmental consciousness, supporting both retail expansion and export growth.

Key Responsibilities

Merchandising Development

• Lead innovation in experiential merchandising concepts that elevate the Marou retail experience and seasonal campaigns.
• Manage production timelines, quality control, and vendor coordination for merchandising materials.
• Liaise with Sales, Retail, and Marketing teams to ensure merchandising tools meet functional and aesthetic needs across Maison Marou stores and international markets.
• Design and develop merchandising tools (e.g., POSMs, displays, gift sets) that reflect Marou’s brand and storytelling.

Packaging Design & Innovation

• Lead the development of new packaging concepts in alignment with Marou’s brand aesthetics and sustainability ethos.
• Collaborate with the Design and Marketing teams to ensure packaging supports storytelling and shelf impact.
• Research materials and technologies that elevate the unboxing experience while reducing environmental impact.

Project Leadership

• Manage packaging development projects from brief to market launch, including mockups, sampling, testing, and production trials.
• Ensure packaging timelines are aligned with new product launches or seasonal collections (e.g., Lunar New Year, Valentine’s, Christmas).
• Conduct continuous risk assessments and provide agile solutions to technical or supply challenges.

Technical Development

• Define packaging specifications, performance criteria, and test protocols for food safety, durability, and compliance.
• Oversee testing (drop tests, barrier performance, shelf-life) and packaging validations on production lines.
• Maintain accurate BOMs and technical documentation.

Sustainability & Sourcing

• Identify and recommend sustainable materials and formats (e.g., compostable films, FSC-certified boards).
• Work with suppliers to improve recyclability and reduce plastic usage across Marou’s packaging portfolio.
• Track environmental impact (e.g., carbon footprint) and propose improvements aligned with Marou’s sustainability goals.

Cross-functional & Supplier Collaboration

• Act as the packaging expert and liaison between Sales Channels, Products, Manufacturing, QAQC, Procurement, and external printers or converters.
• Collaborate closely with the NPD team to prototype and iterate on formats that suit artisanal and scaled production needs.
• Ensure all packaging developments are feasible for both Maison Marou outlets and global export markets.

Minimum Requirements

Technical Background & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Industrial Design, Food Science.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in packaging development in food, beverage, or FMCG; premium brand experience preferred.