Packaging Engineer

Sonder Executive; City of Melbourne; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Flexible working

Career development

Job summary

Sonder Executive is seeking a Senior Packaging Engineer in Victoria to lead packaging development across the full portfolio, partnering with Marketing, Commercial, Sales and suppliers to drive innovation and value.

You will own packaging design from concept through commercialization, ensuring compliance and quality while guiding cross-functional teams in a fast-paced FMCG environment.

Qualifications

• Degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Industrial Design or related field.
• 5+ years in consumer packaging concept to commercialization.
• Experience with packaging tech in food/FMCG manufacturing.

Responsibilities

• Own packaging development from concept to retail ready solutions.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Commercial, Sales, Supply and suppliers.
• Manage projects through a stage gate process with disciplined PM tools.
• Provide technical sign-off on artwork and packaging structures.
• Identify and deliver value leadership opportunities across materials and costs.

Skills

Packaging design

Cross-functional collaboration

Project management

Communication & presentation

Education

Engineering/Materials Science/Industrial Design degree

Tools

Stage-gate method

Artwork sign-off

Job description

Our client is a well established FMCG organisation with a strong portfolio of household brands and a significant manufacturing and R&D footprint in Victoria. With a healthy innovation pipeline, ongoing investment in packaging and process capability, and a genuine commitment to sustainability, the business is looking for a senior packaging specialist to help shape what its products look like on shelf for years to come.

The Role

Reporting to the R&D Manager and based at the company's Technical Hub, the Senior Packaging Engineer is a senior technical leader responsible for the design and development of packaging materials, structures and related processes across the full product portfolio. You will partner closely with Marketing, Commercial, Sales, Supply and external suppliers to deliver initiatives spanning new product development, product optimisation, cost and value leadership, and future innovation.

Key responsibilities include:

• Owning and coordinating packaging development and design from primary packaging through to retail ready and point of sale display solutions
• Collaborating with internal stakeholders and external suppliers to develop new packaging components that feed the innovation pipeline
• Managing projects through a stage gate process, applying disciplined project management tools to meet business and external requirements
• Providing technical sign off on artwork, packaging and packaging structures to ensure compliance with all relevant standards
• Partnering with Commercial and suppliers to identify and deliver value leadership opportunities across packaging materials and cost structures
• Continuously improving R&D capability, processes and standards to add value and eliminate wasteSupporting the assessment and implementation of global packaging harmonisation projects
• Building knowledge management practices and working with global counterparts to share best practice
• Providing technical guidance to the wider business in support of the strategic agenda

Your Background

You are an experienced packaging professional who has taken consumer packaging from concept through to commercialisation and enjoys working across the full breadth of the business.

You will bring:

• A degree in Engineering, Materials Science, Industrial Design or a related discipline, ideally supported by a formal packaging qualification such as the Certificate in Packaging or AIP accreditation
• Five or more years' experience developing consumer and customer packaging from concept through to commercialisation
• Hands on experience with packaging technologies within a food or FMCG manufacturing environment
• Strong technical project management experience across quality, efficiency and growth projects
• The ability to engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders, from marketing and commercial teams through to factory floor and suppliers
• Excellent communication and presentation skills
• The ability to manage multiple priorities at once and work effectively as part of cross functional teams
• Familiarity with sustainable packaging design, recyclability and packaging compliance requirements would be highly regarded

What's On Offer

• A senior technical role with real ownership across a broad and well loved product portfolio
• The chance to work on innovation, sustainability and value projects with global reach
• A collaborative R&D environment with strong investment in packaging capability
• A competitive salary package including bonus
• Flexible working arrangements with an inclusive and supportive culture.