Project Manager - Product Change

Suntory Holdings Limited; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Suntory Oceania is seeking a Project Manager – Product Change to drive end-to-end product transitions across Australia and New Zealand. You will lead cross-functional teams, manage inventory exposure, and deliver the lowest write-off outcomes without compromising customer requirements.

Join a fast-moving FMCG environment where you’ll influence transition strategy, optimise packaging changes, and partner with sales, supply chain and manufacturing to balance service levels with cost efficiency.

Qualifications

• Experience managing complex FMCG projects through stage-gated processes.
• Strong inventory and materials management, PLM and supply chain planning.
• Experience leading product launches, packaging changes, SKU transitions or rationalisation.
• Commercial acumen with ability to analyse trade-offs and financial impact.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills.
• Experience with SAP or similar ERP systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end product change and transition projects across Australia and New Zealand.
• Support NPD projects that involve a transition of finished goods or materials.
• Develop inventory and transition strategies that reduce write-offs and improve outcomes.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to balance customer needs, production requirements, service levels and cost.
• Analyse transition scenarios and recommend the most commercially effective path.
• Drive accountability across project teams and escalate risks where needed.
• Use SAP and planning systems to monitor inventory exposure and forecast risks.
• Deliver reporting, insights and process improvements that create long-term value.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Commercial acumen

Tools

SAP

Job description

Bringing the best of Suntory to Oceania

By harnessing the best of Suntory from across Australia and New Zealand, Suntory Global Spirits and Suntory Beverage & Food Oceania have created a multi-beverage powerhouse – Suntory Oceania.

Our 40 market-leading brands, including Jim Beam® and Maker's Mark® Bourbon, Hibiki® Japanese Whisky, Canadian Club® Whisky, -196, V Energy, Maximus, and Suntory BOSS Coffee, are powered by five distribution centres, more than 1,500 Suntorians and two local manufacturing sites. With full end-to-end control of our portfolio, we pioneer new beverage experiences, inspired by innovation and craftsmanship.

The Opportunity:

The role of Project Manager – Product Change offers a unique opportunity within our evolving business to sit at the intersection of innovation, supply chain, commercial decision-making and portfolio management, effectively managing the transition of new and changing products across our business.

The Project Manager - Product Change is accountable for driving low write-off outcomes across product transitions, with responsibility for actively reducing packaging, raw material and finished goods exposure. This role will lead the transition strategy, drive commercial choices and hold cross-functional team accountable for delivering the lowest practical write-off outcome without compromising critical business or customer requirements.

This role could be based from our offices in Auckland, Sydney or Swanbank QLD.

What You'll Do

• Lead end-to-end product change and transition projects across Australia and New Zealand.
• Support NPD projects that involved a transition of finished goods or materials
• Develop inventory and transition strategies that reduce write-offs and improve commercial outcomes.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to balance customer needs, production requirements, service levels and cost.
• Analyse multiple transition scenarios and recommend the most commercially effective path forward.
• Drive accountability across project teams, proactively identifying risks and escalating issues where required.
• Use SAP and planning systems to monitor inventory exposure, forecast risks and support informed decision-making.
• Deliver reporting, insights and process improvements that create long-term business value.

What you’ll bring:

We’re looking for someone with:

• Experience managing complex projects within FMCG through a stage-gated process, manufacturing, supply chain, operations or portfolio environments.
• Strong understanding of inventory and materials management, product lifecycle management and supply chain planning.
• Experience leading product launches, packaging changes, SKU transitions or rationalisation programs.
• Commercial acumen and confidence analysing business trade-offs and financial impacts.
• Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to drive decisions across diverse teams.
• Experience working with SAP or similar ERP systems.

What’s in it for you?

• Grow your career – we like to promote from within and have incredible learning and development opportunities locally & around the world.
• Drive transformation and innovation in a future-fit operating model.
• Generous incentive program for all of our permanent employees.
• An inclusive parental leave policy for both primary and secondary caregivers.
• Birthday leave – enjoy a day off to celebrate your birthday.
• Gradual return to work to help you transition back from parental leave.
• Work in a culture that values diversity, collaboration and growth.
• Flexible working – flexible hours and hybrid working.
• We are committed to giving back to our communities, so we provide you with volunteer leave to do so.

Our DEI Commitment

At Suntory, we recognize that diverse knowledge, perspectives, and backgrounds contribute to our collective success. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all individuals can bring their whole selves to work every day, regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, neurodiversity, or differing abilities, age, or any other protected characteristic.

Our recruitment and selection processes are designed to highlight what Suntory offers as an employer while allowing candidates to share their unique skills and experiences. We understand that career trajectories vary, and if you believe your experience/background can benefit our team, we encourage you to apply. We endeavor to make our interview process as inclusive as possible and offer reasonable accommodations as needed. Together, we can cultivate a workplace where everyone can thrive and propel our mission of Growing for Good.