Senior Packaging Specialist

Openway Food Co; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Certified B Corporation

Values-led workplace

Professional development

Flexible working arrangements

Free onsite parking

Job summary

Openway Food Co in Melbourne is seeking a Senior Packaging Specialist to drive packaging solutions across our brand portfolio. Reporting to the R&D Director, you will lead concept to implementation, balancing performance, cost, quality, sustainability and customer needs.

You will own packaging specs, run trials, ensure FSANZ/APCO compliance, manage supplier partnerships and champion packaging excellence across the business with a collaborative, curious mindset and a passion for healthy,

Qualifications

• 5+ years of packaging development experience in food manufacturing.
• Qualified in Packaging Science or related discipline.
• Strong attention to detail with ability to manage multiple priorities.

Responsibilities

• Lead development, testing and optimisation of packaging for new and existing products.
• Plan and run packaging trials, feasibility studies and evaluations ensuring food safety and regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to move projects from brief to implementation.
• Identify risks early and provide practical options for timely decisions.

Skills

Packaging development

Packaging science

Attention to detail

Project management

Collaboration

Education

Packaging Science degree

Engineering related qualification

Job description

We’re a thriving food manufacturing business committed to creating sustainable impact for people, through great tasting food. Our vision is to use our products to drive “better for you” food to be the norm, not the exception and to help the Australian Food industry to prioritise health, sustainability, and local economic growth.

Openway Food Co. is the home of Red Tractor Foods, Table of Plenty and Keep It Cleaner brands which are loved by thousands of Australians. With a mission to create food that nourishes generations, we will continue to grow our stable of brands so we can make great tasting, better for your foods accessible to everyone.

We work with a range of businesses from start-up brands to large multi-national FMCG businesses. As well as having our own brands, our state-of-the-art manufacturing capabilities enable us to work in partnership with retailers on their private label products and to co-manufacture for other like businesses. Our manufacturing site is in Clayton South and our Sales and Marketing hub is in Cremorne.

As a certified B Corp, we’re dedicated to making a positive impact and using our business as a force for good. We’re on the hunt for talented people who want to be part of our exciting journey and grow with us.

About The Role

Shape the future of packaging at Openway!

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Packaging Specialist to drive packaging solutions across the Openway portfolio. Reporting to the Research & Development Director, you’ll be our packaging subject matter expert— partnering on projects from concept and feasibility through trials and implementation. With an exciting pipeline ahead, this is a highly visible role where your technical expertise, judgement and influence will directly support innovation, operational performance, sustainability and commercial success.

The opportunity:

• Lead the development, testing and optimisation of packaging for new and existing products, recommending solutions that balance product performance, cost, quality, sustainability and customer needs.
• Plan and deliver packaging trials, feasibility studies and performance evaluations, ensuring solutions meet food safety, regulatory and operational requirements.
• Partner cross-functionally to move projects from brief to implementation in relation to packaging.
• Anticipate likely outcomes, identify risks early and prepare practical options so teams can make confident, timely decisions.
• Drive improvements that reduce waste and cost, strengthen packaging reliability and improve production performance.
• Own packaging specifications, test results and compliance documentation, including APCO and Australasian Recycling Label requirements.
• Build strong supplier partnerships, resolve material and performance issues, and support the assessment and development of new packaging suppliers.
• Champion packaging excellence across the business by sharing knowledge, lifting capability and influencing stakeholders to adopt better solutions and ways of working.

About You

• We are looking for someone with 5+ years’ experience in packaging development within food manufacturing, supported by a qualification in Packaging Science, Food Science, Engineering or a related discipline.
• You will have exceptional attention to detail, with the discipline to maintain accurate specifications, records and compliance requirements while managing multiple priorities.
• Confidence operating in ambiguity, with the ability to adapt when projects change direction and maintain momentum without losing sight of quality.
• Strategic acumen — you connect packaging decisions to brand, margin and sustainability goals, and bring clear options and recommendations that help the business decide with confidence.
• Strong knowledge of packaging materials, technologies, testing methods and food industry requirements, including FSANZ, APCO and Australasian Recycling Label standards.
• Well-developed analytical, problem-solving and project management capability, with a practical approach to resolving technical and production challenges.
• A collaborative, influential communication style and the credibility to bring internal teams, suppliers and customers with you.
• A humble, team-first mindset — you seek to understand other perspectives first, then put your own view forward constructively, bringing energy that lifts the people around you.
• A genuine interest in healthy food, sustainability and finding smarter ways to deliver better packaging outcomes.

Ready to shape what’s next?

If you’re a motivated packaging specialist who combines technical depth with curiosity, precision and the confidence to lead through change, we’d love to hear from you.

What we can offer you

• The chance to build your career with a Certified B Corporation™ — a business that measures success by its impact on people and the planet, not just profit
• The opportunity to operate in a values-led workplace focused on transparency, collaboration, progressive, responsible and grounded thinking and practices
• Personal and professional development
• Flexible working arrangements
• Free onsite parking

This is an exciting opportunity to join an awesome team, focused on driving growth within the health food sector. Openway Food Co is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is able to thrive. We encourage applications from people of all ages, ethnicities, abilities, sexual orientation and gender identities.

For more information on Openway Food Co, please visit our website:

https://openwayfood.com.au/

For more information on the exciting B Corp movement, please visit their website:

B Lab Global Site (bcorporation.net)

https://bcorporation.com.au/

Successful candidates will be required to complete a pre-employment medical screening including drug and alcohol testing.