Packaging Technologist

Clicks Group; Wes-Kaap; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Clicks Group is seeking a Senior Packaging Leader to drive Private Label packaging development across categories. You will lead technical packaging decisions, coordinate supplier deliverables and ensure compliance with quality and sustainability standards.

The role requires extensive experience in packaging design, testing and cross-functional leadership, with a focus on cost and environmental objectives. Strong project governance and mentoring skills are essential.

Qualifications

• Eight years’ practical packaging development experience in retail/ FMCG or packaging manufacturing.
• Experience across multiple substrates, formats and print processes (artwork approval, testing, trials, issue resolution).
• Experience in supplier qualification, performance management, audits and value-engineering initiatives.
• Experience applying packaging sustainability, Extended Producer Responsibility and design-for-recycling requirements.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and improvement of primary, secondary and tertiary packaging across Private Label categories.
• Translate requirements into briefs and specs; drive milestones to launch.
• Define and approve packaging specifications, proofs, and test records; ensure compliance.
• Source and manage packaging suppliers and printers; negotiate terms and rebates.
• Govern concurrent workstreams; report progress, risks and actions to stakeholders.
• Coach and develop junior technologists and maintain consistent methods and templates.

Skills

Packaging problem-solving

Project planning

Technical writing

Supplier management

Stakeholder management

MS Office

Coaching

Creativity

Planning

Analytical thinking

Quality mindset

Collaboration

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Adaptability

Education

Advanced Diploma in Packaging Design and Technology

Certification in packaging/quality/sustainability/project management/auditing

Job description

Lead the development, approval and continuous improvement of Private Label packaging across assigned categories, ensuring it is consumer-focused, commercially viable, fit for purpose, compliant, quality assured and aligned with Clicks sustainability objectives. Provide technical leadership across the packaging value chain, strengthen supplier performance, deliver cost and sustainability benefits, and develop junior packaging capability.

Job Description

Job Objectives

1. Packaging Development and Innovation

• Lead the development and improvement of primary, secondary and tertiary packaging across assigned Private Label categories.
• Translate commercial, brand, consumer, product-protection, supply-chain and sustainability requirements into technically viable briefs and specifications.
• Evaluate packaging formats, materials, components, inks and print technologies to improve functionality, quality, sustainability, lead time or cost.
• Drive packaging milestones from approved brief to commercial launch by coordinating approvals and supplier deliverables, resolving delays and escalating launch risks.
• Provide technical guidance to New Product Development Buyers, Category Buyers, Brand, Product Developers, Designers and Technologists

2. Technical Quality, Specifications and Compliance

• Define, review and approve packaging specifications, artwork requirements, proofs, print standards, production trials and technical testing before release.
• Manage online print approvals and verify colour consistency against approved Private Label brand standards across proofs, press outputs and production batches.
• Ensure packaging is fit for purpose, protects product integrity and meets applicable legal, labelling, environmental, internal and quality requirements.
• Maintain controlled packaging specifications, approvals and test records; investigate non-conformances, lead root-cause analysis and verify corrective action.
• Apply risk-based food-contact, packaging-quality, Good Manufacturing Practice and GS1 requirements appropriate to the product and packaging application.

3. Sustainability and Extended Producer Responsibility

• Implement the Clicks packaging strategy and integrate sustainability requirements into new and existing developments.
• Drive design for recycling, material reduction, packaging elimination, reuse and responsible recycled-content opportunities without compromising safety, quality or performance.
• Support applicable South African Plastics Pact and internal circularity targets.
• Maintain accurate packaging composition and volume data for Extended Producer Responsibility reporting and assess changes against applicable requirements and the national Recyclability by Design guideline.

4. Commercial and Supplier Management

• Source, assess and approve packaging suppliers and printers within delegated authority based on technical capability, quality, compliance, capacity, service and commercial criteria.
• Lead technical and commercial negotiations, including packaging rebate arrangements, and ensure agreed terms are documented, accurately calculated and realised.
• Manage technical relationships with artwork agencies, printers, converters, packaging manufacturers and laboratories.
• Deliver value-engineering opportunities that improve cost, quality, availability or supply resilience.

5. Project and Stakeholder Leadership

• Govern concurrent packaging workstreams, ensuring clear ownership, dependencies, decision points and progress control from briefing to launch.
• Report progress, risks, decisions and actions to relevant stakeholders and facilitate alignment among internal teams, contract manufacturers, suppliers, printers and artwork agencies.
• Escalate unresolved technical, compliance, quality, cost or timeline risks with an evidence-based recommendation.

6. People Leadership and Capability Development

• Prioritise and review work for the Junior Packaging Technologist and/or Regulatory Packaging Technologist, setting clear objectives, timelines and quality expectations.
• Provide coaching, technical guidance and performance feedback, and promote consistent methods, templates, specifications and lessons learned across the Private Label technical team.

Key Success Measures

• At least 95% of agreed packaging critical-path milestones are achieved by their approved dates, with no packaging-driven launch delay unless formally accepted through change control.
• Specifications, artwork, proofs, trials and approvals are completed to agreed turnaround times, and packaging readiness is confirmed before the production or launch gate.
• Critical-path risks and forecast delays are recorded, communicated and escalated with an agreed recovery action and accountable owner.
• At least 95% of online print approvals are completed within the agreed turnaround time, with colour references and decisions recorded before production release.
• At least 98% of production print samples meet the approved Private Label brand colour standard on first assessment. Contract manufacturers must contain and report material deviations within one working day, with corrective action and re-approval completed before production resumes or stock is released.
• Packaging specifications and technical records remain current and controlled, while defects, repeat failures and avoidable rework are reduced.
• Approved cost, value-engineering, sustainability and design-for-recycling objectives are achieved without compromising compliance or quality.
• Extended Producer Responsibility data is accurate, complete and submitted within required timelines.
• Supplier performance against quality, service and compliance requirements meets agreed standards.
• Direct reports achieve agreed performance and development objectives.

Decision-Making Authority

• Approves: Packaging specifications, technical artwork requirements, print proofs, trial acceptance, technical release, and packaging suppliers and printers within delegated authority and approved governance.
• Recommends: Packaging formats, materials, tests, value-engineering options and sustainability interventions.
• Escalates: Material legal, product-safety, quality, consumer, supply, cost or launch risks that exceed delegated authority or remain unresolved.

Knowledge

• Packaging materials, components, formats, conversion processes, structural design, print production and colour management.
• Packaging specifications, test methods, production trials, quality control, document control and root-cause analysis.
• Applicable South African consumer, product, labelling, health-product, food-contact, environmental and waste-management requirements.
• Extended Producer Responsibility, circular-economy principles and design for recycling.
• Supplier quality-management systems and relevant standards, including BRCGS Packaging Materials, Good Manufacturing Practice and GS1 requirements where applicable.
• Cost modelling, value engineering, procurement interfaces and packaging supply-chain risk.

Skills

• Advanced packaging problem-solving, technical judgement and evidence-based decision-making.
• Project planning, prioritisation and delivery across concurrent workstreams.
• Technical writing, specification development, document control and data analysis.
• Supplier assessment, audit, negotiation and performance management.
• Clear communication, influencing, facilitation and cross-functional stakeholder management.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.
• Coaching, delegation and quality review.
• Creating and innovating.
• Planning, organising and initiating action.
• Analysing complex information and applying technical expertise.
• Delivering results while maintaining quality, compliance and attention to detail.
• Collaborating, influencing and building effective relationships.
• Leading and developing others.
• Strategic thinking and commercial awareness.
• Adaptability and continuous-improvement orientation.

Experience

• At least eight years’ practical packaging development experience in a retail, fast-moving consumer goods or packaging manufacturing environment.
• Demonstrated experience across multiple substrates, formats and print processes, including artwork approval, testing, trials and technical issue resolution.
• Experience in supplier qualification, performance management, technical audits and commercial or value-engineering initiatives.
• Practical experience applying packaging sustainability, Extended Producer Responsibility and design-for-recycling requirements.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects through commercial launch and coaching or supervising junior technical staff.

Education

• Advanced Diploma in Packaging Design and Technology, or an equivalent relevant qualification.
• A relevant certification in packaging, quality, sustainability, project management or auditing is advantageous.