Competitive salary + super | Permanent full-time
Growing role with broad business impact | FMCG beverage manufacturing
Packaging innovation | Sustainability | Product development
About the Company
Refresco is the world's largest independent beverage manufacturer, producing over 12 billion litres annually across 75 global sites. Our facilities manufactures high-quality juices and soft drinks for Australia's leading retail brands, helping shape the future of sustainable beverage production.
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced Packaging Specialist to join our Technical/NPD Commercialisation team. This role is responsible for driving packaging innovation, documentation, optimisation, sustainability initiatives, and technical governance across our beverage portfolio.
Working closely with Operations, Quality, Commercial, Procurement, Innovation, and external packaging suppliers, you'll play a key role in new product development, packaging performance improvement, cost optimisation projects, and compliance requirements.
This is an excellent opportunity for a technically minded packaging professional who enjoys balancing hands-on project work with strategic packaging development.
Duties
- Own and maintain the packaging specification library, driving standardisation and centralised document control
- Support new product development activities including packaging trials, carton sizing, material selection, and specification development
- Manage packaging workflows within the new product development systems for new materials and product launches
- Lead packaging cost optimisation projects, including lightweighting, shrink reduction, and specification simplification initiatives
- Investigate and resolve packaging performance issues relating to transport performance, line performance, and supplier/customer quality concerns
- Identify and implement packaging optimisation opportunities to improve production efficiency and packaging reliability
- Support sustainability initiatives including rPET implementation, recyclability improvements, and APCO compliance activities
- Manage Australasian Recycling Label (ARL) implementation and maintenance programs
- Coordinate Container Deposit Scheme registrations and ongoing compliance requirements
- Oversee GS1 barcode verification and product image management workflows
- Act as the primary technical interface with packaging suppliers and support cross-functional stakeholder engagement
- Develop packaging standards, line capability documentation, performance testing methodologies, and technical procedures
Skills & Experience
- Tertiary qualification in Packaging Technology, Food Science, Engineering, Materials Science, or a related discipline
- Demonstrated experience within packaging development, packaging technology, or packaging engineering in FMCG manufacturing
- Strong understanding of packaging materials including PET, rPET, HDPE, closures, corrugate, labels and shrink films
- Experience supporting new product development and commercialisation projects
- Knowledge of packaging sustainability frameworks, recyclability requirements, and circular economy principles
- Experience working with packaging suppliers, converters, and packaging manufacturers
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to drive continuous improvement initiatives
- Working knowledge of GS1 standards, ARL requirements, and Container Deposit Schemes desirable
- Excellent stakeholder management and project coordination skills
Culture
At Refresco, the products you help develop go directly onto supermarket shelves across Australia. You'll work in a collaborative environment where innovation, continuous improvement, safety, and sustainability are highly valued. This role offers the opportunity to influence packaging strategy while delivering tangible improvements across our manufacturing operations.
- Permanent full-time role with a global beverage manufacturer
- Opportunity to lead packaging innovation and sustainability initiatives
- Exposure to major retail and beverage brands
- Collaborative technical team environment
- On-the-job development and career growth opportunities
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- On-site parking
- PPE provided where required
- Pre-employment medical assessment applicable to the role
- And many more, available upon commencement of employment.
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Packaging Specialist employer: REFRESCO
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