Fonterra: Packaging Technologist – Sustainability

About Us

Fonterra is a global nutrition company owned by 10,000 farming families in New Zealand. We employ 20,000 people around the globe and offer amazing opportunities for people who want to join our team.

Your Purpose

This is an opportunity to be part of something truly special! We are seeking an experienced Packaging Technologist with a passion for sustainability to lead the packaging development, execution, and implementation of Fonterra’s Sustainable Packaging goal of 100% Recyclable, Compostable or Reusable by 2025.

Based at our modern Richmond head office and working within a hybrid model with WFH flexibility, this role will see you understand Fonterra Australia’s sustainability plan and work closely with the Project Manager – Sustainability to plan, develop, trial, and implement all required packaging changes to meet Fonterra’s 2025 targets.

As the Packaging Technologist – Sustainability, you will be responsible for leading the development and execution of a robust technical trial plan to ensure successful implementation of any required packaging changes to our existing portfolio.

Operating within a cross functional environment, you will work closely with the NPD, Operations and Procurement functions to identify any synergies with NPD and Operations packaging projects.

You will also:

• Deliver all the required packaging technical documentation as part of the Sustainability program
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing and new packaging suppliers to brief and develop the packaging solutions required to achieve Fonterra’s sustainability targets
• Work closely with the Specifications team to develop and deliver all necessary administration changes as part of the sustainability program such as SAP Material Master Data changes, and Specification updates in Hamilton Grant
• Develop and maintain strong relationships at relevant manufacturing sites to ensure successful handover and commercialisation of all changes to packaging through the sustainability program, in particular with the production & quality functions

You’ll play an integral role in many of our key business initiatives and will develop effective working relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organisation.

Some travel to our Operations sites, located across VIC and TAS, will be required.

What you will bring

We are looking for someone bright and driven with a passion for the packaging sustainability space, ideally with good mechanical aptitude.

You will have several years’ experience as a packaging technologist having worked with a wide range of food packaging solutions.

A clear and natural communicator, you will easily be able to share practical and theoretical knowledge about packaging formats and show demonstrated ability to drive change.

In addition, you will have:

• Degree qualifications in Science, Technical or Engineering discipline. Food Science, Food Technology, Packaging technology is preferred.
• 5+ years’ Food/Packaging Technologist experience within Manufacturing/FMCG.
• Packaging sustainability experience will be highly advantageous.
• Demonstrable ability to work cross functionally including machine operators, line leads and senior managers.
• Excellent planning and organisation skills.

We are Fonterra

Fonterra is a global nutrition company owned by 10,000 farming families in New Zealand. We employ 20,000 people around the globe and offer amazing opportunities for people who want to join our team.

In Australia, we take the milk we collect from our farmers, and our eight manufacturing sites across Victoria and Tasmania turn this into dairy foods that generations of Australians have grown up with and love, including Perfect Italiano™, Mainland™, Western Star™, and Bega™.

At Fonterra, we understand that to attract top talent we need to have the jobs that will make you want to get out of bed in the morning. Diversity, inclusion, and flexibility are a big part of our business, and with a collaborative culture, inspiring leaders and passionate people, this is a great place to work.

We need good people, we need you – please apply and join our team.