watties-kraft-heinz-banner-Sep2025


Senior R&D Packaging Technologist

Hastings Central, Hawkes Bay, New Zealand (Hybrid)
Full time

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watties-kraft-heinz-logo-Sep2025The Kraft Heinz Company is one of the largest food and beverage companies in the world, with eight $1 billion+ brands and global sales of approximately $25 billion. Our brands are truly global, with products produced and marketed in over 40 countries. These beloved products include condiments and sauces, cheese and dairy, meals, meats, refreshment beverages, coffee, infant and nutrition products, and numerous other grocery products in a portfolio of more than 200 legacy and emerging brands.

Summary
Join our team as a Packaging R&D professional and play a key role in driving innovation and growth at Kraft Heinz. As a member of our team, you will develop and improve packaging solutions for new and existing products, ensuring alignment with marketing and production goals. You will work in a safe, responsible, and sustainable manner, upholding our company values and contributing to our vision for a better future
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Key responsibilities

  • Initiate and lead packaging projects for new product development, cost reduction, quality improvement, and process enhancement.
  • Deliver projects on time and to a high standard through effective project management.
  • Design packaging solutions that minimize total cost (materials, operations, and logistics) while meeting project requirements.
  • Ensure packaging designs comply with the Australian Packaging Covenant and New Zealand Packaging Stewardship scheme.
  • Develop and control packaging specifications and associated documentation.
  • Collaborate with packaging suppliers to stay up-to-date on industry developments and innovations.
  • Position Heinz as a leader in innovative packaging solutions to maximize profit.
  • Ensure suppliers provide optimal packaging performance, cost, and innovation.
  • Provide technical support to other departments on packaging-related issues.
  • Maintain accurate and relevant packaging specifications and technical documents.

About you

  • Degree in Science, Technology or Engineering
  • Qualification in Packaging Technology
  • Minimum of 5 years’ experience in an FMCG company in a packaging or technical related field.
  • Ability to work in a team environment or autonomously to resolve problems and improve systems.
  • Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
  • Excellent problem solving and analytical skills
  • Good project management, planning and organization skills
  • Strong technical understanding of packaging materials
  • Strong technical understanding of canning, bottle, glass and pouch materials and processes

About us

  • Hybrid Working – Flexibility around when and where you work
  • Pay for Performance – industry leading variable compensation offerings tied to company and individual performance on top of a competitive base salary package
  • Parental Leave – paid time off for both primary AND secondary caregivers
  • Leave Options – Purchased leave, volunteer leave and LiveWell leave programs
  • Novated Leasing
  • Great Place to Work certification in Australia and New Zealand
  • In House Training Programs

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