Senior New Product Development Manager
Flexible Packaging | Food Shelf‑Life Extension
Caspak Australia
At Caspak Australia, we design and deliver innovative flexible packaging solutions that protect food, extend shelf life, and support a more sustainable future. As our business continues to grow, we are seeking a Senior New Product Development Manager to lead technically complex, commercially viable packaging developments for the food industry.
This is a senior, hands‑on role suited to a technically strong packaging professional who thrives at the intersection of material science, sustainability, and commercial execution.
About the Role
Reporting into the senior leadership team, you will own the end‑to‑end development of new flexible packaging solutions, from concept through to commercialisation. You will work closely with customers, suppliers, production, QA, sales, and procurement to deliver high‑performance packaging structures that meet regulatory, sustainability, and commercial requirements.
Key focus areas include barrier packaging, food safety, sustainable material design, and process optimisation across extrusion, lamination, printing, and pouch‑forming environments.
Key Responsibilities
* Lead the development of new flexible packaging structures for food applications, balancing performance, manufacturability, cost, and sustainability
* Translate customer requirements into robust technical packaging solutions and specifications
* Design, coordinate, and evaluate trials (supplier, factory, and line validation)
* Provide expert technical input on materials, barrier properties (OTR/WVTR), shelf life, and food safety compliance
* Drive sustainable packaging initiatives, including recyclable mono‑material structures, downgauging, and circular‑economy alignment
* Manage technical supplier relationships and negotiate material and performance requirements
* Oversee technical documentation, specifications, costing, and value‑engineering activities
* Apply strong problem‑solving and root‑cause analysis to resolve material and process issues on production lines
About You
You are a commercially minded technical expert with deep experience in flexible barrier packaging for the food industry. You enjoy working across functions, solving complex problems, and turning technical concepts into scalable, market‑ready solutions.
You will bring:
* Minimum 5 years’ experience in flexible packaging in the food segment, with strong exposure to barrier films and laminates
* Advanced knowledge of flexible packaging materials, including polyolefins, co‑extruded and metallised films, and multilayer laminates
* Strong understanding of converting processes: extrusion, lamination, coating, printing (flexo/gravure/digital), slitting, and FFS applications
* Demonstrated experience in sustainable packaging development aligned with APCO guidelines and industry best practice
* Working knowledge of food safety, migration, shelf‑life, and Australian and international regulatory requirements
* Proven ability to manage multiple projects, conduct trials, and deliver outcomes under pressure
* Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to present technical solutions in a clear, commercial way
Qualifications
Tertiary qualification in Food Science, Polymer/Materials Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Plastics Technology, or a related discipline
Current or recent engagement with industry bodies such as APCO and AIP highly regarded
Why Join Caspak?
* Be part of a business committed to innovation, sustainability, and quality
* Lead technically meaningful projects with real impact in the food packaging sector
* Work with a collaborative, values‑driven team that values integrity, safety, and continuous improvement
* Opportunity to influence product strategy and shape future‑focused packaging solutions
If you are passionate about flexible packaging innovation and want to play a key role in developing next‑generation food packaging solutions, we’d love to hear from you.