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Category Manager Packaging & Sustainability

HelloFresh • Australia • Added on Jul 23, 2026
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This role sits at the intersection of strategic procurement and environmental stewardship for the Australia and New Zealand markets. You will take full ownership of the packaging category, managing everything from supplier relationships and regional tenders to the hands-on optimization of sustainable packaging solutions. Beyond procurement, you are the local lead for non-financial reporting and GHG data management.

At a meal-kit giant like HelloFresh, packaging is the primary physical interface between the company and the customer to ensure food safety and quality. This position offers a direct lever to reduce Scope 3 emissions and plastic waste at a massive scale. By driving energy efficiency projects and renewable energy transitions within the supply chain, you are fundamentally decarbonizing the way food reaches thousands of households.

This suits someone who possesses a sharp commercial mindset and a genuine passion for circular economy principles. You should be equally comfortable navigating complex Excel sheets for carbon accounting as you are negotiating high-value contracts with regional suppliers in a fast-paced food tech environment.

Job FAQs

What are the main missions and responsibilities of this role?

You will be responsible for defining and executing the packaging category strategy across Australia and New Zealand. This involves leading regional tenders, optimizing the supplier network, and ensuring packaging specifications meet both commercial and environmental targets. You will act as the primary point of contact for local sustainability projects, including renewable energy transitions and operational energy efficiency initiatives. On the data side, you will project manage the preparation of all non-financial reporting for the ANZ market. This includes the collection and analysis of monthly Greenhouse Gas (GHG) scope data, specifically focusing on Scope 3 carbon reduction. You will ensure that all supplier activities remain compliant with regional regulations and the company's global sustainability framework.

Key learning opportunities for this job

In this role, you will gain deep expertise in sustainable material science and packaging innovation within the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. You will learn how to balance rigorous food safety standards with circular economy goals, providing a unique perspective on the 'total cost of ownership' that includes environmental impact. Furthermore, you will sharpen your skills in carbon accounting and non-financial reporting. As the lead for ANZ GHG data, you will receive exposure to global reporting standards and learn how to translate complex climate data into actionable supply chain strategies. This role offers a high-level view of how a major food-tech company integrates ESG metrics into its core business decisions.

How does the ideal candidate look like (experience, skills)?

The ideal candidate brings at least three years of experience in strategic procurement or sustainability consulting, specifically within the food or FMCG sectors. You should have a proven track record of managing supplier relationships and a solid understanding of local sustainability drivers, such as the Australian Packaging Covenant Organisation (APCO) guidelines. Technical proficiency is a must, specifically regarding quantitative data analysis in Excel. You should be an 'entrepreneurial' professional—someone who takes proactive ownership of projects and feels comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where priorities can shift quickly. A degree in Business, Sustainability, or Supply Chain Management is expected.

Advice to stand out and make a successful application

To stand out, emphasize your analytical fluency and your ability to link procurement outcomes to carbon reduction targets. Don't just list your experience with suppliers; explain how you have used data to drive efficiency or material innovation in past roles. HelloFresh values 'high-spirited' individuals, so your cover letter should demonstrate energy and a bias for action. Showing a specific understanding of the ANZ packaging landscape and current regulatory challenges like APCO will demonstrate that you are ready to hit the ground running. Tailor your application to show how you balance the commercial 'Category Manager' side of the role with the technical 'Sustainability' side, as this dual focus is the core of the position.

What aspects of the company's sustainability is this role likely to focus on?

The sustainability focus of this role is heavily weighted toward resource efficiency and decarbonization. You will likely spend significant time on packaging innovation—reducing plastic use, increasing recyclability, and optimizing material specs to lower the carbon footprint of every box delivered. This directly impacts the company's circular economy goals. Additionally, you will focus on Scope 3 emission reductions by working closely with upstream suppliers. This might involve setting new standards for supplier energy use or collaborating on renewable energy transitions. You are essentially the conduit through which HelloFresh's global climate targets are implemented on a local, operational level in Australia and New Zealand.

What are the main challenges someone in this role might face?

One of the main challenges is balancing cost-efficiency with sustainability goals. In a procurement-heavy role, you may face pressure to maintain margins while also introducing premium sustainable materials or requesting supplier changes that require investment. Navigating these trade-offs requires strong negotiation skills and data-backed arguments. Another challenge is the reporting complexity. Coordinating GHG data and non-financial reporting across multiple brands and suppliers in a dynamic market requires extreme attention to detail. Staying ahead of evolving sustainability regulations in the ANZ region while maintaining the 'speed of a startup' at a massive global scale can be a demanding balancing act.

How could a typical day look like for someone in this position?

A typical day could start with a supplier review meeting to discuss ongoing packaging trials or contract renewals, followed by a data-intensive session analyzing the previous month's carbon emissions. You might spend time collaborating with the Senior International Category Manager in Europe to align local ANZ strategies with global sustainability roadmaps. In the afternoon, you could be focused on project management—perhaps tracking the progress of an energy efficiency initiative at a local site or drafting a tender for a new specialized packaging material. The day often concludes with stakeholder communication, ensuring that operational teams are updated on any compliance or specification changes that impact the supply chain.

What are the opportunities for professional growth and development in this role?

Internally, this role offers a path toward Senior Sustainability Leadership or International Category Management. Because HelloFresh is a global group with 18 offices, there is significant potential for cross-regional collaboration or lateral moves into global strategy teams. Success in this role demonstrates both commercial acumen and ESG expertise, a highly sought-after combination. Furthermore, as the lead for regional reporting, you gain high-level visibility with senior leadership. Successfully managing the non-financial reporting for a major market like ANZ places you at the center of the company’s strategic growth, making you a strong candidate for future executive roles focused on corporate responsibility or sustainable supply chains.

The main stakeholders you might be interacting with

Your primary internal stakeholders include the Senior International Category Manager, the local ANZ operations and supply chain teams, and the global Sustainability department. You will also interact with finance and compliance teams to ensure reporting accuracy and budget alignment. Externally, you will be the main point of contact for packaging suppliers and regional industry bodies like APCO. You will also engage with carbon consultants or energy providers when working on Scope 3 reduction initiatives. Building trust with these external partners is vital for driving the large-scale changes required for the company’s environmental mission.

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