{"id":1418871,"url":"https://alion.io/job/takealot-packaging-optimisation-specialist","title":"Packaging Optimisation Specialist","company":{"id":57341,"name":"Takealot","domain":"takealot.com","url":"https://alion.io/company/takealot","size_band":"501-1000","is_staffing_agency":false,"employer_type":"direct","is_intermediary":false,"listed_via":null,"ats_vendor":"Greenhouse","truth_index":{"grade":"B","score":83,"open_postings":33,"ghost_share":0,"stale_share":0.697,"repost_share":0,"time_to_fill_p50_days":53,"computed_at":"2026-10-15T05:46:00Z"}},"role":"Operations","role_family":"Operations","seniority":"senior","employment_type":null,"work_mode":"on_site","remote_scope":null,"remote_scope_basis":null,"remote_working_hours":null,"hiring_geo_confidence":"structured","locations":["Cape Town, South Africa"],"countries":["ZA"],"hiring_countries":[],"hiring_countries_total":0,"salary":null,"salary_estimate":{"min_usd":25000,"max_usd":57000,"period":"year","method":"role_seniority_country_remote_cell","sample_n":24},"experience_years_min":5,"visa_sponsorship":false,"relocation_package":false,"has_equity":false,"technologies":[{"name":"Google Sheets","optional":false},{"name":"Looker","optional":false},{"name":"Power BI","optional":false},{"name":"SQL","optional":false}],"status":"live","first_seen_at":"2026-09-28T19:25:02Z","employer_posted_date":"2026-09-28","last_verified_at":"2026-10-15T20:22:00Z","board_verified":true,"closed_at":null,"days_open":17,"trust":{"level":"ok","repost_count":null,"flags":[],"days_open":17},"description":"takealot.com, South Africa's leading online retailer, is looking for a highly talentedPackaging Optimisation Specialist to join our team in Cape Town\nWe are a young, dynamic, hyper growth company looking for smart, creative, hard-working people with integrity to join us. We offer a market related, Total Remuneration Package which allows full flexibility according to your needs, a great work environment and a promise that you won’t be bored as long as you are prepared for a challenge and want to build something great.\nThis position reports to the :National Planning & Procurement Manager\nYour responsibilities will include:\nCreate a long-term plan (2-3 years) for improving how Takealot packages products, aligned with the company's growth, cost-saving, and environmental goals.\nLook at what global e-commerce leaders like Amazon, Flipkart, Alibaba, and Jumia are doing with packaging, and bring the best ideas to Takealot.\nSet clear packaging goals (KPIs) for the whole company and report progress to senior management.\nBuild a system to track key packaging data - parcel sizes, how well boxes are filled, how much material is used, damage rates, and cost per parcel.\nAnalyse order and product data to figure out the best box sizes and reduce wasted space in parcels.\nUse data to predict how much packaging material will be needed, so the warehouse doesn't run out or overstock.\nStudy how packing stations work - watch how long tasks take and where delays happen - to find ways to speed things up and make the work easier for staff.\nCreate standard packaging instructions that all Takealot warehouses follow, so every parcel is packed the same way.\nUse proven improvement methods (like 5S and Kaizen) to make the packing process faster, cleaner, and more efficient.\nFind and test new packaging technologies, including:\nMachines that make custom-sized boxes on the spot (Cross boarder Merchants)\nAutomated systems that fill empty space in parcels/ Void fill innovations\nSmart packaging with tracking chips (RFID/NFC)\nLiquid protection packaging solutions Cheaper and sustainable packaging for Returns to Merchants Dark store packaging material types and \nRun structured trials for new ideas - with a clear plan, success measures, and a decision on whether to roll them out or not.\nKeep a list of upcoming packaging innovations and report progress every quarter to the innovation committee.\nCategory Management: Work with product teams to understand what different items need - fragile products, electronics, groceries, or large items.\nSupplier Relations & Procurement: Manage relationships with packaging suppliers, negotiate prices, and make sure there's always enough stock.\nLogistics & Last-Mile: Make sure packaging choices work well with delivery vehicles and courier size and weight limits.\nCustomer Experience: Keep an eye on customer feedback about packaging and use it to improve.\nEngineering & Facilities: Work with the warehouse team on how packing stations are laid out and how new machines fit in.\nKeep a list of approved packaging suppliers and regularly check how they perform on quality, delivery time, pricing, and sustainability.\nMeet with suppliers regularly to review their performance and address any issues.\nLook for local South African packaging manufacturers to reduce reliance on imports and support local industry.\nReduce the amount of single-use plastic, filler materials, and overall waste in packaging.\nTest eco-friendly alternatives - like biodegradable, compostable, recycled, or reusable packaging - that work in South Africa.\nMake sure Takealot follows South African environmental regulations (EPR) and contribute to the company's sustainability reports.\nWork with the sustainability team to measure the carbon footprint of each parcel and set targets to bring it down\nQualification & Experience:\nBachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Packaging Science, or a related field\n5-7 years' experience in packaging engineering, fulfilment operations, continuous improvement, or supply chain optimisation.\nProven track record of leading cost-reduction or sustainability programmes with measurable, documented results.\nStrong analytical capability - proficiency in SQL, Excel/Google Sheets, and at least one BI tool (Power BI, Tableau, Looker).\nExperience with lean methodology and process-improvement frameworks (Six Sigma Green/Black Belt is a strong plus).\nExcellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence and present to senior leadership.\nWillingness to spend significant time on the warehouse floor - this is not a desk-only role.\nBackground working within digital marketplaces, large-scale retail logistics, or third-party logistics (3PL) operations.\nKnowledge of robotic systems and advanced mechanical packaging automation.\nAttributes Required:\nPackaging Knowledge: Strong understanding of packaging materials, box design, void-fill options, and protective packaging solutions across different product categories.\nData Analysis: Ability to work with large datasets - using SQL, Excel, and BI tools (Looker, Power BI, Tableau) to analyse packaging performance and find improvement opportunities.\nProcess Improvement: Practical experience with lean methodologies such as 5S, Kaizen, value-stream mapping, and time-and-motion studies.\nProject Management: Ability to run structured pilots and projects from idea through to rollout - planning, tracking milestones, managing budgets, and reporting results.\nSupplier Management: Experience managing vendor relationships, negotiating contracts, and tracking supplier performance against agreed standards.\nSustainability Knowledge: Understanding of eco-friendly packaging materials, recycling standards, EPR regulations, and carbon footprint measurement.\nTechnology Awareness: Familiarity with packaging automation, on-demand box-making machines, and smart packaging technologies.\nProblem-Solving: Able to break down complex operational problems, identify root causes, and develop practical solutions that work on the warehouse floor.\nStakeholder Influence: Able to build relationships across multiple teams - operations, procurement, logistics, category, and sustainability - and get buy-in for new ideas.\nHands-On Mindset: Comfortable spending time on the warehouse floor observing processes, testing materials, and working alongside packing teams. This is not a desk-only role.\nStrategic Thinking: Able to see the big picture - where packaging fits into Takealot's long-term goals - while also delivering short-term cost savings.\nAdaptability: Comfortable working in a fast-paced e-commerce environment where order volumes, product ranges, and priorities change quickly.\nCommunication: Able to present complex data and ideas clearly to senior leadership, and explain packaging standards simply to warehouse teams.\nOwnership: Takes full responsibility for outcomes - from identifying an opportunity to implementing the solution and measuring the results.\nCommercial Awareness: Understands the cost implications of packaging decisions and how they affect the bottom line, courier costs, and customer experience.\nThe Environment: \ntakealot.com employees are entrepreneurial and dynamic, smart, customer- centric, fun and have the shared ambition of takealot.com being the leading e- commerce company in Africa. \nWe have fun, work hard, take ownership, work in teams to create solutions, and are always open to direct feedback/new ideas on where we can improve. \nWe are short on ego and high on output. \nWe are doers and not only thinkers, its all in the execution after all. \nWe love what we do and what we are creating. \nWe seek to employ an Extra Ordinary Mind who is Smart, has Integrity, and is Hardworking. \nIf you meet the above you are an Extraordinary Mind so come and join us! \nTakealot Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. 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