Assistant Product Manager

Assistant Product Manager – PackagingLocation: Sydney, Australia (with potential travel to UK, India, EU, UAE) Reports to: Director of Business DevelopmentRole PurposeThe Product Manager (Packaging) will lead the lifecycle of COPAR’s sustainable packaging products — from ideation through to commercialisation. They will be responsible for aligning customer needs, market trends, and compliance standards with COPAR’s product strategy, ensuring competitive, innovative, and profitable packaging solutions across global markets.Key ResponsibilitiesProduct Development & RoadmapOwn the product lifecycle for fibre-based trays, paper cutlery, laminated trays, and new barrier technologies.Define and maintain the packaging product roadmap aligned with market opportunities and COPAR’s strategic objectives.Work closely with the manufacturing team in design/testing facility to deliver prototypes, testing, and certification.Market & Client EngagementConduct market research to identify trends in compostable and recyclable packaging.Engage with major clients to define product requirements.Benchmark COPAR products against global competitors and regulatory changes (e.g. UK EPR, NSW EPA).Operations & Supply ChainCollaborate with Operations to manage product costing, supply chain optimisation, and manufacturability.Oversee product testing, certification, and quality assurance across COPAR India, UK, and other partners.Compliance & StandardsEnsure packaging meets global standards (CEPI pulpability, EU recyclability, compost certification).Keep COPAR ahead of regulatory changes across APAC, UK, EU, and Middle East markets.Commercialisation & Sales SupportProvide product expertise to the Business Development team during client pitches.Build product documentation: TDS sheets, brochures, technical presentations.Support marketing in preparing trade show product content                              Key Skills & Experience2+ years in packaging (fibre, compostable, recyclable, or barrier packaging preferred).Technical understanding of packaging materials, production methods, and compliance standards.Experience in managing product portfolios from R&D to commercial launch.Commercial acumen — balancing cost control, client needs, and innovation.Sound stakeholder management across technical teams, clients, and international partners.Experience working with international supply chains and certification processes.Ideal Candidate ProfileBackground in sustainable packaging or food service packaging.Project management capability (able to handle multi-country timelines).Confident communicator Passionate about sustainability and circular economy principles.