Packaging Optimisation Specialist (Ecommerce)

Location: Cape Town, South Africa; significant time is required on the warehouse floor, so this is not a desk-only role.

Company

hirify.global is a South African online retailer building a large-scale e-commerce operation with a focus on customer experience, efficiency, and sustainable growth.

What you will do

• Create a 2–3 year packaging optimisation strategy aligned with growth, cost reduction, and environmental goals.
• Define company-wide packaging KPIs and build tracking systems for parcel size, box utilisation, material usage, damage rates, and cost per parcel.
• Analyse order and product data to optimise box sizes, forecast packaging demand, and reduce wasted space and materials.
• Improve packing-station layouts and processes using 5S, Kaizen, value-stream mapping, and time-and-motion studies.
• Run structured pilots for custom box-making, void-fill, smart packaging, liquid protection, and sustainable packaging technologies.
• Manage packaging suppliers, coordinate with procurement, logistics, engineering, category, sustainability, and customer-experience teams, and report progress to senior leadership.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Industrial Engineering, Packaging Science, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of experience in packaging engineering, fulfilment operations, continuous improvement, or supply chain optimisation.
• Strong analytical skills with SQL, Excel or Google Sheets, and at least one BI tool such as Power BI, Tableau, or Looker.
• Experience with lean methodologies, process improvement, supplier management, project delivery, and measurable cost-reduction or sustainability programmes.
• Knowledge of packaging materials, box design, void-fill solutions, packaging automation, robotic systems, recycling standards, EPR regulations, and carbon-footprint measurement.
• Willingness to work regularly on the warehouse floor in Cape Town and communicate effectively with senior leadership and operational teams.

Nice to have

• Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt certification.
• Experience in digital marketplaces, large-scale retail logistics, or third-party logistics operations.
• Knowledge of local South African packaging manufacturers and sustainable packaging alternatives.

Culture & Benefits

• Market-related total remuneration package with flexibility according to individual needs.
• Entrepreneurial, dynamic, customer-centric, and collaborative working environment.
• Culture of ownership, direct feedback, practical execution, and continuous improvement.
• Equal-opportunity employer encouraging applications from previously disadvantaged groups and people with disabilities.