Packaging Graduate

About the company

Keelings is a family-owned Irish business focused on fresh produce. The company operates across Ireland, the UK, and Europe, growing, sourcing, and supplying fruit and vegetables. Its growth is driven by innovation, sustainability, and long-term partnerships, supported by its people.

Role overview

This position supports the daily coordination, control, and improvement of packaging activities across the business. Working in a busy fresh produce environment, the role helps ensure the right packaging materials are sourced, planned, managed, and available so production, packing, and distribution can run without interruption.

Packaging operations and inventory control

You will assist with the everyday administration of packaging stock across operational sites, helping to keep supply reliable while avoiding unnecessary excess. The role covers a wide range of materials, including punnets, films, lids, trays, labels, cartons, boxes, box ends, crates, pallets, and other consumables.

Responsibilities include coordinating replenishment with suppliers, supporting packaging forecasting and planning with Procurement, Planning, and Operations, reviewing stock usage to reduce waste, and carrying out regular stock and cycle counts. You will also help investigate shortages, losses, and stock variances, maintain packaging master data and specifications, and ensure storage areas remain orderly and compliant.

Crate and pallet asset management

The role includes supporting the control of returnable transit packaging assets such as crates, pallets, and reusable packaging systems. You will track the movement and balance of pooled assets from providers such as LPR, CHEP, and other approved suppliers, helping to reconcile figures across sites, customers, and suppliers.

Additional duties include reducing pallet and crate losses through monitoring and recovery actions, working with logistics, warehouse, and operations teams to meet return deadlines, managing dwell time exposure, and maintaining transaction records and monthly reconciliations. You will also review utilisation data to spot efficiency improvements and cost savings.

Sustainability and packaging innovation

A key part of the role is contributing to the company’s packaging reduction and sustainability goals. You will help identify ways to cut plastic use, improve recyclability, and explore alternative materials and more sustainable packaging formats with suppliers.

The position also involves supporting trials and testing of new materials or formats, monitoring packaging performance and customer feedback, and helping gather sustainability data related to packaging use and waste reduction. You will also assist with compliance against customer, retailer, and regulatory packaging standards, and take part in initiatives that reduce environmental impact and improve packaging efficiency.

Procurement and supplier support

Working alongside the Packaging Manager, you will support sourcing and supplier management activities. This includes maintaining strong supplier relationships, helping with performance reviews, contributing to KPI and service-level tracking, and assisting with cost analysis and value engineering.

You may also support tender exercises and supplier assessments, help manage packaging specifications, artwork approvals, and change control, and monitor supplier lead times while escalating supply risks where needed.

Automation and continuous improvement

The role supports the development of more automated packaging processes and better reporting tools. You will help improve stock control, data accuracy, and operational efficiency through system enhancements, dashboards, and KPI reporting.

You will also contribute to projects that reduce manual administration, support root cause analysis and corrective actions for packaging issues, and participate in lean and efficiency initiatives aimed at lowering waste, cost, and complexity.

Operational support

You will work closely with the Packaging Manager, Procurement team, and wider operations teams to meet day-to-day packaging needs. Collaboration will extend to Production, Warehouse, Technical, Quality, Planning, and Sales teams to ensure packaging requirements are met.

The role also includes acting as a contact point for packaging queries and issues, supporting new product development and customer packaging projects, contributing to trials and validation work, and helping with seasonal and promotional packaging planning. All work must be carried out in line with Health & Safety requirements and operational procedures, and you may help onboard and train colleagues where necessary.

Compliance and administration

You will help keep packaging specifications controlled and updated in line with company processes, while supporting food safety, quality, environmental, and customer packaging standards. The role requires accurate record keeping for inventory, asset tracking, and supplier performance.

Day-to-day administration includes stock reporting, system updates, invoice query support, supplier reconciliations, and packaging cost reporting. You may also assist with audits, customer compliance checks, documentation control, and maintaining approved supplier records and technical files.

Key accountabilities

The main outcomes for this role include maintaining sufficient packaging stock, keeping inventory and master data accurate, controlling and reconciling crate and pallet assets, reducing packaging-related losses and charges, and contributing to sustainability and packaging optimisation initiatives.

Other accountabilities include delivering accurate KPI and asset utilisation reporting, communicating effectively with suppliers and internal teams, supporting continuous improvement and automation, helping control packaging costs, and maintaining compliance with quality, food safety, and other operational standards.

Skills and experience

This opportunity is aimed at a recent graduate or early-career professional with an interest in packaging, supply chain, procurement, or operations. Strong analytical ability, problem-solving skills, organisation, attention to detail, and accuracy are important.

You should be confident communicating with stakeholders, working in a fast-changing environment, and handling multiple priorities. Good commercial awareness, numerical ability, data analysis skills, and strong IT capability are required, especially in Microsoft Office and Excel. Experience with ERP, inventory, or reporting systems would be an advantage, as would a genuine interest in sustainability, packaging innovation, and continuous improvement.

Education and qualifications

A degree in Packaging Technology, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Engineering, Food Business, Sustainability, Business, Operations Management, or a related subject is expected. Placement, internship, or project experience in FMCG, food manufacturing, fresh produce, or packaging would be beneficial.

Knowledge of packaging materials, sustainability concepts, or inventory management would also be useful. Strong Excel and data analysis skills are important. A full driving licence is desirable but not essential.

Working pattern and special circumstances

The role may require flexibility outside normal business hours, depending on operational needs. It primarily follows a five-days-over-seven pattern, running Monday to Friday. Occasional travel may be needed to supplier locations, packaging manufacturers, and operational sites, and you may also take part in packaging trials and site-based projects.

Benefits

• Staff discount at Keelings Farm Shop and a subsidised canteen
• Free on-site parking with electric charging access
• Wellness initiatives, including wellness week

Company values

• People Matter
• Teamwork
• Integrity
• Passion for Achievement

Inclusion and diversity

Keelings values the different perspectives and experience its people bring. The business is committed to building a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone can contribute, feel respected, and experience a genuine sense of belonging. Applications are welcome from people of all cultures and backgrounds.

Reasonable accommodation

If you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, you can contact recruitment_keelings@keelings.com.

Recruitment process

• CV submission and email acknowledgement of receipt
• Phone screening
• First interview
• Second interview
• Outcome and feedback