Packaging Category Specialist

Location: Toronto, ON

Department: Procurement / Strategic Sourcing

Salary:  $71,000 – $99,500

Mandatory 3 days in office

About Auxly

Auxly is an international cannabis company dedicated to bringing innovative, effective, and high-quality cannabis products to the medical, wellness, and adult-use markets. Auxly’s experienced team of industry first-movers and enterprising visionaries has built strong scientific, operational, and product development capabilities to create trusted brands in a rapidly evolving global market.

Position Overview

Auxly is seeking an experienced, strategic, and results-driven Packaging Category Specialist to join our Procurement & Strategic Sourcing team.

This role is responsible for supporting packaging ideation, development, and commercialization for new product launches and packaging changes. The Packaging Category Specialist works cross-functionally with Commercial, Product Development, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and external suppliers to ensure packaging solutions are innovative, feasible, compliant, cost-effective, and scalable.

The role supports early creative and concept development before projects enter formal PMO execution and remains a key contributor once initiatives transition into PMO-led delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Packaging Category Ownership & Market Insight

• Own assigned packaging categories across primary, secondary, and tertiary formats.

• Maintain deep understanding of supplier capabilities, materials, lead times, MOQs, cost drivers, and market trends.

• Proactively identify and introduce packaging innovations, sustainability opportunities, and efficiency improvements.

Early Ideation & Concept Development (Pre-PMO)

• Partner with Commercial and Product Development teams during early ideation and creative stages.

• Translate brand and market requirements into feasible packaging concepts and technical direction.

• Engage suppliers early to validate feasibility, timelines, and risks before concepts are finalized.

• Support commercial teams by bringing real, market-available packaging options into the creative process.

Packaging Development & Specification

• Lead the development of packaging concepts into detailed specifications, including materials, dimensions, tolerances, and performance requirements.

• Manage sampling, prototyping, testing, and refinement of packaging solutions.

• Ensure packaging designs align with operational capabilities and regulatory requirements.

Supplier Engagement & Sourcing Support

• Act as the primary technical interface with packaging suppliers.

• Support RFIs, RFPs, supplier evaluations, and sourcing decisions by providing packaging and technical expertise.

• Collaborate with Strategic Sourcing and Buyers to transition approved packaging solutions into supply execution.

• Support cost reduction, process improvement, and supplier optimization initiatives.

PMO Collaboration & Commercialization

• Serve as a core team member on PMO-led projects once initiatives move into formal execution.

• Own packaging-specific deliverables within PMO projects while PMO manages overall coordination.

• Support production trials, line testing, and validation to ensure packaging readiness for launch.

• Identify and resolve packaging-related risks that may impact timelines, quality, or cost.

Packaging Automation, Quality & Compliance

• Identify opportunities to improve packaging efficiency, reduce waste, and support automation or semi-automation initiatives.

• Collaborate with Operations, Engineering, Quality, and Regulatory teams to ensure compliance with all applicable standards.

• Support change control, documentation, and regulatory approvals related to packaging.

• Lead or support remediation and continuous improvement initiatives related to packaging performance.

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum 5 years of experience in packaging development, packaging engineering, product development, or a related role within a regulated manufacturing environment (cannabis, CPG, pharma, food, cosmetics, or similar).

• Strong understanding of packaging materials, formats, and manufacturing processes.

• Hands-on experience working with suppliers, samples, trials, and production validation.

• Proven ability to collaborate cross-functionally with Commercial, R&D, Procurement, Operations, Quality, and Regulatory teams.

• Strong project management, organizational, and communication skills.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering or a related field.

• Experience supporting packaging sourcing or category management.

• Familiarity with packaging automation and production-line integration.

• Experience working within a PMO or stage-gate project environment.

• Ability to communicate in Mandarin and/or Cantonese is an asset.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic and analytical mindset with strong problem-solving skills

• Ability to translate creative ideas into technical and operational solutions

• Strong stakeholder management and communication abilities

• Results-oriented, proactive, and comfortable working in fast-paced environments

• Entrepreneurial and continuous-improvement focused

Working Conditions & Benefits

• Normal office environment with occasional travel as required.

• Competitive salary and benefits package.

• Opportunities for professional growth and development.

• Collaborative, dynamic, and innovation-driven work environment.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Auxly is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.