Packaging engineer trainee

Overview

Established in 1806 as a small soap and candle business in New York City, Colgate-Palmolive is now a truly global company with products sold in over 200 countries and territories under internationally recognised brand names. Colgate-Palmolive is a leading consumer products company serving hundreds of millions worldwide across four core businesses – Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. We are committed to offering products that make lives healthier and more enjoyable, and programmes that enrich communities around the world. Every day millions of people trust our products to care for themselves and the ones they love. Our goal is to use our technology to create products that will continue to improve the quality of life for our consumers wherever they live. A career at Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.

Travel Required?: Travel - up to 10% of time

Posting Start Date: 05/06/2026

Hybrid

No Relocation Assistance Offered
Job Number#173951 - Anzio, Lazio, Italy

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specialising in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world. Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let\'s build a brighter, healthier future for all.

Role

We are looking for a curious, motivated, and team-oriented Packaging Engineer Trainee for a 1-year fixed-term contract to join our team and help drive continuous packaging improvement and execution excellence.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop and Maintain accurate Technical Product Specifications for packaging materials and ensure that technical product specs are appropriately documented.
• Ensure products are launched on time, and that operating efficiencies, quality and scrap rates are within predefined limits.
• Support production start-up and post launch phase.
• Provide technical assistance for managing complaints/issues and dealing with suppliers.
• Drive continuous improvements and saving projects.
• Develop packaging materials reducing costs, ensuring undamaged products and minimizing waste for consumers.
• Help drive continuous packaging quality improvement among incumbent supplier base.
• Provide effective technical support to Operations, Marketing, Quality, Procurement and Engineering teams.
• Troubleshooting packaging quality issues.
• Provide print production support to the Design & AW team when needed.

Needed Skills

• Have knowledge and/or interest of packaging development and technical processes.
• Have knowledge of common packaging materials and how they impact design execution [labels, paperboards, films, etc].
• Working knowledge of packaging design, adaptation processes.
• Working knowledge of basic office applications [Google, SAP, Docs, Slides, Sheets, etc].
• Strong communicator. Proficiency in understanding and being understood by technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Technical depth. Ability to understand technical state of the packaging projects and have problem solving and multitasking skills.
• Managing ambiguity. Ability to make decisions and develop recommendations in the face of uncertainty.
• Ability to work under pressure, set clear priorities and meet deadlines.
• Being teamwork oriented and having a high level of analytical and interpersonal skills.

Primary Day-to-Day Business Partners

• Packaging and Print Suppliers.
• Production, Engineering, Quality, Planning teams.
• Marketing.
• Division & Global Packaging.

Experience & Education

• Work experience in FMCG companies in a technical role would be an advantage.
• BS/BA degree in Engineering, Technology Departments or equivalent.
• Fluent in English and Italian.
• VISA not sponsored

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Our journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law. Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.

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