Packaging and Commercialization Specialist

Department: Product & Sourcing
Classification: Full-Time | Individual Contributor
Location: Katy, TX - On-site

Who We Are…

RTIC Outdoors is an outdoor lifestyle brand made for any adventure. We believe that there’s always time for great friends and great outdoor moments–with great gear you can count on. That’s why we engineer high-quality products, like coolers, drinkware, and outdoor gear, that are overbuilt, not overpriced. 

We push the boundaries of Direct-to-Consumer innovation and work with retailers to offer durable, premium products at the right price. As a leader in quality and value, RTIC Outdoors has become a top choice for outdoor enthusiasts and everyday adventurers alike. 

If you have a passion for the outdoors and enjoy a fast-paced environment, this is the place for you!

The Packaging & Commercialization Specialist is responsible for developing, optimizing, and managing packaging solutions across RTIC's product portfolio. This role combines technical packaging expertise with barcode and labeling compliance, supplier coordination, and commercialization to ensure packaging protects our products, meets retailer requirements, and supports efficient transportation, storage, and fulfillment.

Working closely with Product Development, Sourcing, Operations, Data, and Creative, this position establishes packaging specifications, optimizes case and shipping configurations, ensures packaging-related item data accuracy, and verifies supplier compliance from development through warehouse receipt.

• Own and maintain barcode and labeling standards for individual products, inner packs, master cases, and applicable logistics units, including accurate assignment, application, and verification of GS1 identifiers and barcode formats, including UPC-A/GTIN-12, ITF-14/GTIN-14, and applicable GS1-128/SSCC logistics labels.

• Develop supplier labeling specifications covering barcode formats, placement, print quality, scanability, and required product information.

• Ensure packaging and labeling meet retailer-specific requirements, including Walmart, Target, Amazon, and other wholesale partners.

• Review supplier artwork, labeling proofs, and initial production samples to verify accuracy and compliance before shipment.

• Investigate barcode and labeling discrepancies, identify root causes, and coordinate corrective actions with suppliers and internal teams to prevent recurring issues.

• Partner with Product Development, Marketing, Creative, and Sourcing to ensure packaging meets brand, functional, quality, and cost expectations.

• Manage packaging-related timelines, samples, artwork approvals, and supplier deliverables to support successful and on-time product launches.

• Develop and maintain structural packaging specifications, including materials, dimensions, case pack quantities, and configurations, to ensure product protection throughout transportation, storage, and fulfillment.

• Evaluate and optimize packaging designs, case sizes, pallet configurations, and ocean container utilization to maximize space efficiency while balancing product protection, quality, and cost.

• Partner with Sourcing and overseas suppliers to evaluate packaging materials, production capabilities, and opportunities to improve packaging efficiency, sustainability, and overall cost.

• Support packaging testing and validation, including evaluating product damage, packaging durability, and opportunities to reduce excess materials or dimensional weight.

• Collaborate with Operations and Planning on packaging configurations for kits, bundles, product stuffability, and efficient warehouse and fulfillment processes.

• Establish and maintain accurate packaging-related item specifications, including unit, case, and pallet dimensions, weights, case pack quantities, and packaging configurations.

• Partner with Product Development, Data, and Operations to ensure approved packaging specifications and barcode identifiers are accurately reflected in ERP, WMS, and other applicable company systems.

• Communicate approved packaging and labeling requirements to domestic and overseas suppliers, ensuring specifications are understood and consistently executed.

• Partner with Inventory Control and Operations to verify incoming products meet approved packaging, labeling, and dimensional specifications, and coordinate resolution of discrepancies.

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and relevant work experience.

• 5+ years of experience in packaging development, packaging engineering, packaging commercialization, or a related function within consumer products, CPG, or retail.

• Demonstrated experience developing structural packaging specifications and optimizing case configurations for product protection, storage, and transportation efficiency.

• Working knowledge of GS1 standards, UPC/GTIN identification, case-level barcoding, and retailer labeling requirements.

• Experience developing packaging specifications, reviewing production samples, and coordinating requirements with overseas suppliers.

• Familiarity with packaging-related item data, including dimensions, weights, case quantities, and ERP, WMS, PLM, or similar systems.

• Ability to evaluate packaging designs and configurations to identify improvements in space utilization, product protection, and cost.

• Strong analytical, organizational, project management, and cross-functional communication skills.

• Degree or formal training in packaging science, packaging engineering, supply chain, or a related discipline.

• Experience with packaging and labeling requirements for major retailers, including Walmart, Target, or Amazon.

• Hands-on experience with GS1-128 logistics labels, SSCC identifiers, barcode verification, or retailer compliance programs.

• Knowledge of packaging performance testing, including ISTA standards, and experience with corrugated or protective packaging materials.

• Experience optimizing pallet configurations, ocean container loading, and e-commerce packaging for consumer products.