The Role: The Packaging Specialist will serve as the on-the-ground packaging lead, partnering closely with China-based NPI, Operations, vendors, and global Packaging and Graphics teams. This role ensures packaging requirements are embedded early in product development, executed correctly at the factory level, and continuously improved to support quality, cost, speed, and safe shipment. The position plays a critical role in testing, problem-solving, documentation, and cross-functional coordination to ensure packaging readiness for launch and sustained production.
Key Responsibilities
Cross-Functional Coordination & Reporting
Act as a key liaison between China factories, Operations, Packaging Engineering, Graphics, and Licensing teams. Manage end-to-end packaging graphics reviews, including coordinating internal cross-functional approvals, partnering with the Licensing team for licensor submissions, overseeing external vendor proofing and revisions, and ensuring final, approved artwork is accurately uploaded and released in Arena. Update and maintain the Monday board to track packaging development status and issues. New Product Support
Advocate for packaging brief requirements to remain a priority throughout development. Support on-site testing and provide immediate troubleshooting and problem-solving when failures occur. Communicate per SKU packaging details and development notes, ensuring clear visibility of progress. Packaging Execution & Continuous Improvement
Create, implement, and maintain packaging documentation to ensure correct assembly and safe shipment of products. Conduct time studies to identify inefficiencies and recommend process improvements. Assist with long-term packaging improvement projects, including sustaining and optimizing existing packaging solutions. Maintain accurate product Weights & Dimensions to support Sales, Operations, and Logistics teams. Factory & Vendor Support
Coordinate with vendors and Operations to request and manage samples, including PPS and licensor submission samples. Centralize and manage packaging tracking and proofing processes with vendors. Photograph and video packaging samples to support rapid licensor submissions. Communicate directly with factories regarding graphics running changes and packaging updates. Conduct China-based press checks and provide GS sign-off when US-based teams are unable to review. Systems, Documentation & Compliance
Complete Arena system work, including PNRs, ECRs, and approval of SKU BOMs. Ensure packaging is complete, released, and correctly reflected in Arena and NAV prior to production. Ensure the correct revision of packaging components is being produced. Assist the Documentation Control team with packaging data management as needed. Collaborate with Packaging Graphics on part numbers, How2Recycle approvals, licensing approvals, and file uploads to Arena. Manage and submit How2Recycle documentation.
Requirements
Bachelor’s degree in Packaging Engineering, Printing, Project Management, or related field (or equivalent experience). 5+ years of experience in packaging development, graphics, packaging manufacturing, or operations, preferably with on-site factory experience Excellent problem-solving skills with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment with frequently shifting priorities. Fluency in English is required, as it is the primary working language for internal and external communications. Frequent travel between factories and packaging vendors is a non-negotiable requirement.
PopSockets is dedicated to the practice of equal opportunity employment. We prohibit unlawful discrimination against applicants and employees on the basis of age, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin, disability, military status, genetic information, color, creed, ancestry, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state or local law. This prohibition includes unlawful harassment based on any of these protected classes. Unlawful harassment includes verbal or physical conduct which has the purpose or effect of interfering with an individual’s work performance, or creating an intimidating, hostile, offensive, unsafe or otherwise non-welcoming work environment. This policy applies to all employees, including managers, supervisors, co-workers; and non-employees such as customers, clients, vendors, consultants, etc.
