Sr Manager, Commercialization; Hybrid: Onsite and Remote

Hybrid: 2 days remote (Monday and Friday) and 3 days onsite in Rosemont, IL (Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday).

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead a team of Commercialization Managers to deliver Exclusive Brand projects on time both for new product launches and existing product changes.

• Translate enterprise and category strategies into clear commercialization roadmaps and execution plans across teams.

• Oversee cross-category initiatives and ensure appropriate resourcing, sequencing, and risk management.

• Act as a senior liaison across Product Development, Sourcing, Category Management, FSQA, Marketing, and other cross-functional partners to ensure alignment, transparency, and decision-making.

• Lead prioritization alignment of all commercialization activities with the cross-functional leads effectively using business acumen and an enterprise lens.

• Lead resolution of program issues with structured thinking and analysis of launch risks, escalations, and trade-offs, ensuring sound decisions across cost, quality, brand standards, and timelines.

• Facilitate project post-mortems and ensure learnings are embedded into standardized processes and future planning.

• Own and drive continuous improvement of commercialization and product delivery processes at the program and team level.

• Establish and monitor key performance indicators to assess delivery effectiveness, speed-to-market, and quality.

• Ensure consistent application of governance, tools, and methodologies across Commercialization Managers.

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of 5-7 Commercialization Managers, setting clear expectations, priorities, and performance standards.

• Support program-level strategy and direction for enterprise innovation and product development initiatives (e.g., Scoop), ensuring alignment to business priorities.

• Lead team training planning, development, and engagement events to strengthen functional capability and alignment.

SUPERVISION
:

• 5-7 Commercialization Managers

RELATIONSHIPS

• Internal: Strong collaborative relationship across the Merchandising organization, including Category Management, Marketing, FSQA, and Analytics. Interacts across all levels up to and including senior leaders.

• External: Professional and effective relationships with the vendor community and key raw material ingredients. A strong dynamic relationship with professional organizations and peer community.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Hybrid
  :
  This role is partially remote, and the associate is expected to perform assigned responsibilities from a combined home-based and office-based environment.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 7 years of customer focused product development commercialization related experience in food service, consumer packaged goods, or retail.

• 3 years of people management and/or leadership experience.

• Program and project management experience.

• Prior experience in training facilitation.

• Strategic decision-making approach to business interests.

• Sound business judgment and a strong business acumen.

• Highly organized with a strong focus on detail and accuracy.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong presentation skills.

• Work effectively as an individual with minimal supervision, or as a team member as required.

• Ability to translate a passion for food throughout the organization.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Expertise in product development and new product innovation.

• Experience in brand management, category management and/or new product innovation.

• MBA

This role will also receive long term incentives and an annual incentive plan bonus up to 25% of base salary.​

​Benefits for this role may include health insurance, pre-tax spending accounts, retirement benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, employee stock purchase plan, and life insurance. To review available benefits, please :