The Commercialization Program Manager is responsible for managing and coordinating commercialization initiatives from project initiation through launch. This role provides structure, governance, planning, coordination, and execution discipline needed to drive cross-functional team towards successful commercialization outcome.
The role drives core PMO activities including project intake and prioritization, integrated project planning, milestone and execution path management, dependency management, commercialization governance, risk, and change control throughout the commercialization phase of the product development lifecycle. The Commercialization Program Manager defines actionable project plans, establishes clear ownership and decision points, and proactively manages risks, issues, and dependencies to maintain alignment, execution, and delivery against defined business outcomes.
The position also drives a consistent commercialization operating model through standardized processes, tools, governance routines, and reporting. It provides leadership with clear visibility into project performance, risks, resource constraints, dependencies, and critical decisions while facilitating timely decisions and removal of execution barriers.
The Commercialization Program Manager drives continuous improvement of PMO practices and ways of working by identifying execution gaps, developing practical solutions, strengthening cross-functional accountability, and improving decision-making and execution discipline.
Success requires strong project leadership, organization, communication, stakeholder management, problem-solving, and follow-through. This is a hands-on role that must be able to navigate complexity and driving projects through successful commercialization and launch.
Key Responsibilities and Accountabilities:Commercialization Project Management and Governance:- Manage the commercialization project pipeline, including intake, prioritization, planning, governance, and execution in alignment with business objectives.
- Develop and maintain integrated project plans, milestones, critical paths, dependencies, deliverables, and resource requirements.
- Establish project governance, roles, decision rights, meeting cadences, and reporting routines to maintain visibility and accountability.
- Maintain cross-functional visibility to project status and progress, key milestones, risks, issues, dependencies, and critical decisions.
- Monitor project progression status and proactively escalate schedule, scope, resource, and execution risks with clear recommendations and action plan.
- Ensure project changes are evaluated, documented, communicated, and managed through appropriate change-control processes.
PMO Processes & Continuous Improvement:- Implement and maintain standardized project management processes, tools, templates, reporting, and governance practices across the commercialization portfolio.
- Identify execution gaps and opportunities to improve project management, decision-making, accountability, and overall PMO effectiveness.
- Maintain accurate project data and reporting to support prioritization, resource planning, and leadership decision-making.
Execution & Accountability:- Drive projects from commercialization initiation through scale-up and launch, ensuring deliverables and milestones remain aligned with approved objectives.
- Hold cross-functional teams accountable for commitments, deliverables, milestones, and agreed-upon actions.
- Anticipate execution risks, develop mitigation plans, and proactively address obstacles before they impact project outcomes.
- Ensure commercialization initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and against defined business objectives.
Requirements:- Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Food Science and Technology, or a related field. PMP Certification is a plus.
- 7+ years of program/project management experience, within Food industry, preferably in Ingredient Industry.
- Demonstrated experience managing multiple cross-functional projects involving multiple stakeholders, timelines, dependencies, and deliverables.
- Strong project and program management capabilities, including planning, prioritization, governance, risk management and execution across complex cross-functional initiatives.
- Ability to drive alignment, build trust, and hold cross-functional teams accountable without direct authority.
- Adaptable and comfortable working in a fast-paced, changing environment, with the ability to support adoption of new processes and ways of working.
- Proficient with Microsoft Office and project management tools used for scheduling, reporting, and collaboration, and project tracking.
- Experience coordinating master data setup and maintenance for new product commercialization, including product, material, packaging, customer, supplier, and related operational data.
- Understanding of ERP and master data processes, including cross-functional dependencies across Commercialization, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, Regulatory, and Finance.
- Build people capability through effective employee relations, hiring, training, and communication for front-line hourly and salaried personnel and provide opportunities for career development
