Commercialization Manager

Scalis LLC; Bloomingdale (IL); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

401(k)

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Paid Holidays

Life Insurance

Flexible Schedule

Vision Insurance

Bonus

401(k) Matching

Professional Development

Job summary

Korpack, a food-grade co-packer serving leading consumer brands, seeks a Commercialization Manager to own the full NPI lifecycle from post-award scoping through first-run execution and stabilization. You will lead Developmental Project Managers and a Project Coordinator, ensuring every program exits with Customer Success-ready documentation and a stable execution model.

You will drive scoped, realistic plans, manage risk, and enforce high standards across cross-functional teams, coordinating

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading project execution in a manufacturing, co-packing, or operations environment.
• Strong understanding of NPI processes — scoping, production planning, first-run management, and stabilization.
• A track record of holding teams and processes accountable to a high standard.
• The ability to assess execution risk quickly and act decisively to mitigate it.
• Strong cross-functional communication skills — you know how to align people across departments without losing urgency.
• Experience developing early-career project managers or operations professionals.
• Comfort working in ERP systems and managing documentation-heavy execution environments.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the DPM team and Project Coordinator through regular performance feedback and hands-on support.
• Review and validate all project scopes before they enter production — reject or rework any scope that is incomplete or unrealistic.
• Oversee execution of all NPI programs from kickoff through stabilization.
• Attend and lead key project milestones — kickoffs, first-run reviews, FAI, stabilization checkpoints.
• Approve launch readiness for all first production runs.
• Approve all handoffs from Commercialization to Customer Success — ensure documentation, scope, and execution model are complete.
• Monitor NPI OTIF, first-run success rate, and rework across the portfolio.
• Coordinate with Purchasing on material availability and lead time alignment prior to production.
• Partner with Sales Ops to ensure pricing inputs reflect execution realities.
• Identify patterns in launch failures or margin erosion and implement corrective actions.

Skills

Project leadership

Cross-functional

Risk assessment

ERP knowledge

Tools

Acumatica ERP

Job description

Korpack is a food-grade (SQF) co-packer for leading consumer brands, providing contract packaging, packaging materials and automation in the western Chicago suburbs. We're doubling into 350,000 sq ft across two facilities, Bloomingdale and St. Charles, and investing in the people and systems to run them. Two things define how we work. Efficiency: lines that run to standard, every shift. Accuracy: work orders, inventory and shipments that are right the first time in our ERP (Acumatica). Our customers see their product move work-order by work-order, and we've promised them no delay. If you want a place where your work shows up in the numbers, keep reading.

About the job

Department: Commercial Operations | Reports To: Director of Commercial Operations & Strategy | Classification: Full-Time / Exempt

About the Role

The Commercialization Manager owns Korpack's new product introduction engine. From the moment a deal is won to the moment a program is stable and ready for handoff, this role is responsible for everything in between — the scope, the execution, the people, and the outcome.

This is not a coordination role. It is an execution leadership role. The Commercialization Manager ensures that every NPI program is properly scoped before it is priced, run correctly the first time, and transitioned cleanly to Customer Success when it's ready — not before. They lead a team of Developmental Project Managers and a Project Coordinator, and they are accountable for how that team performs.

Success here looks like first runs that go as planned, handoffs that Customer Success is proud to receive, and a commercialization function that the rest of the business can rely on to deliver without surprises.

What You Own

NPI Execution — Start to Stable

You own the full NPI lifecycle from post-award scoping through first-run execution and stabilization. Every program that enters your function needs to exit it in a state that Customer Success can own with confidence. You define what "ready" looks like, you hold your team to that standard, and you approve every transition out of your function personally.

Before any program gets launched, it needs to be properly scoped. That is your responsibility. You ensure that all assumptions are complete, all timelines are realistic, and all execution requirements are understood. Incomplete or optimistic scopes that create downstream problems start here — and you prevent them.

You directly manage the Developmental Project Manager team and the Project Coordinator. You set the standard for how projects are run, hold your team accountable for executing to that standard, and actively develop their ability to think like operators — not just coordinators. Your team's performance is your performance.

Launch & First-Run Success

You own what happens on the floor during first runs. That means being close enough to the work to know when something is at risk, intervening before problems become failures, and ensuring that every launch has what it needs to succeed. Rework, delays, and surprises during NPI are the metrics that tell you how well your function is working.

Handoff Quality to Customer Success

A clean handoff is not optional — it is the final deliverable of every program your team runs. Customer Success receives complete documentation, a stable execution model, and a clear picture of scope and parameters. Anything less is not a finished program. You own that standard and you enforce it before any transition is approved.

Cross-Functional Execution Alignment

Your team sits at the intersection of Sales Ops, Purchasing, Scheduling, QA, and Production. You ensure all of those functions are aligned before execution begins and that your DPMs are driving that coordination — not waiting for it. When alignment breaks down, you resolve it. When it can't be resolved at your level, you escape with a recommendation.

You pay attention to where programs fail, where rework happens, and where margin erodes — and you do something about it. You implement process improvements, standardize execution across your team, and build a commercialization function that gets better with every program it runs.

Core Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop the DPM team and Project Coordinator through regular performance feedback and hands-on support
• Review and validate all project scopes before they enter the production — reject or rework any scope that is incomplete or unrealistic
• Oversee execution of all NPI programs from kickoff through stabilization
• Attend and lead key project milestones — kickoffs, first-run reviews, FAI, stabilization checkpoints
• Approve launch readiness for all first production runs
• Approve all handoffs from Commercialization to Customer Success — ensure documentation, scope, and execution model are complete
• Monitor NPI OTIF, first-run success rate, and rework across the portfolio
• Coordinate with Purchasing on material availability and lead time alignment prior to production
• Partner with Sales Ops to ensure pricing inputs reflect execution realities
• Identify patterns in launch failures or margin erosion and implement corrective actions
• Maintain clear communication with the DIrector of Commercial Operations on program status, risk, and team performance

What You Bring

• Proven experience leading project execution in a manufacturing, co-packing, or operations environment
• Strong understanding of NPI processes — scoping, production planning, first-run management, and stabilization
• A track record of holding teams and processes accountable to a high standard
• The ability to assess execution risk quickly and act decisively to mitigate it
• Strong cross-functional communication skills — you know how to align people across departments without losing urgency
• Experience developing early-career project managers or operations professionals
• Comfort working in ERP systems and managing documentation-heavy execution environments

How We Measure Success

• NPI OTIF performance across all active programs
• First-run success rate and reduction in launch-related rework
• Scope accuracy — alignment between estimated and actual execution requirements
• Handoff quality — completeness and stability of programs transitioned to Customer Success
• DPM team performance and development
• Margin adherence on NPI programs

How You Work

You are an execution owner. You set the standard, enforce it without exception, and develop the people around you to meet it. You are close enough to the work to know when something is off, decisive enough to act on it quickly, and experienced enough to know the difference between a risk worth taking and one that will cost the business. When programs run well, your team gets the credit. When they don't, you own it.
#LI-NN01

• Health Insurance
• 401(k)
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Paid Holidays
• Life Insurance
• Flexible Schedule
• Vision Insurance
• Bonus
• 401(k) Matching
• Professional Development

Preferred Skills

• Project Management
• Program Management
• NPI Launches
• S&OP
• Project Onboarding
• Item Onboarding
• MRP
• ERP

Our Commitment to You

At Korpack, customer delight is not just a goal; it’s our way of doing business. We are committed to delivering quality services consistently, on time, and maintaining enduring relationships. Our endeavor is to continually enhance our performance and adhere to the highest statutory and regulatory standards.