Commercialization Manager

Winland Foods, Inc.; Oak Brook (IL); Hybrid; USD 93,000 - 138,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

401(k) with match

STD/LTD/AD&D/Life

HSA

FSA

EAP

Hospital indemnity

Accident Insurance

Identity and Fraud Protection Plan

Legal

Critical Illness

Job summary

Winland Foods, Inc. in Oak Brook, IL is seeking a Commercialization Manager to lead cross-functional teams from concept through successful launch and to deliver market-ready products.

You will coordinate with R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Marketing, and Procurement to ensure projects stay on track and meet consumer needs. The role is hybrid (Fridays remote, Mon-Thu in office) with responsibilities spanning project planning, risk management, and stakeholder communication.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Business, Project Management, Supply Chain, Operations, Food Science, or related discipline preferred
• 2+ years leading cross-functional teams in a CPG or food manufacturing environment.
• 5+ years of commercialization, R&D, Supply Chain, or Operations experience.
• Experience with SAP, PPM, and data visualization tools preferred.
• PMP certification a plus.

Responsibilities

• Leads projects through the established stage-gate process, ensuring required deliverables, decisions, and approvals are completed at milestones.
• Develops integrated project plans defining scope, objectives, milestones, dependencies, deliverables, owners, and due dates.
• Establishes a reliable single source of truth for project status, milestones, risks, decisions, and outstanding actions.
• Coordinates activities across R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Packaging, Quality, Regulatory, Finance, Sales, Marketing, and other functional partners.
• Provides visibility to risks that could affect launch timing, customer commitments, cost, or successful execution and develops contingency plans with cross-functional input.
• Partners with operations and technical teams to support plant trials, production qualifications, new equipment or process requirements, capacity considerations, and manufacturing readiness.
• Partners with business and functional leaders to support prioritization of commercial activities.
• Motivates and influences cross-functional team members to achieve project deliverables.
• Prepares concise, executive-ready updates that translate detailed project information into key messages, decisions, risks, and actions.

Skills

Cross-functional leadership

Analytical thinking

Data-driven decisions

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business / PM / Supply Chain / Operations / Food Science

Tools

SAP

Power BI

PPM

Microsoft Project

Job description

At Winland Foods, our success starts with people who live our values of Excellence, Quality, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration every day. At Winland Foods, commercialization is where ideas become real—where bold thinking, cross-functional teamwork, and operational excellence come together to bring delicious, high-quality products to life. Guided by our values of Excellence, Quality, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration, our Commercialization Team ensures that every new or improved product is launched smoothly, efficiently, and with the consumer at the center. As a member of the Commercialization Team, you will play a crucial role in turning concepts into successful market-ready products. You’ll coordinate across R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Marketing, and Procurement—connecting strategy to execution and ensuring projects stay on track. Your ability to solve problems, anticipate risks, make data-informed decisions, and bring teams together is what makes new innovation possible at Winland.

Employee Type: Full time Location: IL Oak Brook Job Type: Supply Chain Commercialization

Job Posting Title: Commercialization Manager

Schedule: (Hybrid) Fridays are remote, while Mon-Thurs are in office

Work Location: 2015 Spring Road Suite 400, Oak Brook, IL 60523

Benefits:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• 401(k) with match
• STD/LTD/AD&D/Life
• HSA
• FSA
• EAP
• Hospital indemnity
• Accident Insurance
• Identity and Fraud Protection Plan
• Legal
• Critical Illness

Salary, based on experience and other qualifications: $93k to $138k Annually, with additional bonus potential

As a Manager, you lead cross-functional teams from project definition through successful launch, fostering collaboration and driving consistent, successful execution. Your work will help deliver high-quality products to retail shelves and restaurant tables, reaching millions of consumers. You are the central point of coordination and accountability—motivating teams, resolving conflicts, and ensuring project success through clear structure, communication, and decision-making.

What the Commercialization Team Does:

• Serves as the project manager for commercialization projects that cut across innovations, product reformulations and graphic refreshes.
• Leads and coordinates cross-functional teams to bring initiatives from concept through launch.
• Manages high complexity projects requiring direct customer-facing engagement.
• Translates ideas and requirements into clear project plans, timelines, and deliverables.
• Identifies risks early and collaborates to develop solutions that keep launches on track.
• Optimizes processes, drives cost savings, and champions continuous improvement efforts.
• Uses tools like PPM, SAP, and Power BI to track progress, measure results, and support data-driven decision making.
• Facilitates communication across multiple teams and levels of the organization, ensuring alignment and transparency.

Skills a Commercialization Team Member Demonstrates:

• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Clear communication and the ability to influence without authority.
• Analytical thinking and comfort working with data in multiple systems.
• A collaborative mindset with a focus on problem solving and efficiency.
• A passion for bringing ideas to life and driving exceptional execution.

Roles and Responsibilities:

• Leads projects through the established stage-gate process, ensuring required deliverables, decisions, and approvals are completed at appropriate milestones.
• Develops integrated project plans defining scope, objectives, milestones, dependencies, deliverables, owners, and due dates.
• Establishes a reliable single source of truth for project status, milestones, risks, decisions, and outstanding actions.
• Coordinates activities across R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Packaging, Quality, Regulatory, Finance, Sales, Marketing, and other functional partners.
• Provides visibility to risks that could affect launch timing, customer commitments, cost, or successful execution and develop contingency plans with cross functional input.
• Partners with operations and technical teams to support plant trials, production qualifications, new equipment or process requirements, capacity considerations, and manufacturing readiness.
• Partners with business and functional leaders to support prioritization of commercial activities.
• Motivates and influences cross-functional team members to achieve project deliverables.
• Prepares concise, executive-ready updates that translate detailed project information into key messages, decisions, risks, and actions.

The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list of all tasks. Additional tasks and duties may be assigned from time to time as necessitated by business needs.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Business, Project Management, Supply Chain, Operations, Food Science, or a related discipline preferred
• 2+ years leading cross-functional teams in a CPG or food manufacturing environment.
• 5+ years of commercialization, R&D, Supply Chain, or Operations experience.
• Strong communication, facilitation, and influence skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Experience with SAP, PPM, and data visualization tools preferred.
• PMP certification a plus.
• Strong decision-making, conflict management, and communication skills.
• Experience with Microsoft Project or similar tools.

EEO Statement:

Winland Foods seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool, and as a global company we believe our success is enhanced by fostering equity and inclusion in the workplace. Therefore, Winland Foods is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

About Us

At Winland Foods, we’re passionate about creating exceptional food experiences that bring people together. We are a dynamic and growing company specializing in meal preparation products—from pasta and sauces to plant-based proteins and more. Our portfolio includes beloved consumer brands and custom private-label solutions for retail and foodservice channels.

Why Work With Us?

We believe in being exceptional from the land to the table. That means:

• Commitment to Quality: We consistently exceed industry standards across our value chain.
• Sustainability & Responsibility: We prioritize environmental stewardship and make a positive impact on the world around us.
• People First: The safety, well-being, and growth of our employees are at the heart of everything we do.

Our Culture

We’re a team of food enthusiasts who value collaboration, innovation, and integrity. At Winland Foods, you’ll find an environment where your ideas matter, your contributions are recognized, and your career can thrive.

Explore Opportunities

At Winland Foods, you’ll find opportunities across operations, supply chain, marketing, and product development—roles where your work truly makes an impact. By joining our team, you become part of a forward-thinking organization that values passion, collaboration, and shared success with our customers. Together, we’re shaping the future of food.

To All Recruitment Agencies

Winland Foods does not accept unsolicited agency resumes/CVs. Please do not forward resumes/CVs to Winland Foods employees, or any company location(s). Winland Foods is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/CVs.