Commercialization Project Manager

John Soules Foods; Tyler (TX); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Incentive Pay

Vacation / Sick days

Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits

Telemedicine

Onsite Clinic – Tyler and Valley

401 (k) with company match

Career Development

Job summary

John Soules Foods seeks a Commercialization Project Manager to lead cross-functional programs from concept through launch, aligning R&D, FSQA, supply chain, operations, marketing and sales to deliver new products.

You will own SOP development, process standardization, and continuous improvement, while managing timelines, risks, budgets, and stage-gate milestones in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required in Business/PM/SC or related field.
• 5+ years of experience in product or project management or commercialization.
• Experience in food manufacturing or CPG preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end commercialization projects from concept to launch.
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans with timelines and budgets.
• Coordinate cross‑functional teams across R&D, FSQA, Supply Chain, Ops, Marketing and Sales.
• Drive stage‑gate milestones and risk management.
• Develop SOPs and ensure process standardization across teams.
• Support post‑launch reviews and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Food/CPG experience

SOP development

Process improvement

Teams

Planner

SharePoint

M3

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Project Management, Supply Chain, or related field

Job description

Job Title: Commercialization Project Manager

Location: Corporate – Tyler, TX and Gainesville, GA

Reports To: Sr. Commercialization Strategy Manager

Direct Reports: None

Travel: 10-15% (Occasional for start-ups and onsite plant visits)

Overview Of Company

John Soules Foods is a thriving family-owned food company that has made a positive difference for its customers and consumers for nearly 50 years. Our purpose and promise of Great Food, Made Simple® drives us. Based in Tyler, Texas, the company is a leading national producer of ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook chicken and beef products and is the number one producer of chicken and beef fajitas in the USA. We proudly serve a broad portfolio of great-tasting, high-quality grilled and breaded products sold throughout the US via retail, food service distributors, and restaurants. Our wide array of national customers includes prominent organizations such as Walmart, Costco, Sam’s Club, Sysco, and HEB. The company was established in 1975 by John Soules Sr., and the business is now in the second generation of family leadership. The organization has expanded dramatically over the past decade, and with its continued growth, it now has annual sales of approximately $1 billion. The company employs over 2,000 individuals and has three manufacturing facilities in Gainesville, Georgia; Valley, Alabama; and its headquarters in Tyler, Texas.

Job Summary

The Commercialization Manager is responsible for leading cross-functional projects from product development through launch while owning and improving the processes that enable successful commercialization. This role drives alignment across R&D, FSQA, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing, and Sales, ensuring projects are executed efficiently and consistently. The position also leads SOP development, process standardization, and continuous improvement initiatives to build a scalable, repeatable commercialization model. This is a high-visibility, hands‑on role suited for a highly organized, process-driven individual who thrives in a fast-paced and high-project volume environment and is passionate about improving how teams work together to bring products to market.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Project Management, Supply Chain, or related field required

Experience/Competencies

• 5+ years of experience in product management, project management, or commercialization
• Experience in food manufacturing or CPG preferred
• Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional projects
• Experience with SOP development or process improvement initiatives preferred

Key Responsibilities

Commercialization Project Leadership

• Lead end‑to‑end commercialization projects from concept approval through plant trials, scale‑up, validation, and launch
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously across retail, industrial, and foodservice channels
• Develop and maintain integrated project plans, including timelines, risk registers, budgets, and launch readiness criteria
• Identify and resolve risks, bottlenecks, and dependencies
• Drive stage‑gate execution and ensure decision readiness at each milestone
• Support prioritization with data‑driven insights

Process Development & Manufacturing Readiness

• Ensure new products are commercialized with documented, repeatable, and capable processes
• Support identification of equipment needs, line modifications, or capital improvements required for commercialization
• Facilitate focused project check‑ins to drive execution and accountability
• Own and maintain SOPs across the commercialization lifecycle
• Ensure alignment with approved business cases and operational assumptions
• Drive adoption and consistency of processes across teams
• Support and improve use of tools such as Teams, Planner, SharePoint, and M3

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Serve as the central point of contact across R&D, FSQA, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing, Sales, and Data/Specifications teams for assigned projects
• Coordinate closely with Product Development to ensure product concepts, formulations, specifications, and customer expectations are aligned through development and commercialization.
• Coordinate closely with Operations to ensure production readiness, manufacturing feasibility, capacity planning, process execution, scheduling alignment, equipment readiness, and successful transition from development into commercial production.
• Coordinate closely with Supply Chain & Procurement to align raw materials, packaging, and suppliers with process and schedule needs
• Coordinate closely with Sales, Marketing, and Customers to manage consumer/customer‑specific requirements and commercialization timelines
• Coordinate closely with FSQA to ensure compliance with FSMA, HACCP, allergen controls, labeling, and validation requirements

Continuous Improvement & Operational Excellence

• Embed continuous improvement principles into commercialization activities to enhance process efficiency, quality, and cost performance
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives to reduce delays and improve efficiency
• Identify opportunities to standardize and optimize processes across plants and platforms
• Collaborate with Operations and CI teams to incorporate lessons learned from launches into future projects
• Support post‑launch reviews to assess process performance and drive sustained improvements

Communication & Governance

• Maintain visibility across active projects and provide clear, high‑level updates on project status, risks, and launch readiness
• Assess and report resource constraints and needs
• Maintain accurate project documentation

Work Environment

This job is carried out in a professional office setting and involves using standard office equipment like laptops, desk phones, and smartphones. Regular visits to production facilities may also be required. During those visits, the employee is occasionally exposed to cold and/or humid conditions. The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts. The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes or airborne particles, cold temperatures, electrical shock and vibration risks. The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

Physical Demands

Employees must be able to stand, walk, or sit; use their hands for tasks; reach with their arms; and communicate verbally. Occasional lifting or moving objects is necessary, along with close, distance, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

The applicant who fills this position will be eligible for the following

• Incentive Pay: This position is eligible for the Company’s bonus plan, with amounts varying based on program terms.
• Vacation / Sick days
• Medical, Dental, Vision Benefits
• Telemedicine
• Onsite Clinic – Tyler and Valley
• Free annual health screening
• 401 (k) with company match
• STD and LTD
• Life insurance & other voluntary benefits
• Career Development: We support professional growth through continuous learning and development opportunities.

Soules Foods is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.

Applicants with disabilities needing accommodation during the application process can contact Human Resources at the relevant location.

Soules Foods will not discriminate against applicants who discuss their compensation. We also participate in the E-Verify program where required by law.

Unsolicited Assistance

Soules Foods does not accept unsolicited support from external recruitment vendors for U.S. positions. Resumes or candidate profiles submitted without a valid written request and search agreement from HR will be considered the property of Soules Foods. No fees will be paid for candidates hired through unsolicited referrals.