Commercialization Specialist

INSTITUTIONAL FOODS PACKING CO; Glenview (IL); On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Finlays Solutions in the United States is seeking a Commercialization Specialist to drive new product launches from development to full production. You will manage plant trials, coordinate cross-functional teams, maintain timelines, and prepare documentation for customer approvals across multiple plants.

You will partner with R&D, Sales, Operations, Supply Chain and Quality to ensure launch readiness, monitor risks, and deliver clear project updates to customers and internal teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Food Science, Operations, or related field.
• Proven experience in commercialization, product development, or manufacturing operations is preferred.
• Strong written and verbal communication, with ability to coordinate cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Guide commercialization efforts for new products and packaging, ensuring launch readiness and excellence.
• Manage day-to-day execution of assigned commercialization projects, ensuring alignment with timelines, deliverables, and customer expectations.
• Facilitate cross-functional communication across R&D, Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Quality, and Technical Services.
• Organize project documents, checklists, timelines, and shared folders in approved platforms.
• Lead meetings and required working sessions for product development and commercialization activities.
• Coordinate and support execution of plant trials or pilot runs at manufacturing facilities.
• Partner with sales teams to support customer communication and accurate project updates.
• Complete and submit commercial reports on time.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Communication

MS Office

SharePoint

Teams

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Food Science, Operations, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

SharePoint

Microsoft Teams

Job description

About Us:Finlays Solutions is a leading partner to the B2B beverage manufacturing industry, recognized for its deep expertise, strong industry relationships, and commitment to innovation. The company plays a central role in supporting beverage brands, flavor houses, private label partners, and manufacturers through high-quality products, technical capabilities, and collaborative problem-solving. With a strong presence in the ready-to-drink beverage market, Finlays Solutions focuses on identifying emerging opportunities, expanding into new market spaces, and delivering solutions that meet evolving customer and consumer needs.Finlays Solutions operates with a strong commitment to its mission, values, ethics, and long‑term goals, ensuring that every initiative reflects the company’s dedication to integrity, partnership, and sustainable success.Job Summary:The Commercialization Specialist plays a key role in the management of internal and customer projects, including key ownership of plant trials, product scale up and launch activities. This maintains an integrated view of all in flight commercialization projects across their assigned plants and plays a critical role on key customer account teams including customer-facing communication. This role monitors timelines, aligns cross functional teams around critical path deliverables, and proactively resolves risks or gaps. The Commercialization Specialist organizes commercialization aspects of plant trials, including planning, execution, documentation, and customer approval processes, ensuring new products transition smoothly from development into full production.Essential Duties and Responsibilities:Guide commercialization efforts for new products and packaging, ensuring launch readiness and excellence.Manage day‑to‑day execution of assigned commercialization projects, ensuring alignment with timelines, deliverables, and customer expectations.Facilitate cross‑functional communication across R&D, Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Quality, and Technical Services.Organize project documents, checklists, timelines, and shared folders in approved platforms.Lead meetings and required working sessions for product development and commercialization activities.Ensure adherence to commercialization best practices and support ongoing improvements to internal processes.Track and maintain commercialization pipeline status, flagging risks or delays to team.Coordinate and support execution of plant trials or pilot runs at manufacturing facilities.Partner with sales teams to support customer communication and accurate project updates.Complete and submit commercial reports on time.Champion Finlays’ purpose and values, develop team capabilities and processes and partner across the organization to deliver dependent projects.Manage expenses and travel budgetOther duties as assignedQualifications & Requirements:Bachelor’s degree in Business, Food Science, Operations, or related field.2–4 years of experience in commercialization, product development, manufacturing operations, or related fields.Proficiency in Microsoft Office and collaboration platforms (Teams, SharePoint).Strong project management, organizational, and communication skills.Physical DemandsAbility to work beyond regularly scheduled hours during peak periods or critical operationsMust possess adequate vision, hearing, and verbal communication skills to meet essential job performance and safety standards.Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and regularly perform physical tasks such as pushing, pulling, lifting, climbing, bending, stooping, squatting, and using hands for detailed tasksPhysically capable of performing tasks such as lifting, climbing, and using hand and power tools, including pallet jacks, scales, ladders, and standard material handling and cleaning equipmentCapable of safely lifting up to 50 pounds frequently throughout the day; ability to handle heavier items with proper lifting equipment or team-assisted techniques to ensure safetyWork EnvironmentEmployees must be able to work in a dynamic manufacturing environment that may include exposure to odors, dust, moderate noise levels, and fluctuations in temperature and ventilation. Work environment may involve exposure to inclement weather. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) must be worn at all times, which may include but is not limited to: safety glasses, steel-toed shoes, gloves, hairnets, uniforms, and face shields, as required by specific job duties and safety protocols.Quality Statement:Our Quality and Food Safety Management strategy is anchored by our food safety and quality culture and a two-pronged approach to “be the best” as we produce “only the best”. Every employee has a role to play in this strategy as outlined by the following:Follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s), allergen control, food defense, HACCP, SQF, and regulatory requirements so that we make consistently safe, quality products.Ensure the presence of visitors, contractors, and customers are documented on each visit in and out of the facility to maintain good manufacturing practices, allergen controls, food defense/food security and HACCP controls.Report all food safety and quality issues to management immediately.Partner with colleagues across all functions to share knowledge, skills, and information regarding quality and food safety.Adhere to all health and safety work practices.Exhibit an understanding of quality and food safety standards and be able to speak about the Finlays quality and food safety system and your role in it.Handle customer complaints in a timely and professional manner so that the customer is put first, always.Participate fully in Finlays programs that drive continuous improvement methodologies.Any employee in doubt as to the role they play in the Finlays quality and food safety management system must reach out to the site Quality Manager or VP of Quality.Equal Opportunity Statement:Finlays Solutions is an equal employment opportunity employer seeking diversity in qualified applicants for employment. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, gender, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, perceived disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected status, as defined by applicable law. Finlays employs individuals that are 18 years of age or older.This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.