Project Manager - IT

Avacend; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 85,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

Avacend is seeking a curious, action-oriented technical professional to join a Foodservice and Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Product Commercialization team for a short-term assignment. You will lead end-to-end product commercialization, partnering with R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, Manufacturing, and Commercial teams to launch new products and reformulations.

The role requires strong project management, technical judgment, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills, acting as

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in food manufacturing or a Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) company.
• Proven project management experience.
• Strong ability to work independently and take initiative.
• Ability to evaluate consequences and make sound technical/business decisions.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to influence stakeholders, negotiate, build consensus, provide recommendations, identify solutions and process improvements.
• Excellent time-management and prioritization skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex tasks simultaneously.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.
• Ability to balance technical accuracy with speed and business requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage commercialization activities across multiple product categories and formats.
• Lead the commercialization of new products and reformulations of existing products.
• Function as the technical project leader for commercialization activities and ensure successful project completion.
• Adapt technical documentation and launch support to meet customer and manufacturing-partner requirements while maintaining system standards and compliance.
• Collaborate with external manufacturing facilities to review production capabilities and coordinate plant trials when necessary.
• Support onboarding of new manufacturing facilities into commercialization processes.
• Provide technical guidance and training to co-manufacturing partners on batching, kitting, mixing instructions, production requirements.
• Exercise technical judgment to determine appropriate levels of support and clarify ownership responsibilities.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to resolve technical and operational gaps during commercialization and launch.
• Support continuous improvement of commercialization processes, documentation, and workflows.
• Develop plant formulations and mixing instructions and validate batching capabilities.
• Maintain formulation and product information systems.
• Develop and issue technical and product information required for successful product launches, including formulations, mixing instructions, packaging information, ERP/SAP information, shelf-life information, product data, and other launch documentation.
• Proactively manage ingredient-delivery issues and communicate launch-date risks to project stakeholders.
• Act as a scientific, technical, and/or quality subject-matter expert for field and cross-functional questions.
• Provide technical consultation and general product/process information to internal teams, manufacturing partners, and customers.
• Support Product Development teams by assessing existing manufacturing capabilities and identifying requirements for new product types.
• Attend plant trials to verify production capability and feasibility.
• Ensure accuracy of packaging-component information and related product systems.
• Manage multiple complex projects while maintaining timelines and deliverables.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional collaboration

Technical judgment

Problem-solving

Communication skills

Time management

Education

Bachelor's degree / University degree in Science or a related field

Job description

Description

We are seeking a curious, action-oriented technical professional to join a Foodservice and Ready-to-Drink (RTD) Product Commercialization team for a short-term assignment.

This role provides exposure to end-to-end product commercialization, leading launches of new products and reformulations from concept through commercialization while partnering closely with teams across R&D, Supply Chain, Operations, Quality, Manufacturing, and Commercial.

The selected candidate will serve as the technical project lead for commercialization activities, helping ensure successful execution across multiple product categories. The role requires strong project management, technical judgment, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage commercialization activities across multiple product categories and formats.

• Lead the commercialization of new products and reformulations of existing products.

• Function as the technical project leader for commercialization activities and ensure successful project completion.

• Adapt technical documentation and launch support to meet customer and manufacturing-partner requirements while maintaining system standards and compliance.

• Collaborate with external manufacturing facilities to review production capabilities and coordinate plant trials when necessary.

• Support onboarding of new manufacturing facilities into commercialization processes.

• Provide technical guidance and training to co-manufacturing partners on:

  • Batching

  • Kitting

  • Mixing instructions

  • Production requirements

• Exercise technical judgment to determine appropriate levels of support and clarify ownership responsibilities.

• Partner with cross-functional teams to resolve technical and operational gaps during commercialization and launch.

• Support continuous improvement of commercialization processes, documentation, and workflows.

• Develop plant formulations and mixing instructions and validate batching capabilities.

• Maintain formulation and product information systems.

• Develop and issue technical and product information required for successful product launches, including:

  • Formulations

  • Mixing instructions

  • Packaging information

  • ERP/SAP information

  • Shelf-life information

  • Product data

  • Other launch documentation

• Proactively manage ingredient-delivery issues and communicate launch-date risks to project stakeholders.

• Act as a scientific, technical, and/or quality subject-matter expert for field and cross-functional questions.

• Provide technical consultation and general product/process information to internal teams, manufacturing partners, and customers.

• Support Product Development teams by assessing existing manufacturing capabilities and identifying requirements for new product types.

• Attend plant trials to verify production capability and feasibility.

• Ensure accuracy of packaging-component information and related product systems.

• Manage multiple complex projects while maintaining timelines and deliverables.

Required Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in food manufacturing or a Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) company.

• Proven project management experience.

• Strong ability to work independently and take initiative.

• Ability to evaluate consequences and make sound technical/business decisions.

• Strong communication skills, including the ability to:

  • Influence stakeholders

  • Negotiate

  • Build consensus

  • Provide recommendations

  • Identify solutions and process improvements

• Excellent time-management and prioritization skills.

• Ability to manage multiple complex tasks simultaneously.

• Strong analytical and problem-solving capabilities.

• Ability to balance technical accuracy with speed and business requirements.

Education

• Bachelor's degree / University degree in Science or a related field.

Preferred Background

• Product commercialization experience.

• Food or beverage manufacturing experience.

• Consumer packaged goods experience.

• Manufacturing process knowledge.

• Experience working with co-manufacturers or external manufacturing facilities.

• Experience coordinating plant trials.

• Experience with formulations, batching, mixing instructions, packaging, or product specifications.

• Cross-functional experience with R&D, Quality, Supply Chain, Operations, Manufacturing, and Commercial teams.

Core Competencies

• Develop Self and Others

• Act Like an Owner

• Collaborate with System, Customers, and Stakeholders

• Drive Innovation

• Inspire Others

• Take Initiative and Accountability

• Solve Problems Proactively

• Manage Priorities Effectively

Travel

• Approximately 10% travel.

• Travel may include visits to manufacturing facilities in Canada.

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience with manufacturing capabilities and product commercialization.

• Can work independently and take ownership.

• Has strong project management and prioritization skills.

• Communicates confidently with cross-functional teams and external partners.

• Thinks analytically and proactively solves problems.

• Can balance technical precision with business needs and project timelines.

• Is comfortable working in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

• Has a strong interest in product development, commercialization, and manufacturing operations.