Associate Product Integration Manager

Smithfield Foods • Smithfield, VA

1d

About The Position

The position summary states the general nature and purpose of the job. Overall accountabilities are defined in this section. As an Associate Product Integration Manager, you will embark on a journey to master product integration principles and apply them to commercialization opportunities. Through hands-on project management, you will facilitate smooth cross-functional execution and ensure successful product delivery to market. In this role, you will lead commercialization efforts by developing plans, launching new products, implementing manufacturing and packaging changes, and managing new production set-ups. You will apply product integration principles and disciplined commercialization processes to meet business, customer, and consumer expectations. You will gain expertise in Smithfield’s launch processes, learning how to navigate product development, manufacturing transitions, and market distribution. Leading multiple project teams, you will engage stakeholders, solve business challenges, influence action, and hold teams accountable for timely execution—all contributing to Smithfield’s growth and profitability

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university in Business Management, Marketing, Food Science, Engineering, Supply Chain, Accounting or a related field and 3+ years of relevant experience, or equivalent combination of education and experience, required.
• Experience in acting as a lead by providing training, coaching or mentoring to less experienced staff or through managing a processes or project, required.
• Experience in positions of increasing responsibility with a consumer-packaged goods company.
• Strong work experience grounded in leadership, adaptation, and interpersonal skills.
• Highly organized, efficient, and able to manage business processes as well as grasp operational details and financial strategies.
• General understanding of new product launch process and operational impact from concept to commerce which includes evaluating ideas, testing concepts, prioritizing and defining projects, confirming feasibility, driving development completion, leading implementation and delivery to market.
• Outstanding time management skills and ability to execute across multiple projects.
• Proficient attention to details with ability to drive the larger scope.
• Great listening skills and highly inquisitive.
• Ability to work well with others in fast paced, dynamic environment.
• Ability to be respectful, approachable and team oriented while building strong working relationships and a positive work environment.

Nice To Haves

• Master's Degree, preferred.
• Project management experience, preferred.
• Solution-oriented with proven problem-solving capability, desirable.
• Experience working with Business Management, Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Technical Services and Operations Teams, desirable.

Responsibilities

• Product Commercialization and Launch Execution: You will lead the commercialization of new products, packaging, and major manufacturing changes, integrating business processes across products and locations. By establishing launch plans and ensuring stakeholder alignment, you will lead successful market execution. You will hold teams accountable, mitigate risks, and ensure projects meet timelines and quality standards, delivering impactful business results.
• Strategic Leadership and Cross-Functional Collaboration: You will develop a strong foundation in product integration principles, applying them to commercialization opportunities while building expertise in project management. By engaging stakeholders and leading cross-functional project teams, you will align commercialization plans, inspire action, and ensure seamless execution across business functions. You will integrate upfront deliverables across key teams to meet launch timing and customer expectations, holding Business Teams accountable for providing necessary requirements and aligning with customers on achievable targets.
• Risk Management and Problem Solving: You will tackle business challenges, proactively adjusting project steps to minimize complications and ensure seamless commercialization. By closely monitoring development progress, escalating risks, and driving corrective actions, you will maintain project momentum and deliver successful outcomes. You will also mitigate financial risk by collaborating with Plant Operations and Corporate Food Safety Quality Assurance while tracking analytics, managing reporting, and documenting key performance metrics for leadership visibility and informed decision-making.
• Operational Readiness and Manufacturing Execution: You will ensure manufacturing plant readiness for new production, coordinating equipment installations, ramp-up plans, and staffing needs to ensure a seamless transition. By confirming downtime requirements, first production schedules, and financial inputs for costing, you will optimize efficiency while driving timely product code activations and forecast visibility. You will monitor production ramp-up, follow first production protocols, and ensure finished goods are positioned for market distribution, securing approval for product acceptance and shipping.
• Process Development and Continuous Improvement: You will assess commercialization readiness across products, leading the discovery phase to define product codes, specifications, costing, and packaging needs. By preparing and securing cross-functional alignment on project scope, you will develop a roadmap with key milestones and initiate major projects with manufacturing plants and teams. You will evaluate project performance challenges, applying insights to advance continuous process improvement and ensure successful commercialization.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees