Commercialization Excellence Lead

Kraft Heinz • Chicago, IL

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Define and execute a multi-year commercialization capability maturity roadmap — spanning process, people, and technology — aligned to enterprise innovation ambitions. Design, implement, and continuously improve a project governance framework (agile, stage-gate, hybrid) scaled to initiative complexity, risk, and strategic importance. Establish standardized decision-making frameworks (RACI, Gate readiness criteria, issue escalation paths) that enable speed without sacrificing quality. Build and institutionalize rigorous change management practices, ensuring aligned base plans serve as the backbone of all initiative execution. Champion a 'Business First, Project Second' operating philosophy: anchoring every initiative plan to consumer-centric success criteria and competitive market realities. Develop and update comprehensive Commercial, Technical, and Market learning plans that generate the insights needed to support Gate decisions and in-market readiness. Establish post-launch tracking discipline using structured performance templates; drive corrective action rapidly when results diverge from commitments. Act as the commercialization 's senior advisor — framing risks, surfacing key issues, and presenting decision-ready options for senior leadership with full transparency. Partner with commercialization, functional leaders, key decision makers to build strong governance communities and drive cross-functional accountability. Define role profiles, competency frameworks, and career ladders that attract, develop, and retain top commercialization talent in a competitive CPG environment; build and execute a capability development roadmap for Project/Program Managers and cross-functional initiative team members. Lead onboarding, team effectiveness, and health-check cadences that establish high-performing norms across all initiative teams. Coach and mentor a team of project managers; embed 5E Leadership principles as the operating model for all multi-functional team leadership. Lead the selection, implementation, and adoption of commercialization technology (portfolio management platforms, stage-gate tracking tools, collaboration systems). Define and enforce project data standards, tracking compliance protocols, and reporting cadences across the initiative portfolio. Design dashboards and governance reporting that give leadership real-time visibility into portfolio health, risk, and capacity utilization. Evaluate and continuously improve the integrated planning processes (AOP schedules, spending plans, resource allocation) that drive cross-functional synchronization.

Requirements

• 10 + years of progressive experience in project management, commercialization leadership, or transformation roles within CPG, food & beverage, or adjacent consumer industries.
• Deep expertise in commercialization and innovation processes, portfolio governance, and multi-functional program management.
• Demonstrated success building or significantly maturing a commercialization function — including process design, talent development, and technology enablement.
• Strong track record of managing complex, cross-functional initiative portfolios from ideation through commercialization and in-market performance.
• Experience leading enterprise change management and stakeholder alignment at the executive level.
• Proficiency with portfolio management systems (e.g., Planview, Smartsheet, MS Project, SAP) and a track record of driving digital adoption.
• Courageous communicator: equally comfortable delivering difficult news and advocating for bold decisions in executive settings.
• Systems thinker: able to see across process, people, and technology dimensions simultaneously, and design solutions that are durable at scale.
• Collaborative influencer: builds trust and drives alignment across functions without direct authority — a natural coalition builder.
• Results-oriented executor: sets aggressive goals, establishes clear accountability, and drives relentlessly to deliver.
• Talent multiplier: finds energy in growing others and building organizational capability as a legacy.
• Adaptable in ambiguity: thrives in transformation environments where the destination is clear but the path is still being built.

Nice To Haves

• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent certification preferred
• MBA or advanced degree a plus

Responsibilities

• Define and execute a multi-year commercialization capability maturity roadmap
• Design, implement, and continuously improve a project governance framework
• Establish standardized decision-making frameworks
• Build and institutionalize rigorous change management practices
• Champion a 'Business First, Project Second' operating philosophy
• Develop and update comprehensive Commercial, Technical, and Market learning plans
• Establish post-launch tracking discipline using structured performance templates
• Act as the commercialization 's senior advisor
• Partner with commercialization, functional leaders, key decision makers to build strong governance communities
• Define role profiles, competency frameworks, and career ladders
• Build and execute a capability development roadmap for Project/Program Managers and cross-functional initiative team members
• Lead onboarding, team effectiveness, and health-check cadences
• Coach and mentor a team of project managers
• Lead the selection, implementation, and adoption of commercialization technology
• Define and enforce project data standards, tracking compliance protocols, and reporting cadences
• Design dashboards and governance reporting
• Evaluate and continuously improve the integrated planning processes

Benefits

• Coverage for employees (and their eligible dependents) through affordable access to healthcare, protection, and saving for the future, we offer plans tailored to meet you and your family’s needs.
• Events, resources, and learning opportunities that inspire a physical, social, emotional, and financial well-being lifestyle for our employees and their families.
• Medical, Prescription Drug, Dental, Vision, Screenings/Assessments
• Paid Time Off, Company Holidays, Leave of Absence, Flexible Work Arrangements, Recognition, Training
• Employee Assistance Program, Wellbeing Programs, Family Support Programs
• 401k, Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment, Disability

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior