Commercialization Process Manager

Crown Bakeries•Brentwood, TN

About The Position

This role will be a hands-on leader for the successful transition of new and reformulated baking products from the product development stage through to full-scale manufacturing and market launch. This role is a critical link between R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, and Marketing, ensuring new products are manufactured efficiently, profitably, and to the highest quality standards. This position will be responsible for a comprehensive overhaul of the current commercialization lifecycle, focusing initially on establishing a disciplined and efficient execution of the process for approved projects. This role works closely with the Executive Leadership team and cross-functional leaders across the organization.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in food science, Engineering, Manufacturing, or related technical field. Demonstrated experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
Minimum of 5-7 years of experience in project management, business process management, or commercialization leadership.
Food manufacturing plant environment is necessary, baking manufacturing is a strong preference.
Deep understanding of the entire commercialization lifecycle, from ideation to post-launch/close-out.
Strong understanding of baking science principles, ingredient functionality (flour, yeast, leavening agents, etc.), and large-scale baking equipment (mixers, dividers, proofers, ovens, freezers).
Experience designing, implementing, and optimizing operational processes (e.g., Stage-Gate, PLM, or similar project execution frameworks).
Strong proficiency with Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or similar project management software.
Must possess the ability to work from a position of influence and be naturally curious with a strong need to define and clarify ambiguity.
Must be a process-oriented and logical thinker capable of mapping complex systems and defining robust operational procedures.
Proven ability to work cross-functionally across all key departments: Marketing, Sales, R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, and Finance.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills are essential for training and documentation.
Demonstrated ability to work at various levels within the organization, from front-line personnel to the C-suite.

Nice To Haves

Project management certification
Experience with ERP Systems (SAGE, SAP, Oracle) for managing BOM’s and specifications.
Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma Certification.

Responsibilities

Commercialization Process
Assess current state: Conduct a deep dive to map and analyze the current state of the commercialization process across all functions.
Understand Gaps: Identify and comprehend the fundamental gaps and challenges that must be solved to evaluate performance.
Define New Process: Define a new process that is right sized for Crown Bakeries’ current business needs and future growth projections.
Execution First: Place a heavy emphasis first on how to execute approved projects efficiently and successfully.
Stage-Gate (Secondary): The definition and implementation of a formal Stage-Gate process may be included; however, it would be secondary to establishing the clear project execution workflow.
Documentation & Rollout: Document, communicate, train, and fully roll out the new process across all functions (including Operations, R&D, Sales, Marketing, Finance, etc.).
Develop Tools: Develop process flows, detailed checklists, and ensure appropriate checks and balances are in place.
Audit & Sustain: Audit the process post-implementation for adherence, effectiveness, and continuous improvement.
Project Management
Lead Cross-functional teams (R&D, Engineering, Quality, Production, Procurement) and manage the end-to-end commercialization process for new products and product reformulations.
Develop and maintain detailed project timelines, milestone trackers, and risk mitigation plans for all commercialization initiatives.
Ensure all project documentation, including specifications, process flows, and cost models, are complete and accurate prior to launch.
Facilitate and lead weekly project status meetings, communicating progress, challenges, and decisions to stakeholders and executive leadership.
Manufacturing Scale-Up & Process Development
Pilot Runs and Trials: Coordinate and executive pilot runs and plant trials to evaluate new formulations, ingredients, and processing parameters on manufacturing equipment.
Scale-up Validation: Validate manufacturing processes to ensure products can be produced consistently, safely, and efficiently at commercial volumes while maintaining product quality (texture, flavor, shelf-life).
Equipment Integration: Partner with Engineering to assess current equipment capabilities and determine needs for new equipment or modifications to support new product processes.
SOP Development: Develop and/or revise Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and work instructions for new products to train production personnel.
Cost Management & Profitability
Partner with Finance and Procurement to establish and validate the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) for new products.
Identify opportunities for process optimization and material savings to meet target margin goals.
Manage the initial Bill of Materials (BOM) development and ensure smooth handover to the Operations/ERP System.
Quality & Compliance
Work Closely with the Quality Assurance team to define critical quality attributes (CQAs) and critical control points (CCPs) for new products within the manufacturing process, adhering to HACCP/HARPC principles.
Ensure all commercialized products and processes comply with food safety regulations (FDA, USDA), internal quality standards, and customer requirements.