Product Commercialization Consultant

Morgan Street Holdings•Chicago, IL

2d•$100,000 - $110,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Consultant, Portfolio Commercial Liaison: Product will play a pivotal role in ensuring client requests are translated into actionable plans and executed seamlessly. This individual will determine resourcing (in concert with the Portfolio Product Sourcing Lead), either internal or external vendor partners, while keeping projects on track and clients well-supported. The role requires someone who thrives in a fast-paced, cross-functional environment and who brings both collaboration and operational discipline to every engagement.

Requirements

5+ years of experience in promotional products, branded merchandise, or a related industry (e.g., consumer products, custom manufacturing).
Proven ability to manage complex projects, including timelines, budgets, and cross-functional stakeholders.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively engage clients, internal teams, and third-party vendors.
Demonstrated success in translating client requests into actionable product development or supply chain requirements.
Ability to thrive in a hybrid work environment, with at least two days per week onsite in the Chicago office (preferred).
Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment across numerous teams with differing objectives.
Highly collaborative, with a track record of building trust and alignment across diverse stakeholders.
Must be able to operate effectively in a fast-paced environment, balancing multiple priorities across clients, vendors, and internal teams.
Must demonstrate a highly collaborative working style, building trust and alignment among teams with differing objectives.
Success depends on the ability to influence without direct authority, ensuring progress across both internal and external stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Background in promotional product or brand merchandise account management.
Marketing services or agency experience a plus.
Experience partnering with business development or account management teams in a client-facing role.
Proficiency with project management platforms.
Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, supply chain management, or related field.
Track record of contributing to process improvement and vendor performance optimization.

Responsibilities

Translate prospective client requests into clear, actionable briefs that address critical product development and supply chain requirements.
Understand/verify specific deliverables including: budget, volume, product specifications and delivery considerations to assess feasibility of each program.
Brief and manage deliverables for Strategy/Creative/freelance resources where needed on creative direction/execution.
Consider any packaging requirements and liaise with SME’s for support on importation/labelling etc.
Assess briefs and determine whether projects should be executed internally through tms sourcing resources or externally via third-party vendors.
Identify, evaluate, and onboard a diverse portfolio of vendors across product development, manufacturing, logistics, and fulfillment.
Lead vendor vetting processes, including capability assessments, compliance checks, and contract negotiations to ensure alignment with business goals.
Maintain a dynamic vendor ecosystem that balances cost, quality, scalability, and innovation.
Define and document cross-functional workflows that integrate product, operations, procurement, and finance teams.
Establish clear criteria and decision frameworks for when and how to engage external vendors versus internal resources.
Oversee project execution, either by managing internal workflows or coordinating with third-party vendors to establish timelines and ensure deliverables remain on track.
Continuously optimize operational processes to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance speed to market.
Develop and maintain dashboards and reporting tools to track vendor performance, product quality, and supply chain health.
Proactively identify risks related to vendor reliability, capacity, or compliance, and recommend mitigation strategies.
Provide timely updates to the Account Management team and proactively escalate supply chain questions or issues as they arise.
Collaborate with internal stakeholders to address quality issues, delays, or cost overruns, ensuring minimal disruption to product delivery.
Partner with Account Management to prepare for key client interactions, serving as the supply chain voice during concept pitches, prototype reviews, and other milestone meetings.
If required, manage local third-party vendor relationships outside of Hong Kong, offering feedback and driving continuous improvement in processes, quality, and performance.