Project Commercialization Manager

Simple Mills • Chicago, IL

10h • Hybrid

About The Position

Simple Mills is seeking a Project Commercialization Manager to lead the end-to-end execution of commercialization projects, from concept to launch. This role involves managing graphics and compliance updates, manufacturing site transitions, capacity expansions, and innovation launches across the company's product portfolio. The Project Commercialization Manager will act as a central connector, aligning cross-functional teams and ensuring disciplined processes are followed to bring products to market successfully. The ideal candidate thrives in complex environments, enjoys problem-solving, and is motivated by seeing products reach the shelves. This position reports to the Sr. Director, Commercialization.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in commercialization project management, operations, supply chain, or manufacturing within CPG, food/beverage, or similar industries.
• Proven experience leading projects from concept through launch, including exposure to plant execution and manufacturing environments.
• Strong understanding of how products are made, scaled, and delivered in production settings.
• Ability to translate technical and operational realities into clear, actionable plans.
• Highly organized with demonstrated ability to manage multiple concurrent workstreams and priorities.
• Resourceful, proactive, and solutions-oriented, with a bias toward action and delivery.
• Clear communicator who drives alignment, decisions, and execution across functions.
• Low ego, high ownership, team-first mindset with a focus on delivering outcomes.

Nice To Haves

• Translate commercialization strategy into execution grounded in real manufacturing and supply chain realities.
• Balance speed, quality, and feasibility to drive disciplined delivery from concept to shelf.
• Align work, maintain momentum, and deliver outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercialization projects from concept through launch across varying scopes, timelines, and risk profiles, ensuring consistent accountability and delivery.
• Build and manage integrated project plans in Microsoft Project; lead kickoffs to align scope, governance, and ways of working.
• Lead large-scale network transformation initiatives, including manufacturing or warehouse transitions, ensuring continuity of supply, operational readiness, and minimal disruption to customers and stakeholders.
• Orchestrate cross-functional execution across logistics, manufacturing, planning, and systems to successfully migrate operations, establish new capabilities, and stabilize performance post-transition.
• Conduct feasibility and risk assessments across technical, supply, operational, packaging, and manufacturing dimensions, applying appropriate governance based on complexity.
• Track milestones, dependencies, and critical path; proactively manage stakeholders to maintain momentum and deliverables.
• Capture trade-offs, risks, and decision rationale to ensure alignment and timely resolution.
• Prepare projects for stage-gate transitions, partnering with the project teams to structure inputs through a Desirability, Viability, and Feasibility (DVF) lens.
• Lead launch readiness and execution; conduct post-launch reviews to capture insights and strengthen future delivery.
• Act as the integration point across R&D, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Quality, Packaging, Procurement, Planning, Customer Logistics, Marketing, and Sales.
• Align cross-functional teams around a single, integrated commercialization plan, ensuring coordinated inputs, decisions, and handoffs.
• Maintain clear, real-time visibility on scope, timelines, risks, and next steps across stakeholders.
• Translate complex cross-functional activity into actionable project artifacts (plans, trackers, risk logs, decision frameworks).
• Create clarity in ambiguous or fast-moving situations so teams can execute with confidence.
• Ensure commercialization plans reflect true feasibility across product, packaging, manufacturing, supply, and systems readiness.
• Apply working knowledge of how products are made (formulation, processing, packaging, plant capabilities) to strengthen planning and decision-making.
• Harness cross-functional expertise across all workstreams, translating functional strengths into an integrated end-to-end project plan that drives readiness from development through launch.
• Identify opportunities to accelerate timelines, simplify execution, and reduce risk across commercialization processes.
• Apply post-launch learnings to improve stage-gate discipline, documentation quality, and cross-functional effectiveness.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Competitive Compensation: This role offers a salary range of $105,000 to $120,000
• Annual Bonus Opportunity: Eligible for an annual bonus as part of our commitment to recognizing team contributions and company success.
• Holistic Benefits: A variety of health, financial, and wellness programs to help you feel your best and plan for the future.
• Time to Recharge: Our time off approach is built with that in mind.
• Everyday Well-Being: From lifestyle perks to innovation shipments, we find meaningful ways to support you in living simply and feeling well.

What This Job Offers

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