Sr. Manager, Commercialization, Recipe Systems & Product Development

Amazon • Austin, TX

4d

About The Position

Amazon seeks an experienced Sr. Manager, Commercialization, Recipe Systems &
Product Development to lead cross-functional programs driving end-to-end
commercialization, recipe management excellence, and product development for our
expanding food manufacturing operations. This role combines expertise in food
science, manufacturing scale-up, recipe systems management, and regulatory
compliance to deliver scalable, high-quality products across our fresh food
portfolio. The ideal candidate will translate culinary concepts into
commercial-scale manufacturing specifications while ensuring data integrity,
quality excellence, and operational efficiency.

Requirements

• Experience influencing senior leaders/stakeholders
• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Culinary Arts, Chemistry, or related scientific field
• 10+ years of progressive experience in food manufacturing with demonstrated success leading commercialization and scale-up projects from concept through commercial production
• 7+ years leading complex, cross-functional commercialization programs across multiple locations or product lines
• Proven track record managing complex commercialization initiatives in food manufacturing environments, including multiple successful product launches
• Deep expertise in commercialization processes, manufacturing scale-up, and production readiness activities
• Strong understanding of food science principles including ingredient functionality, processing effects, and product stability
• Demonstrated experience managing shelf life validation programs and interpreting analytical data
• Proficiency with recipe management systems, ERP platforms (SAP, Oracle, or similar), PLM systems, and data management tools
• Experience with GFSI-certified food safety systems (SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000) and regulatory compliance requirements
• Excellent project management skills with ability to manage multiple complex commercialization initiatives simultaneously
• Experience writing technical documentation, regulatory submissions, narratives, and presenting to senior leadership
• Strong analytical skills with experience building performance dashboards and interpreting commercialization data

Nice To Haves

• Knowledge of Six Sigma tools, Lean techniques, PMP or similar standards preferred
• Master's degree or PhD in Food Science, Nutrition, or related field
• Certified Food Scientist (CFS) credential or Registered Dietitian (RD)
• Experience in fresh food manufacturing, prepared foods, or retail food production environments
• Knowledge of organic certification, Non-GMO verification, and specialty dietary requirements
• Familiarity with sensory science methodologies and statistical analysis tools
• Background in building and launching new food manufacturing facilities
• Experience with advanced PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems and commercialization workflow tools
• Track record implementing scalable commercialization mechanisms reducing time-to-market
• Experience with machine learning or AI applications for recipe optimization or quality prediction
• Understanding of supply chain operations and vendor management systems
• Experience managing vendor relationships with ingredient suppliers, co-manufacturers, and testing laboratories
• Knowledge of Codex Alimentarius standards and international food regulations
• Experience in high-volume, fast-paced retail food environments

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive commercialization strategy aligned with business objectives and fresh food manufacturing strategic initiatives
• Provide strategic direction and leadership to commercialization, recipe systems, and food science teams, fostering a culture of innovation and operational excellence
• Serve as key member of senior leadership team, providing expert guidance on commercialization processes, scale-up strategies, and product launch execution
• Partner with cross-functional teams including Operations, Procurement, and Private Brands as needed to ensure seamless product launches
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives enhancing commercialization efficiency, recipe accuracy, and time-to-market performance
• Contribute to OP1/OP2 narratives and own organizational goals for commercialization excellence and manufacturing readiness
• Lead end-to-end commercialization activities from concept through full commercial production, ensuring product integrity, quality consistency, and manufacturing efficiency
• Develop and execute comprehensive commercialization plans including timelines, milestones, resource requirements, risk assessments, and success metrics
• Partner with Process Engineering and Operations teams to validate manufacturing processes, equipment capabilities, and production readiness for new products
• Conduct scale-up trials from pilot to commercial production, troubleshooting formulation, process, or equipment challenges to ensure successful launches
• Create gold standard recipes balancing culinary excellence, nutritional integrity, cost efficiency, and manufacturability at scale as part of commercialization process
• Establish commercialization protocols and best practices ensuring consistency and efficiency across all WFM manufacturing facilities
• Drive post-launch optimization improving production efficiency, product quality, cost performance, and operational metrics
• Lead cross-functional launch readiness reviews ensuring all teams are aligned and prepared for successful product introductions
• Manage commercialization pipelines, prioritizing projects based on business impact, resource availability, and strategic alignment
• Establish and maintain robust recipe management systems and protocols ensuring version control, traceability, and data integrity across all platforms
• Manage recipe and formulation data within ERP systems, PLM platforms, and recipe management tools ensuring accuracy and consistency
• Ensure correct ingredients, yields, nutritional values, and Bill of Materials (BOM) are entered and maintained accurately across all systems
• Implement data governance protocols maintaining data integrity, version control, and audit trails for all recipe and compliance documentation
• Oversee integration of recipe management systems with manufacturing execution systems (MES) and quality management systems
• Develop dashboards and reporting tools tracking commercialization status, recipe performance, and product development metrics
• Lead recipe optimization projects improving product quality, reducing costs, or enhancing manufacturability while maintaining culinary standards
• Maintain detailed recipe documentation including ingredient specifications, processing instructions, yield calculations, and critical control points
• Work with Tech teams to build automated validation systems detecting errors, inconsistencies, or non-compliance in recipe data
• Design and execute comprehensive shelf life studies for new and existing products, establishing scientifically based expiration dates
• Develop accelerated and real-time shelf-life testing protocols evaluating microbiological, chemical, physical, and sensory stability
• Oversee all interactions with external laboratories for shelf life testing, nutritional analysis, and product validation
• Analyze shelf life data and make recommendations for formulation improvements, packaging modifications, or storage conditions supporting commercialization decisions
• Maintain accurate documentation of all shelf life studies and validation results in compliance with regulatory requirements
• Partner with Quality and Packaging teams to optimize product shelf life through formulation and packaging innovations during commercialization
• Create predictive models for shelf life performance based on formulation characteristics and storage conditions
• Apply food science principles to optimize product formulations, improve nutritional profiles, and enhance sensory characteristics during commercialization
• Lead sensory evaluation programs ensuring products meet high standards for taste, texture, appearance, and overall culinary excellence
• Investigate and resolve product quality issues related to formulation, ingredient functionality, or processing parameters
• Drive innovation in ingredient selection, processing technologies, and formulation strategies enhancing product quality and manufacturability
• Ensure all recipes meet food safety requirements including HACCP principles, allergen management, and regulatory compliance
• Lead ingredient functionality studies understanding performance characteristics and optimizing recipe formulations for scale
• Develop quality performance metrics identifying improvement opportunities to enhance product quality and consistency
• Lead R&D initiatives developing new products, improving existing formulations, and exploring innovative ingredients or technologies supporting commercialization goals
• Conduct ingredient and process research supporting product development objectives and addressing technical challenges
• Stay current with food science research, emerging ingredients, clean label trends, and consumer preferences
• Evaluate new ingredients, processing equipment, and technologies for potential application in manufacturing operations
• Partner with suppliers and industry experts to access cutting-edge food science knowledge and capabilities
• Build innovation pipelines supporting long-term business growth and competitive differentiation
• Drive proof-of-concept studies validating new technologies or ingredients before full-scale commercialization
• Ensure all commercialized products comply with FDA and USDA nutritional labeling regulations, including Nutrition Facts Panel requirements and ingredient declarations
• Oversee accuracy of nutritional information, allergen statements, and regulatory-required labeling as part of commercialization documentation
• Maintain expertise in relevant food regulations and ensure commercialization processes incorporate compliance requirements
• Partner with Regulatory teams to address compliance issues and maintain certification standards throughout commercialization lifecycle
• Monitor regulatory changes affecting product formulations and labeling across all operating regions
• Conduct impact assessments for new or revised regulations and develop compliance implementation plans
• Manage relationships with regulatory agencies and industry associations
• Partner with Procurement and Sourcing teams ensuring ingredient specifications support both recipe requirements and commercialization timelines
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance teams aligning product specifications, testing protocols, and compliance standards for product launches
• Work closely with Manufacturing Operations ensuring recipes are executable, efficient, and produce consistent results at scale
• Support Marketing and Commercialization teams with product claims substantiation, competitive analysis, and product positioning
• Engage with Packaging teams ensuring label accuracy, regulatory compliance, and alignment with recipe specifications
• Coordinate with Supply Chain teams on ingredient availability, lead times, and inventory management supporting launch schedules
• Build consensus across stakeholders including directors and VPs on commercialization priorities and trade-offs
• Communicate progress, challenges, and outcomes through narratives, presentations, and status reports
• Develop comprehensive training programs on commercialization processes, scale-up methodologies, recipe systems, and food science fundamentals
• Provide coaching and mentoring to team members, promoting their professional development and technical expertise
• Recruit, train, and manage high-performing team of food scientists, commercialization specialists, and recipe developers
• Foster culture of continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration across product development organization
• Drive comprehensive training plans for operational excellence ensuring manufacturing teams understand and execute commercialized recipes consistently

Benefits

• health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage)
• 401(k) matching
• paid time off
• parental leave

What This Job Offers

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