Sr. Manager Commercialization

The Kraft Heinz Company•Chicago, IL

4d•$120,800 - $151,000•Hybrid

About The Position

This role owns Kraft Heinz’s end-to-end product commercialization process, from initial concept to successful market launch and post-launch review. The Sr. Manager will drive the stage gate process, making decisions on project progress, deviations, and mitigation strategies. They will influence cross-functional teams to align with project objectives and delivery expectations, identify and communicate project risks to executive teams, and support the development of mitigation strategies. The role involves tracking key metrics, reporting progress, and making adjustments to ensure project success. Additionally, the Sr. Manager will lead cross-functional project teams across R&D, Marketing, Operations, Procurement, and Quality to innovate on execution processes and improve speed to market. A key aspect of this role is to strengthen the quality, operational, and technical rigor within Kraft Heinz’s commercialization processes, leading to improved in-market success, and to identify opportunities for process improvement and implement best practices.

Requirements

Bachelor’s in Business, Marketing, Food Science, Engineering, or equivalent practical experience.
Bachelor’s degree and 8+ years in CPG innovation and commercialization, including stage-gate and agile delivery across grocery, mass retail, and e-commerce channels or Master’s degree with 7+ years of experience or PhD with 6+ years of experience.
Strong cross-functional collaboration skills, with the ability to lead and motivate teams across different departments and levels.
Ability to negotiate with stakeholders and team members to arrive at mutually beneficial solutions.
Growth mindset with a passion for continuous learning and for applying new knowledge to improve project outcomes.
Strong business acumen, with an understanding of the economic factors motivating brand and category strategy.
Exceptional communication skills, capable of leading conversations with both internal teams and external partners.

Nice To Haves

MBA and/or advanced Project Management qualifications preferred (i.e., PMP or equivalent).

Responsibilities

Own Kraft Heinz’s end-to-end product commercialization process, from initial concept to successful market launch and post-launch review.
Drive stage gate process and decisions on project progress, deviation, mitigation, influence cross functional teams in favor of project objectives and delivery expectations.
Identify, monitor and communicate project risk to executive teams while supporting the development of mitigation strategies.
Track key metrics, report progress, and make adjustments as needed to ensure project success.
Lead cross-functional project team across R&D, Marketing, Operations, Procurement, Quality to innovate on execution processes to improve speed to market.
Strengthen the quality, operational, technical rigor within Kraft Heinz’s commercialization processes leading to improve in-market success.
Identify opportunities for process improvement and implement best practices.