VP of Commercialization

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream•Brooklyn, NY

9d•$225,000 - $300,000

About The Position

We started Van Leeuwen Ice Cream in a yellow truck on the streets of NYC in 2008 with a mission to make good ice cream that makes you feel good. Nowadays, people can spend so much time on what’s “healthy” they don’t stop to consider what’s healthy. As far as we’re concerned, happiness is healthiness. We strive to ensure every scoop, store and employee feels and creates one community to contribute to the overall brand. Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is hiring a full-time VP of Commercialization. This is a great opportunity for a highly experienced individual to work closely with the founding team of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream as the company embarks on its next stage of major growth. The Vice President of Commercialization is responsible for bringing new flavors and products to market and maintaining product quality and consistency throughout the full product lifecycle. The VP of Commercialization will also be responsible for strategic planning and execution for Van Leeuwen’s commercialization process - from product conception and development to launch - ensuring alignment with company goals, market demand, and financial targets.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
15+ years of experience in product commercialization, manufacturing, or strategy roles.
10+ years experience leading a high performing team.
Proven track record of bringing new products to market and achieving commercial success.
Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
Excellent communication and problem-solving skills
Ability to multitask in a fast-paced environment
Adaptable and resilient

Nice To Haves

Experience in the frozen goods industry is preferred.

Responsibilities

Commercialization Strategy and Execution Develop and implement the company’s commercialization strategy and roadmap for product and flavor innovation, in close collaboration with Marketing and Sales.
Manage the overall product portfolio, ensuring quality, market fit, seamless integration into existing company operations, and compliance with financial targets.
Lead the cross-functional team required to develop and launch a new product from ideation Reformulate products and manufacturing processes, as necessary.
Partner closely with Supply Chain to ensure all products and ingredients meet financial/COGs targets.
Monitor market trends, competitive landscapes, and consumer needs to inform strategic decisions and identify new business opportunities.
Track and report performance metrics for product launches and portfolio profitability.
Vendor Management Own relationships with Van Leeuwen’s network of partners and co-manufacturers, ensuring that the company has a strong base of partners capable of producing the Van Leeuwen products on time, on budget, and in compliance with all quality and consistency standards.
Ensure partners selected have scale and manufacturability to support Van Leeuwen’s growing needs.
Collaborate with the manufacturing partners to ensure efficient and effective production of high-quality products and troubleshoot any production-related issues.
Work with the Supply Chain team to select ingredients and products that meet Van Leeuwen’s quality and consistency standards.
Team Management Oversee commercialization and R&D responsible for developing, testing, formulating and reformulation products.
Oversee food safety team responsible for ensuring food safety standards are met at all Van Leeuwen scoop shops, warehouses, co-manufacturers and suppliers.
Build, mentor, and manage the teams to foster a culture of innovation and collaboration.
Align cross-functional teams around launch timelines, metrics, and success criteria.