Commercialization Project Manager - South Chicago Packing

Company: South Chicago Packing LLC
Location: Chicago
Posted on: February 19, 2026

Job Description:

Job Description Job Description Position Description: The Commercialization Project Manager is responsible for leading cross-functional execution of product and process commercialization initiatives, ensuring a disciplined transition from development to full-scale manufacturing and market launch. This role owns timelines, deliverables, and readiness across R&D, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Regulatory, and Commercial teams to deliver launches that are on time, on cost, and operationally sound. The Commercialization Project Manager serves as the single point of accountability for launch execution, managing risk, alignment, and communication throughout the commercialization lifecycle. Primary Responsibilities: Commercialization Execution & Project Management: Lead end-to-end commercialization projects from late-stage development through first production and post-launch stabilization. Develop and maintain detailed commercialization project plans, timelines, and milestone tracking. Coordinate cross-functional activities to ensure manufacturing, supply chain, quality, regulatory, and commercial readiness. Identify risks, gaps, and dependencies early; drive mitigation plans and escalate issues as needed. Facilitate regular project meetings, status updates, and launch readiness reviews. Support post-launch performance monitoring, issue resolution, and stabilization activities. Drive continuous improvement by capturing commercialization learnings and best practices. Cross-Functional Coordination: Serve as the primary liaison between cross functional teams (Marketing, Operations, Quality, Procurement, Finance) to ensure project alignment and successful execution on time and on budget. Supports strong Master Data Management - maintaining integrity through setup and change management processes for formulas, specifications, ingredients, process instructions, product detail, and technical data sheets.[LC1] Ensure alignment on scope, assumptions, responsibilities, and deliverables across all functions. Drive decision-making by preparing clear options, impacts, and trade-offs for stakeholders. Ensure smooth handoff from R&D to Operations with clear ownership and documentation. Coordinate sending samples to customers and potential customers, ensuring a great first impression of our products. Manufacturing & Scale-Up Readiness: Coordinate line trials, scale-up activities, and first production runs in partnership with R&D and Operations. Ensure production processes, work instructions, and training plans are completed and approved prior to launch. Confirm equipment readiness, capacity availability, and material supply for commercialization. Support issue resolution during trials and initial production, ensuring lessons learned are captured. Quality, Regulatory & Documentation: Create and ensure completeness of GS1 data standards, included but not limited to product specifications, item codes, UPC and barcode creation and compliance, and raw material to WIP stage through finished good labels Ensure all required documentation is completed, reviewed, and approved prior to launch, including: Specifications and formulas Work instructions and SOPs Quality plans and validation requirements Regulatory and labeling approvals (as applicable) Partner with Quality and Regulatory teams to ensure compliance throughout commercialization. Support internal and external audits related to new product launches. Supervisory/Management Responsibilities: N/A Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Business, Supply Chain, or a related field. PMP or other project management certification a plus 5 years of experience in project management, commercialization, operations, or manufacturing environments. Proven track record managing cross-functional innovation or new product development (NPD) projects from concept through commercialization. Strong understanding of manufacturing processes, scale-up, and operational constraints. Excellent organizational, communication, and stakeholder management skills. Strong working knowledge of office productivity software, collaborative project management tools (Teams, Sharepoint, etc) Competencies: Execution Excellence: Drives projects to completion with discipline and urgency. Cross-Functional Leadership : Influences without authority and aligns diverse stakeholders. Problem Solving : Maintains focus and structure in ambiguous or high-pressure situations. Accountability : Owns outcomes and follows through on commitments. Forward Thinking: The ability to anticipate the implications and consequences of a situation and take appropriate action to be prepared for possible contingencies. Action Orientation: Maintaining a sense of urgency to complete a task. Seeks information rather than waiting for it. Communication: The ability to give and gather information and actively manage the communication process by asking questions, conveying complex information in plain language, listening and considering others’ views, state own views clearly and concisely, and address conflict in a professional and productive manner. Benefits for this role include: Medical, vision, dental, discretionary bonus up to 15% (50% personal performance based & 50% company performance), profit sharing (which feeds retirement) at a minimum of 3% annually and 120 hours PTO in the 1st 12 months.

Keywords: South Chicago Packing LLC, Oak Park , Commercialization Project Manager - South Chicago Packing, Science, Research & Development , Chicago, Illinois