Project Commercialization Manager

Company Description

Simple Mills is on a mission to transform the way food is made—creating nourishing products with astounding ingredients and amazing taste. Founded in 2012 by Katlin Smith, our brand has redefined center-aisle grocery by delivering better-for-you products made with unique, nutrient-dense ingredients. Today, we’re a category leader and the #1 natural brand in multiple segments, with distribution in over 30,000 stores nationwide.

Now, as part of Flowers Foods , we’re entering an exciting new phase of growth—expanding our reach, accelerating innovation, and amplifying brand awareness, all while preserving the integrity of what makes Simple Mills special. Our commitment to using simple, high-quality ingredients ensures that every bite is both delicious and nutritious. Whether it’s watermelon seed flour in our cookies or butternut squash in our crackers, we craft our products with innovative, wholesome ingredients that deliver extraordinary taste.

Our work has been recognized by Fast Company as a Brand That Matters and a Most Innovative Company , and has been featured in Vogue, Forbes, Women’s Health , and NPR’s How I Built This . In 2024, Inc. named us one of its Best Workplaces , reflecting our dedication to fostering an inspiring and inclusive environment where passionate individuals can make a difference.

Join us as we shape the future of food. Learn more at .

Role Description

Most people walk through a store and see products. You see deadlines, manufacturing constraints, artwork approvals, ingredient lead times, packaging specs, and about 47 decisions that had to go exactly right for that product to land on shelf. And you love every minute of it.

You're the person who gets excited when a product goes from concept to “this is the one” and the real work of bringing it to shelf begins. The person who understands that successful commercialization isn't luck, it’s a disciplined process, strong cross-functional partnership, and relentless execution. You thrive at the intersection of D esirability, V iability, and F easibility, connecting business objectives with operational realities to bring products to life. You know how to guide teams through a structured stage-gate architecture, align stakeholders around a common goal, and maintain momentum from concept to shelf.

If you've ever heard, "This is going to be complicated," and smiled, you're our kind of person.

As a Project Commercialization Manager , you’ll sit at the center of the action connecting teams, driving execution, and turning ideas into shelf-ready realities. The role spans graphics and compliance updates, manufacturing site transitions, capacity expansions, innovation launches, and other end-to-end commercialization efforts across the portfolio. While each project differs in scope, the mission is consistent: lead teams through a disciplined process and deliver successful launches. This isn’t a box-checking role. You’ll build the roadmap, align the right partners, remove roadblocks, and drive progress to the finish line. You bring structure to complexity, urgency to milestones, and clarity to decisions—ensuring alignment from concept through launch. If variety energizes you, complexity motivates you, and seeing products hit shelves feels like winning, we should talk.

Reporting to the Sr. Director, Commercialization, responsibilities include:

Lead End-to-End Project Execution

• Own 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.

Serve as the Central Connector

• 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

Ground Plans in Operational Reality

• 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

Drive Continuous Improvement

• 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

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

What Sets You Apart

• You translate commercialization strategy into execution grounded in real manufacturing and supply chain realities
• You balance speed, quality, and feasibility to drive disciplined delivery from concept to shelf
• You are the person teams rely on to align work, maintain momentum, and deliver outcomes

Benefits

Working at Simple Mills

At Simple Mills, we’re not just building a brand, we’re leading a movement that’s transforming how food is made and enjoyed. If you’re passionate about purpose-driven work and crave a role where you can have a meaningful impact, this is your chance to be part of something bigger.

Why Join Us?

• Be a Change-Maker
  Play a key role in redefining the food industry, crafting products that nourish people and contribute to a healthier planet.
• Thrive in a Mission-Driven Community
  Work alongside a dynamic team of innovators and food lovers who are committed to positive change and bold ideas.
• A Workplace Where You Belong
  
  We foster an environment where every voice is heard, valued, and empowered. Inclusion and belonging are at the heart of our culture, ensuring that everyone can thrive.
• A Culture of Integrity and Impact
  We don’t just talk about doing good, we live it. Our team is committed to ethical practices, responsible sourcing, and making decisions that drive real, positive change.
• Grow with People-First Leadership
  
  Our supportive leadership team is dedicated to mentorship, collaboration, and your long-term success.
• Continuous Learning & Development
  Whether through hands-on training, innovative learning platforms, or career growth opportunities, we invest in your professional development.

At Simple Mills, you’ll have the chance to make an impact while working in a collaborative and inspiring environment. If you’re ready to shape the future of food, let’s talk.

Benefits

We recognize that our people are our greatest asset. That’s why we offer a highly competitive total rewards package designed to support your financial well-being, health, and overall quality of life. 

• 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: We believe your best work comes when you have space to rest, refocus, and show up fully—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.

We’re committed to taking care of our people—so you can focus on making an impact. 

Work Model at Simple Mills

Our work model is role-dependent and team focused. With remote, hybrid, or in-office positions, each role is classified by what best supports the needs of the team.

• Remote working may be considered for qualified candidates from a designated location in the United States (the new hire’s permanent residence, as documented in our HR System, Rippling) if willing and able to travel regularly to the Chicago office. Sufficient internet access to support video conferencing required.

At Simple Mills, we are committed to providing an environment of mutual respect and inclusion. Equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, past or present military service, physical or mental disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All aspects of employment are decided on the basis of business need, job requirements, and individual qualifications. #LI-DNI

Simple Mills is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, Simple Mills will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact [email protected].