Operations Commercialization Manager

Chairmans Foods specializes in producing a wide range of high quality, consistent customer solutions - main courses, side dishes, queso, ready-to-eat protein salads custom solutions for foodservice operators and retail stores. Chairmans has succeeded over the years with open communication, integrity, and with a deep commitment to southern hospitality.

Driven by our mission, vision and values, our employees, food safety, and quality, are always our top priorities

Job Description:

The Operations Commercialization Manager is the plant/operations representative for all commercialization projects regardless of plant location. As a cross functional team member, the Operations Commercialization Manager will work closely with plant employee/management team members, Commercialization/Master Data team members, Quality assurance team members, regulatory team members, procurement team members and research and development team members to reach a common goal of delivering a pipeline of new finished products and optimizing existing finished products when necessary. This role is heavily involved in project management, optimization, and continuous improvement of specific projects.

General Responsibilities:

• Support plant approval for new R&D formula. Review functionality of proposed new ingredients, new packaging and processing steps.
• Manage plant trial schedule for all facilities. Establish line of communication with all plant managers and key personnel. Establish shared communication portal.
• Manage on-site pre-plant trial activities (raw material verification, packaging verification, paper work verification plant employee training and other cross functional team member training).
• Manage plant trial activities. Collaborate with R&D team members to monitor process, implement change to process (if necessary), document processing steps and validate new formula is functional at plant level for long term success.
• Manage post-plant trial activities. Document key learnings, arrange shipment of samples (if necessary), determine disposition of remaining finished product, submit post trial summary to all cross functional team members and other senior leadership and determine next steps.
• Create detailed (with pictures) process procedures and file for future use. Collaborate with QA team members to ensure proper product quality measurements are in place.
• Provide post trial employee/management process training.
• Monitor (on-site) post plant trial production to validate process compliance and customer satisfaction (phase 5 commercialization)
• Monitor, record post plant trial production throughput. Compare to standard.
• Collaborate with Commercialization/Master Data Administrator for all new packaging design/categories.
• Validate new pack category/design performance and functionality.
• Investigate technical product complaints/identify solutions/execute solution and communicate to all cross functional team members.

Job Requirements:

• Degree in Food Science, Science or other related discipline.
• Strong project management skills – able to lead multiple projects and adjust to rapidly changing priorities.
• 50% Travel and willing to be on site for all plant trials before, during, and after startup.
• At least 5 years of experience in food manufacturing with relevant product development experience.
• Thorough knowledge of regulatory and industry standards.
• Excellent understanding of manufacturing practices.
• Proactive team player and leader with the ability to work across multiple functions and disciplines.
• Exceptional communication skills and ability to communicate technical knowledge/expertise to internal and external customers.

Chairmans Foods is an EEO employer and conducts background and drug screenings as part of the hiring process.