Commercial Operations Manager

Commercial Operations Manager

The Commercial Operations Manager is responsible for leading the end-to-end commercialization process from initial customer onboarding through post-production review. This role serves as the central point of coordination across Sales, R&D, QA/Regulatory, Operations, and Data, ensuring seamless execution of new product development and ongoing customer programs.

This position also owns master data governance, system administration (Deacom ERP), and continuous process improvement initiatives to support scalable growth and operational alignment.

Responsibilities and Expectations

1. Commercialization & Project Leadership

• Lead cross-functional execution of new product development from quote through production and post-launch review
• Serve as primary point of contact for internal teams throughout stage-gate process
• Manage project timelines, milestones, and deliverables to ensure on-time execution
• Coordinate with R&D, Sourcing, QA/Regulatory, and Operations to align on product readiness
• Identify risks, bottlenecks, and proactively drive resolution

2. Customer Onboarding & Commercial Support

• Oversee customer setup, contract terms, and SKU creation within ERP system (Deacom)
• Manage quote-to-launch process including:
• Leadership approvals (go/no-go decisions)
• Pricing validation and ongoing re-quoting (quarterly/annual)
• Support customer communication related to artwork approvals, timelines, and product readiness
• Ensure alignment between customer expectations and internal capabilities

3. Stage-Gate Process Ownership

• Drive execution across all commercialization phases:
• Stage Gate 1: Quote, co-manufacturing alignment, and feasibility validation
• Stage Gate 2: R&D coordination, formula and packaging readiness
• Stage Gate 3: BOM setup, specification validation, and QC testing setup
• Stage Gate 4: Artwork approval, PO receipt, and production readiness
• Stage Gate 6: Post-production review and continuous improvement actions
• Ensure all required documentation, approvals, and workflows are completed and properly stored

4. BOM, Specifications & Data Integrity

• Lead BOM creation, validation, and system setup for new products
• Oversee specification development, approval workflows, and documentation storage
• Ensure accuracy and consistency of product data across systems
• Partner with QA/Regulatory to support compliant label and spec review processes

5. ERP System Ownership (Deacom Master User)

• Serve as primary system owner and subject matter expert for Deacom ERP
• Manage:
• Customer and item setup
• Costing updates
• Security access and user permissions
• Troubleshoot system issues across front-end and back-end processes
• Develop SOPs and Work Instructions for system usage and data entry
• Lead system enhancements and process improvement initiatives

6. Master Data & Process Governance

• Own and maintain data integrity across all commercialization and product development activities
• Implement and manage change control processes within systems and specifications
• Maintain SharePoint and OneNote systems for project and customer documentation
• Establish and enforce standardized workflows and best practices

7. Cross-Functional Coordination & Accountability

• Drive accountability across teams to ensure timely completion of product development tasks
• Follow up on outstanding deliverables to maintain project timelines
• Facilitate communication between departments to reduce delays and misalignment

8. Post-Production & Continuous Improvement

• Lead post-production reviews to evaluate performance and identify improvement opportunities
• Capture and implement change requests into systems and processes
• Support ongoing optimization of commercialization workflows

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations, or related field
• 5+ years of experience in commercial operations, project management, or product commercialization (preferably in food/supplement manufacturing)
• Strong experience with ERP systems (Deacom preferred)
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional projects in a fast-paced environment
• Experience developing SOPs, workflows, and operational processes
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and communication skills

Work Environment:

This position is on the manufacturing floor almost constantly. Exposure to allergens such as milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, sesame, and soybeans is likely.