Senior Commercialization Manager

Overview

Shearer's Foods, founded in 1974 and headquartered in Massillon, OH, is a leading manufacturer of salty snacks, cookies, and crackers. Specializing in private label and co-manufacturing, Shearer's is the largest supplier of private brand salty snacks and second-largest supplier of private brand cookies and crackers.

With a strong focus on innovation, service, quality, and sustainability, Shearer's has been awarded the food industry's highest award for environmental sustainability, as well as multiple Supplier of the Year awards.

Operating 16 locations across North America and employing more than 5000 team members, Shearer's is driven by its core values of People, Grow, Impact and Win. The company mission is to deliver exceptional products and services that make snacking a time to celebrate for our customers, colleagues, and community.

At Shearer's Foods, we believe in a skills-first approach to recruitment and employment. This means focusing on what you can do and how you can grow, rather than traditional metrics alone. We are committed to adhering to anti-exclusion practices, removing barriers to access, and enhancing opportunities for all individuals based on merit and potential. Your skills, experience, and perspective are valuable-and we want to empower you to make your mark here with us.

Senior Commercialization Manager

Massillon, OH (Hybrid Schedule)

As a senior leader in Commercialization, you will drive strategic oversight and execution of complex, cross-functional initiatives that enable successful product launches and lifecycle management. This role ensures technical rigor, process excellence, and enterprise-wide alignment across Product Management, R&D, Supply Chain, and Plant Operations.

You will be accountable for delivering launches Right-On-Time-In-Full (ROTIF), achieving margin objectives, and meeting or exceeding customer expectations. This position requires a proven ability to influence at all levels, foster collaboration, and navigate ambiguity in a fast-paced, customer-centric manufacturing environment. The ideal candidate combines deep operational and technical expertise with exceptional leadership and program management discipline to ensure commercialization strategies translate into measurable business impact.

Your Seat at the Table:

1. Project Ownership & Execution

* Lead cross-functional commercialization teams for new product launches and reformulations

* New Food Development- from Execution though Post-Execution

* New Packaging - From Scoping though Post-Execution

* Maintain accountability for project timelines, cost adherence, and manufacturability.

* Coordinate with Commercial Development Leads and Sales to ensure launch feasibility and readiness to support customer expectations.

2. Part Management

* Part set-up and data integrity - Create and maintain part records in systems, ensuring accurate specifications for raw materials, packaging films, corrugates, and finished goods.

* Cross-Functional Coordination - Work closely with R&D, QA, Regulatory, Procurement, and Supply Chain to gather required data for part setup.

* Compliance and Change Management - Execute change management processes for BOM updates, formula changes, and obsolete parts, ensuring proper approvals and documentation.

3. Stage Gate & Governance

* Act as process steward for Stage Gate commercialization phases.

* Ensure gate documentation is accurate, approved, and archived within the product lifecycle system (PLM or equivalent).

* Provide KPI reporting on project status, gate adherence, and cycle time metrics.

4. Portfolio Support & Continuous Improvement

* Collaborate with Lifecycle/Obsolescence Manager to execute transitions, reformulations, or discontinuations with minimal disruption.

* Drive standardization of commercialization tools, templates, and playbooks.

* Contribute to the continuous improvement of E2E commercialization processes and systems.

5. Lead and develop a team of Commercialization Managers

* Provide clear direction, coaching, and performance feedback to build high-performing teams aligned with organizational goals.

* Drive accountability for execution excellence, ensuring…