Commercialization Manager

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. 

Commercialization Manager

Massillon, OH (Hybrid Schedule)

The Commercialization Manager is responsible for leading commercialization initiatives and managing priorities while executing the functional responsibilities associated with new product development and product assortment management across a defined sales channel and customer account portfolio. This role is also responsible for contributing functional capability support to Shearer’s joint business planning platform to identify and drive new growth opportunities across product categories and segments.

Your seat at the table:

• Manage and execute the steps and stages of Shearer’s customers’ product life cycles and oversee product commercialization through detailed project management.

• Work closely with the Innovation and Product Development Team and provide leadership for Shearer’s commitment to joint business planning (JBP).

• Manage priorities against planned objectives in an effort to realize annual Budget objectives and support the application of Shearer’s Commercial strategy.

• Develop and manage a process to ensure 100% accurate part set ups and that all specifications and product requirements are met and facilitate communications between customers and Shearer’s internal support teams.

• Partner with sales and customer marketing teams to create selling decks and prepare for key account calls specifically to support innovation and product life cycle recommendations. 

• Support Plant Trials, as required: facilitate and lead Pre-Trial discussions with key stakeholders communicating project scope, process, and ensure Customer expectations are clearly defined, and system documentation requirements are in place

• Facilitate post-Trial discussions with key stakeholders to review results, determine next steps, and capture lessons learned.

• Work with Business Managers and Category Management to develop new business opportunities and assortment recommendations to help achieve customer goals and realize internal revenue and EBITDA objectives.

• Manage active product changes.  Coordinate product end of life obsolescence including developing raw material liquidation plans.

• Daily engagement with a cross-functional team primarily consisting of: Business Managers, Operations, Innovation and Product Development, Quality Assurance, Procurement, Finance, Plant and Customer Service.

• Support the development of technical packaging solutions including film, cases, cartons, and retail-ready displays.  Work with Shearer’s Technical Services team to plan, roll out, and execute.

• Attend select customer meetings with Business Manager to professionally present ideas and project updates.

• Learn and develop strong working knowledge of all production lines and the processes necessary to commercialize products across the Cookie + Cracker manufacturing facilities.

• Provide commercialization support to sales team by developing and executing project trackers and managing actions and deliverables on time and on target.

• Work with external suppliers and customers to source resources, solve challenges and contribute to Shearer's commitment to continuous improvement.

• Partner with Leadership to identify and execute ways to realize Shearer's objectives to standardize and rationalize SKU’s, production, and workflow processes.

What you bring to the table:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a related field or equivalent in experience. 

• 5 years of experience in consumer goods branded marketing and/or innovation platforms with food industry a plus

• Ability to manage both internal and external customers and to adapt and manage through change.

• Strong leadership and communication skills required.  

• Strong project management skills and ability to juggle multiple projects and shifting priorities in an organized manner.

• Strong financial skills are essential to managing product cost understanding and P & L management expectations

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law .