Commercialization Manager - Ice Cream

About the role

The Commercialization Manager, Ice Cream is responsible for owning the end-to-end commercialization process for new customer and product launches within the ice cream manufacturing business. This role serves as the primary connector between Sales, Customer Service, R&D, QA, Procurement, Finance, Demand Planning, Operations, and customers to ensure opportunities are transitioned into clear, executable launch plans. Unlike a traditional sales role, this position focuses less on transactional selling and more on customer onboarding, launch readiness, project execution, cross-functional accountability, and successful transition from customer commitment through first production and post-launch handoff. This role leverages strong project management, communication, problem-solving, and customer-facing skills to support scalable growth of the ice cream business.

Responsibilities

• Own commercialization for new ice cream customers, products, packaging formats, and SKU launches from commitment through first production and post-launch handoff.
• Translate customer requirements, timelines, risks, and deliverables into clear action plans for Sales, Customer Service, R&D, QA, Procurement, Operations, Demand Planning, and Finance.
• Serve as the central project owner for launch readiness, cross-functional accountability, and alignment between customer expectations and plant execution.
• Lead commercialization projects, launch meetings, stage-gate trackers, timelines, milestones, and action-item ownership.
• Coordinate trials, packaging and artwork readiness, specifications, documentation, ingredient and packaging availability, costing inputs, production readiness, and customer updates.
• Monitor progress, mitigate launch risks, escalate roadblocks, and keep projects on time and within scope.
• Serve as a key point of contact during onboarding, commercialization, trials, first production, and transition to routine execution.
• Partner with Sales, Business Development, Customer Service, R&D, QA, Procurement, Demand Planning, Finance, and Operations to define expectations, resolve issues, and improve the customer experience.
• Provide regular updates to leadership on launch status, readiness, project risks, resource needs, and key milestones.
• Develop and improve tools, templates, stage-gate processes, trackers, and best practices for scalable ice cream commercialization.

Qualifications

• Bachelor