Sr. Manager, Commercialization, Recipe Systems & Product Development

Amazon seeks an experienced Sr. Manager, Commercialization, Recipe Systems & Product Development to lead cross-functional programs driving end-to-end commercialization, recipe management excellence, and product development for our expanding food manufacturing operations. This role combines expertise in food science, manufacturing scale-up, recipe systems management, and regulatory compliance to deliver scalable, high-quality products across our fresh food portfolio. The ideal candidate will translate culinary concepts into commercial-scale manufacturing specifications while ensuring data integrity, quality excellence, and operational efficiency.

Key job responsibilities
Program Leadership
• Develop and execute comprehensive commercialization strategy aligned with business objectives and fresh food manufacturing strategic initiatives
• Provide strategic direction and leadership to commercialization, recipe systems, and food science teams, fostering a culture of innovation and operational excellence
• Serve as key member of senior leadership team, providing expert guidance on commercialization processes, scale-up strategies, and product launch execution
• Partner with cross-functional teams including Operations, Procurement, and Private Brands as needed to ensure seamless product launches
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives enhancing commercialization efficiency, recipe accuracy, and time-to-market performance
• Contribute to OP1/OP2 narratives and own organizational goals for commercialization excellence and manufacturing readiness

Commercialization & Scale-Up Excellence
• Lead end-to-end commercialization activities from concept through full commercial production, ensuring product integrity, quality consistency, and manufacturing efficiency
• Develop and execute comprehensive commercialization plans including timelines, milestones, resource requirements, risk assessments, and success metrics
• Partner with Process Engineering and Operations teams to validate manufacturing processes, equipment capabilities, and production readiness for new products
• Conduct scale-up trials from pilot to commercial production, troubleshooting formulation, process, or equipment challenges to ensure successful launches
• Create gold standard recipes balancing culinary excellence, nutritional integrity, cost efficiency, and manufacturability at scale as part of commercialization process
• Establish commercialization protocols and best practices ensuring consistency and efficiency across all WFM manufacturing facilities
• Drive post-launch optimization improving production efficiency, product quality, cost performance, and operational metrics
• Lead cross-functional launch readiness reviews ensuring all teams are aligned and prepared for successful product introductions
• Manage commercialization pipelines, prioritizing projects based on business impact, resource availability, and strategic alignment

Recipe Management Systems & Data Integrity
• Establish and maintain robust recipe management systems and protocols ensuring version control, traceability, and data integrity across all platforms
• Manage recipe and formulation data within ERP systems, PLM platforms, and recipe management tools ensuring accuracy and consistency
• Ensure correct ingredients, yields, nutritional values, and Bill of Materials (BOM) are entered and maintained accurately across all systems
• Implement data governance protocols maintaining data integrity, version control, and audit trails for all recipe and compliance documentation
• Oversee integration of recipe management systems with manufacturing execution systems (MES) and quality management systems
• Develop dashboards and reporting tools tracking commercialization status, recipe performance, and product development metrics
• Lead recipe optimization projects improving product quality, reducing costs, or enhancing manufacturability while maintaining culinary standards
• Maintain detailed recipe documentation including ingredient specifications, processing instructions, yield calculations, and critical control points
• Work with Tech teams to build automated validation systems detecting errors, inconsistencies, or non-compliance in recipe data

Shelf Life Validation & Product Stability
• Design and execute comprehensive shelf life studies for new and existing products, establishing scientifically based expiration dates
• Develop accelerated and real-time shelf-life testing protocols evaluating microbiological, chemical, physical, and sensory stability
• Oversee all interactions with external laboratories for shelf life testing, nutritional analysis, and product validation
• Analyze shelf life data and make recommendations for formulation improvements, packaging modifications, or storage conditions supporting commercialization decisions
• Maintain accurate documentation of all shelf life studies and validation results in compliance with regulatory requirements
• Partner with Quality and Packaging teams to optimize product shelf life through formulation and packaging innovations during commercialization
• Create predictive models for shelf life performance based on formulation characteristics and storage conditions

Food Science & Quality Excellence
• Apply food science principles to optimize product formulations, improve nutritional profiles, and enhance sensory characteristics during commercialization
• Lead sensory evaluation programs ensuring products meet high standards for taste, texture, appearance, and overall culinary excellence
• Investigate and resolve product quality issues related to formulation, ingredient functionality, or processing parameters
• Drive innovation in ingredient selection, processing technologies, and formulation strategies enhancing product quality and manufacturability
• Ensure all recipes meet food safety requirements including HACCP principles, allergen management, and regulatory compliance
• Lead ingredient functionality studies understanding performance characteristics and optimizing recipe formulations for scale
• Develop quality performance metrics identifying improvement opportunities to enhance product quality and consistency

Research & Development
• Lead R&D initiatives developing new products, improving existing formulations, and exploring innovative ingredients or technologies supporting commercialization goals
• Conduct ingredient and process research supporting product development objectives and addressing technical challenges
• Stay current with food science research, emerging ingredients, clean label trends, and consumer preferences
• Evaluate new ingredients, processing equipment, and technologies for potential application in manufacturing operations
• Partner with suppliers and industry experts to access cutting-edge food science knowledge and capabilities
• Build innovation pipelines supporting long-term business growth and competitive differentiation
• Drive proof-of-concept studies validating new technologies or ingredients before full-scale commercialization

Regulatory Compliance & Nutrition Management
• Ensure all commercialized products comply with FDA and USDA nutritional labeling regulations, including Nutrition Facts Panel requirements and ingredient declarations
• Oversee accuracy of nutritional information, allergen statements, and regulatory-required labeling as part of commercialization documentation
• Maintain expertise in relevant food regulations and ensure commercialization processes incorporate compliance requirements
• Partner with Regulatory teams to address compliance issues and maintain certification standards throughout commercialization lifecycle
• Monitor regulatory changes affecting product formulations and labeling across all operating regions
• Conduct impact assessments for new or revised regulations and develop compliance implementation plans
• Manage relationships with regulatory agencies and industry associations

Stakeholder Management & Collaboration
• Partner with Procurement and Sourcing teams ensuring ingredient specifications support both recipe requirements and commercialization timelines
• Collaborate with Quality Assurance teams aligning product specifications, testing protocols, and compliance standards for product launches
• Work closely with Manufacturing Operations ensuring recipes are executable, efficient, and produce consistent results at scale
• Support Marketing and Commercialization teams with product claims substantiation, competitive analysis, and product positioning
• Engage with Packaging teams ensuring label accuracy, regulatory compliance, and alignment with recipe specifications
• Coordinate with Supply Chain teams on ingredient availability, lead times, and inventory management supporting launch schedules
• Build consensus across stakeholders including directors and VPs on commercialization priorities and trade-offs
• Communicate progress, challenges, and outcomes through narratives, presentations, and status reports

Training & Team Development
• Develop comprehensive training programs on commercialization processes, scale-up methodologies, recipe systems, and food science fundamentals
• Provide coaching and mentoring to team members, promoting their professional development and technical expertise
• Recruit, train, and manage high-performing team of food scientists, commercialization specialists, and recipe developers
• Foster culture of continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration across product development organization
• Drive comprehensive training plans for operational excellence ensuring manufacturing teams understand and execute commercialized recipes consistently

Basic Qualifications

- Experience influencing senior leaders/stakeholders
- • Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Culinary Arts, Chemistry, or related scientific field
- • 10+ years of progressive experience in food manufacturing with demonstrated success leading commercialization and scale-up projects from concept through commercial production
- • 7+ years leading complex, cross-functional commercialization programs across multiple locations or product lines
- • Proven track record managing complex commercialization initiatives in food manufacturing environments, including multiple successful product launches
- • Deep expertise in commercialization processes, manufacturing scale-up, and production readiness activities
- • Strong understanding of food science principles including ingredient functionality, processing effects, and product stability
- • Demonstrated experience managing shelf life validation programs and interpreting analytical data
- • Proficiency with recipe management systems, ERP platforms (SAP, Oracle, or similar), PLM systems, and data management tools
- • Experience with GFSI-certified food safety systems (SQF, BRCGS, FSSC 22000) and regulatory compliance requirements
- • Excellent project management skills with ability to manage multiple complex commercialization initiatives simultaneously
- • Experience writing technical documentation, regulatory submissions, narratives, and presenting to senior leadership
- • Strong analytical skills with experience building performance dashboards and interpreting commercialization data

Preferred Qualifications

- Knowledge of Six Sigma tools, Lean techniques, PMP or similar standards preferred
- • Master's degree or PhD in Food Science, Nutrition, or related field
- • Certified Food Scientist (CFS) credential or Registered Dietitian (RD)
- • Experience in fresh food manufacturing, prepared foods, or retail food production environments
- • Knowledge of organic certification, Non-GMO verification, and specialty dietary requirements
- • Familiarity with sensory science methodologies and statistical analysis tools
- • Background in building and launching new food manufacturing facilities
- • Experience with advanced PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) systems and commercialization workflow tools
- • Track record implementing scalable commercialization mechanisms reducing time-to-market
- • Experience with machine learning or AI applications for recipe optimization or quality prediction
- • Understanding of supply chain operations and vendor management systems
- • Experience managing vendor relationships with ingredient suppliers, co-manufacturers, and testing laboratories
- • Knowledge of Codex Alimentarius standards and international food regulations
- • Experience in high-volume, fast-paced retail food environments

Amazon is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected veteran status, disability, or other legally protected status.

Our inclusive culture empowers Amazonians to deliver the best results for our customers. If you have a disability and need a workplace accommodation or adjustment during the application and hiring process, including support for the interview or onboarding process, please visit https://amazon.jobs/content/en/how-we-hire/accommodations for more information. If the country/region you’re applying in isn’t listed, please contact your Recruiting Partner.

The base salary range for this position is listed below. Your Amazon package will include sign-on payments and restricted stock units (RSUs). Final compensation will be determined based on factors including experience, qualifications, and location. Amazon also offers comprehensive benefits including health insurance (medical, dental, vision, prescription, Basic Life & AD&D insurance and option for Supplemental life plans, EAP, Mental Health Support, Medical Advice Line, Flexible Spending Accounts, Adoption and Surrogacy Reimbursement coverage), 401(k) matching, paid time off, and parental leave. Learn more about our benefits at https://amazon.jobs/en/benefits.