Amazon · 7 hours ago
Sr. Manager, Commercialization, Recipe Systems & Product Development
Austin, TX
Full-time
Onsite
Senior Level, Lead/Staff
$157K/yr - $213K/yr
10+ years expAmazon seeks an experienced Sr. Manager to lead cross-functional programs in commercialization and product development for their food manufacturing operations. The role involves managing recipe systems, ensuring quality and efficiency, and driving innovation in product launches.
Artificial Intelligence (AI)DeliveryE-CommerceFoundational AIRetail
Responsibilities
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Qualification
Required
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
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
Benefits
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
Parental leave
Company
Amazon
Amazon is a tech firm with a focus on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence.
10001+ employees
H1B Sponsorship
Amazon has a track record of offering H1B sponsorships. Please note that this does not
guarantee sponsorship for this specific role. Below presents additional info for your
reference. (Data Powered by US Department of Labor)
Distribution of Different Job Fields Receiving Sponsorship
Represents job field similar to this job
Trends of Total Sponsorships
2025 (22803)
2024 (21175)
2023 (19057)
2022 (24088)
2021 (12233)
2020 (14881)
Funding
Current Stage
Public CompanyTotal Funding
$8.11BKey Investors
AmazonKleiner Perkins
2023-01-03Post Ipo Debt· $8B
2001-07-24Post Ipo Equity· $100M
1997-05-15IPO
Leadership Team
Douglas J. Herrington
CEO, Worldwide Amazon Stores
Werner Vogels
VP & CTO
Recent News
2026-01-25
2026-01-25
2026-01-25
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