Director, Commercialization

BUILT ON FLAVOR. FUELED BY PEOPLE.

Whats it like to work at Kinders Well theres a lot of snacking and geeking out over what we all cooked over the weekend. Beyond that theres also plenty of hard work. Because we dont just like flavor were obsessed with it.

With over 100 products sold nationwide were now a top-five brand in multiple flavor categories at Costco Walmart Whole Foods and more. Were not your typical CPG company. Privately held and founder-led we like to think of ourselves as a pirate ship in a sea of cruise ships. Our crew is adventurous and fearless. We chart our own course and chase big ideas to make food unforgettable.

As we expand globally and approach $1 billion in revenue we need more smart-and-scrappy flavor-obsessed people to come aboard. If youre looking for a place where you can see the real impact of your work... this is it!Every day youll be part of a journey to add flavor to millions of meals and lives.

HowYoullHave Impact at Kinders:The Director of Commercialization plays a pivotal role in bridging innovation and executionandturning product concepts into successful in-market launches. You will lead a high-performing team of project managers and cross-functional partners to ensure every new product or renovation moves seamlessly from development through production and into retail execution.

This role requires a strategic and hands-on leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment balancing long-term process improvements with day-to-day alignment mitigate risks and uphold Kinders standards for quality cost and speedensuring each launch reflects our relentless pursuit of flavor and excellence.

WhatYoullBe Doing:

COMMERCIALIZATION STRATEGY & EXECUTION

• Lead the end-to-end commercialization process ensuring successful product delivery from pilot to first production and distribution.

• Align cross-functional teams on feasibility scope and timing for all product launches and renovations.

• Oversee project plans in Wrike clearly defining milestones dependencies and critical paths.

• Partner with Product Development and Supply Chain tovalidateformulations packaging and manufacturing capabilities beforelaunch.

• Anticipate and mitigate riskstechnical operational financial or regulatoryand communicate proactive solutions to leadership.

• Provide consistent visibility to stakeholders through dashboards reports and readiness trackers.

TEAM LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT

• Lead coach and inspire a team of Project Managers and Commercialization Specialists to achieve executional excellence.

• Foster a culture of accountability transparency and collaboration.

• Balance team capacity with Kinders innovation pipeline tooptimizeworkload and efficiency.

• Partner with the Head of Project Management to evolve workflows playbooks and digital tools that support scalable success.

CROSS-FUNCTIONAL ALIGNMENT & PARTNERSHIP

• Serve as the central connection point between Product Development Brand Sourcing Operations Planning Quality and Sales.

• Partner with Supply Chain and Operations to confirm plant readiness raw material availability and co-manufacturer timelines.

• Deliver clear proactive communication to executive leadership on launch status risks and mitigation strategies.

PROCESS OPTIMIZATION & CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT

• Evaluate and refine Kinders commercialization process to enhance visibility speed and cross-category scalability.

• Support digital transformation by maximizing Wrike and other tools for real-time collaboration and tracking.

• Partner with Finance and Operations to develop KPIs for commercialization successfocusing on cost margin and delivery performance.

What You Bring to the Table:

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE:

• 10 years of experience in commercialization operations or project management within CPG or food manufacturing.

• Demonstrated success leading complex product launches from concept through retail execution.

• Strong understanding of manufacturing packaging and supply chain processes.

• Proven ability to manage multiple fast-moving projects in a high-growth environment.

• Proficiencyin project management tools; Wrike experience preferred.

• Bachelors degree in Business Food Science Engineering or related field (MBAa plus).

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Passionate about food flavor and operational excellence.

• Strategic yet hands-onable to balance big-picture thinking with flawless execution.

• Collaborative and influential leader who builds trust across teams and partners.

• Highly organized detail-oriented and results-driven.

• Thrives in an entrepreneurial fast-paced environment with evolving priorities.

The expected starting salary range for this role is $180000- $190000 per year.We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range based on the location of the role. The amount a particular employee will earn within the salary range will be based on factors such as relevant education qualifications performance and business needs.

SEASONED FOR SUCCESS:

• No two days here are the same.
• We try to be good team members and good communicators but we dont live by hierarchy and structure everyone is a difference maker here.
• We make a lot of decisions in the face of incomplete information our team embraces ambiguity and tries to make good decisions fast rather than great decisions slow.
• We believe our job is to take smart risk not to eliminate risk.
• We believe in growing our skills and becoming a better company with more managerial expertise but we are an entrepreneurial company at heart.
• We arent trying to be average we want to do exceptional things and we are willing to work hard to achieve them.

BENEFITS THAT BRING MORE TO THE TABLE:

We offer a range of total rewards that may include paid time off 401k bonus / incentive eligibility equity grants competitive health benefits and other family-friendly benefits including parental leave. Kinders benefits vary based on eligibility and can be reviewed in more detail during the interview process.

OUR RECIPE FOR BALANCE:

We believe great culture starts with people. Were a people-first company built on connection collaboration and balance. Most of our work happens in the office to spark creativity and community but we also offer flexibility so team members have the autonomy to work outside the office when needed to support their work-life balance and personal commitments.

WHERE EVERY INGREDIENT MATTERS:

Kinders is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color ancestry national origin gender citizenship marital status religion age disability gender identity results of genetic testing veteran status as well as any other legally-protected characteristic. If you have a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act or similar law and you need any accommodation during the application process or to perform these job requirements please reach out to us at