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
• 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