JOB DESCRIPTION

Since 1987, the team at Cafe Valley has baked muffins, cakes, cupcakes, turnovers, croissants, and newly added scones for our customers throughout North and South America. Our products are made with high-quality ingredients and crafted with care in our Phoenix, Arizona and Marion, Indiana bakeries.
The Commercialization Project Manager – Label & Packaging is responsible for managing all label and packaging deliverables tied to new product launches, packaging change initiatives, and continuous improvement efforts across Café Valley. This includes overseeing the label creation and revision process, coordinating new packaging development, supporting system integrations, and ensuring compliance with customer and regulatory standards.

SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Operations, or a related field.
• 3+ years of experience in project management, commercialization, or a similar role within food manufacturing or consumer packaged goods industries preferred.
• Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., Zoho, MS Project) and strong aptitude in Excel and other data analysis tools.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate cross-functional teams, manage complex timelines, and deliver projects on time and within scope.
• Understanding of the S&OP process, including demand planning, forecast integration, and operational alignment, is highly desirable.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with a focus on clarity, responsiveness, and strengthening relationships.
• Familiarity with food manufacturing processes, product development cycles, and regulatory requirements is a plus.

• Lead the full lifecycle of creation and change request processes for new and existing finished goods labels, ensuring timely execution and alignment with commercialization timelines.
• Manage the development of label proofs in coordination with the supplier by collecting and providing all required label data, including UPCs, shelf life, NFIS spreadsheets, ingredient statements, and die line specifications.
• Manage packaging requests from concept through implementation for new product launches or improvements to existing items.
• Collaborate with the Procurement Manager to source new packaging materials, confirm vendor specifications, and ensure compatibility with production lines.
• Continuously assess the label and new packaging pipeline to identify opportunities for reducing lead times, improving responsiveness, and cutting down on operational errors.
• Recommend and implement best practices to enhance cross-functional communication, simplify workflows, and increase visibility into project statuses, from initial request through launch.
• Act as a central point of contact for Labels and New Packaging projects, ensuring alignment with Café Valley’s quality standards, brand values, and strategic goals.
• Provide timely and transparent project updates, including potential risks or delays, to internal teams and leadership, ensuring clarity and proactive issue resolution.
• Collaborate with Planning, Production, Quality Assurance, and other departments to ensure that projects are fully understood, well-integrated, and executed flawlessly.
• Assist in managing a select portfolio of additional business initiatives, including system enhancements and process improvement projects that drive overall organizational success.