Strategic Supply Chain Project Manager (Commercialization)

*This is a 9-12 month contract position. Hybrid opportunity in Durham, NC, or Alpharetta, GA.

Position Summary (Mission / Purpose)

The Strategic Supply Chain Project Manager leads end-to-end supply chain strategy for new product and packaging initiatives, with a focus on early-stage commercialization. This role partners cross-functionally with Marketing, R&D, Sales, and Supply Chain to shape how products are developed, launched, and brought to market. The PM ensures supply chain considerations are embedded early in the innovation process, influencing decisions that enable speed, scalability, and business impact.

Key Responsibilities (in descending order of importance)

• Leads Supply Chain Strategy for Innovation & Commercialization
  Provides strategic supply chain input during early-stage product development, ensuring feasibility, scalability, and alignment with business objectives prior to execution.

• Drives Cross-Functional Commercialization Efforts
  Acts as the primary Supply Chain representative within brand/category teams, influencing Marketing, R&D, and Sales to align on product design, timing, and go-to-market strategy.

• Shapes End-to-End Supply Chain Approach (Pre-Execution)
  Develops and recommends supply chain strategies (network, sourcing, packaging, logistics) that enable successful product launches, balancing speed to market, cost, and risk.

• Partners Across Functions Beyond Supply Chain
  Builds strong relationships with commercial and technical teams to ensure supply chain considerations are integrated into product and business decisions-not just downstream execution.

• Leads Feasibility and Early-Stage Decision Making
  Guides supply chain feasibility assessments for new products, packaging, and promotions, identifying risks, constraints, and opportunities before projects enter execution.

• Aligns Business & Supply Chain Priorities
  Ensures alignment between Strategic Business Unit (SBU) objectives and supply chain capabilities, influencing prioritization and decision-making at the portfolio level.

• Enables Successful Transition to Execution Teams
  Ensures smooth handoff from commercialization to operational supply chain teams by defining clear strategies, requirements, and success criteria.

• Provides Thought Leadership Across End-to-End Supply Chain
  Brings a broad perspective across planning, customer supply chain, distribution, and logistics to inform decisions-beyond a single functional lens.

• Identifies Strategic Opportunities & Trade-Offs
  Evaluates scenarios and trade-offs (cost, service, speed, complexity) to support business decisions and improve overall launch effectiveness.

• Supports Select Project Management Responsibilities
  May lead or support assigned projects depending on scope, focusing on strategic alignment vs. day-to-day execution tracking.

• Builds Organizational Capability
  Acts as a connector across supply chain sub-functions, fostering collaboration and elevating supply chain's role as a strategic business partner.

Minimum Requirements

Years and Type of Experience

Minimum:

• 5+ years of experience in supply chain, with exposure to end-to-end processes
• Experience in planning, customer supply chain, commercialization, or product/project management
• Demonstrated experience working cross-functionally with Marketing, Sales, and/or R&D
• Experience influencing decisions outside of direct authority
• Project or product management experience, particularly in new product introductions or change initiatives

Preferred:

• Experience in consumer products or similar fast-paced industries
• Experience supporting product commercialization or innovation pipelines
• Exposure to distribution, logistics, or network strategy (not purely operational execution)
• MBA or advanced business degree

Skills and Abilities

Required:

• Strong strategic thinking with ability to connect supply chain decisions to business outcomes
• Broad understanding of end-to-end supply chain, beyond a single functional specialization
• Ability to influence cross-functional stakeholders (Marketing, R&D, Sales)
• Strong communication and storytelling skills to translate supply chain insights into business decisions
• Effective decision-making under ambiguity, especially in early-stage product development
• Strong planning, prioritization, and organizational skills
• Ability to balance big-picture thinking with practical implications

Preferred:

• Experience with commercialization frameworks and product lifecycle processes
• Ability to evaluate trade-offs between cost, service, and speed to market
• Exposure to supply chain network design or innovation strategy

Education

• Bachelor's degree required (Supply Chain, Engineering, Business, or related field)
• MBA or advanced degree preferred

Scope Factors

• Operates at the intersection of commercial strategy and supply chain execution
• Focuses on early-stage innovation and commercialization, not day-to-day operations
• Influences decisions that impact product launches, network strategy, and business performance
• Requires strong collaboration across multiple functions and levels of the organization

Key Differentiators of This Role

• Strategic vs. Tactical: Focuses on shaping decisions early in the innovation lifecycle, not executing operational KPIs or building reporting/tools
• Broad vs. Functional Expertise: Requires understanding across supply chain and commercial functions, not deep specialization in one pillar
• Commercialization-Oriented: Centers on bringing products to market, not just supporting downstream supply execution
• Influence vs. Ownership of Ops: Drives alignment and strategy rather than managing day-to-day operations or 3PL execution