Director, Product Commercialization

Company: INSIGHT Into Diversity and Potomac Publishing, Inc
Location: Santa Barbara
Posted on: September 12, 2020

Job Description:

Kate Farms is changing the face of medical nutrition. At Kate Farms, we believe in the power of plant-based, organic nutrition to provide superior nourishment for a good life. Our formulas are well tolerated, broadly accessible, and always made with the highest-quality ingredients. They are the culmination of one family’s heart-warming story to nurture their child through years of medical challenges and evolving scientifically based, cutting-edge nutrition. Kate Farm’s superior formulas are made with plant-based, organic ingredients and do not contain common allergens typically seen in traditional formulas.

Kate Farms was founded on the belief that good nutrition leads to good health, and good health opens the door to endless possibilities. Our mission is to make nutrition the cornerstone of healthcare so people can live their best lives.

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The new “Director, Product Commercialization” for Kate Farms will be an integral part of the Product Development team for scaling and bringing products to commercialization a full slate of safe, wholesome and clinically effective products for all customer segments, brands and product versions . Kate Farms recognizes that there are many challenges in bringing new products to market and even challenges continuing to deliver best-in-class quality at scale. To further our advancement of plant-based nourishment, Kate Farms is seeking an individual to lead a new team to ensure success in this area.

The Director, Product Commercialization will have a strong background in food science and product development with a passion for engineering, processing, and understanding how to identify solutions in bringing products to scale. Experience in flavored low-acid, aseptic beverages and plant-based nutrition are important, as well as a background in additional product formats. Building and managing strong relationships with many key external partners that help in the commercialization of all Kate Farms products is vital for helping drive the business and increase competitive advantage for Kate Farms. This person will need to be able to carry out many projects in parallel and lead a team of personnel to ensure delivery is executed on time, in scope, and within budget. This role is central for enabling future growth and prosperity of the business through sustained delivery of market-leading formulations that delight customers, and health care influencers.

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

Technology & Formulation – Collaborate with the R&D team within product development to ensure that all projects are built with Kate Farms technical processing capabilities in mind and ensure that projects will be able to be executed at scale. Identify new external partners to help in scaling products to deliver highest quality, at low cost, with speed. Schedule and execute all external trials for Product Development.

External & Internal Relations – Build and maintain a strong network of external partners based on Kate Farms values that can deliver critical support in development and manufacturing products for all brands and product formats. Ensure strong internal network and collaboration with key cross-functional areas, particularly R&D, Product Supply, Quality, and Operations. Manage external partners in the development of new products from initial formulation efforts in partnership with R&D to commercialization of products in partnership with Supply Chain and Kate Farms’ co-manufacturers.

Continuous Excellence – In conjunction with the PMO team, develop and manage a change management system within product development to ensure continuous product and information flow within the organization and across the external Kate Farms network. Ensure all aspects of product development are completed and quality will be delivered as new products are brought to market.

Supply Chain/Sourcing – Work with the Product Supply team to ensure new product formulations can be efficiently scaled up to manufacturing processes and quality requirements. Again, working with the head of Supply Chain to ensure efficient technology transfer, vertical startup of new products and on-going quality assurance (QA).

Functional Leadership – Manage the Kate Farms Product Commercialization team for effective execution of the short-term and long-term strategy, making changes on an ongoing basis where appropriate. Foster an environment that stimulates open communication, creativity, imagination, and fosters a team spirit in solving problems and identifying and capturing new business opportunities. Work closely with the internal Kate Farms team to build and foster a culture of product innovation and opportunity for employee & customer feedback.

Sensory Development – Partner with external flavor houses to build and optimize flavor systems for Kate Farms’ products. Facilitate internal tasting panels to provide sensory feedback to the development process of new products. Provide feedback to manufacturers on product flavor systems and organoleptics at scale and sign off on initial production lots.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

Customer Satisfaction – NPS and products research studies

Innovation – Pipeline productivity, new claims, new product success

Product – Consistent quality, safety, and effectiveness measures

Colleagues – Feedback from key internal and external work partners

Team Building – Build a diverse team of internal/external experts, partners, suppliers

Requirements

SKILL SET:

World-class Product Development, Brand, Market, and Innovation skills (functional excellence)

Organizational leadership (collaborative management style)

Resourcefulness (able to stretch money and people)

Analytics and Strategic Planning (makes quick, fact-based decisions)

Listening skills (listen first, then respond)

Intellectual horsepower (highly analytical & strategic)

Strong relationship management and interpersonal skills (high EQ)

Influencing skills (proven ability to persuade others towards an idea or goal)

Complex problem-solving (create options, then converge)

Innovative and creative thinking (need fresh thinking)

PERSONALITY PROFILE:

Mission/values-driven

Self-directed/motivated

Flexible and adaptable

Community oriented

Results orientation

Sense of urgency

High integrity and trustworthy

Intellectually curious

Kate Farms, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, discipline, or discharge, will be based on merit, competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.

NOTE: This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive. Employee may perform other related duties as negotiated to meet the ongoing needs of the organization as directed by the management of the company.

Job Information

Job ID: 54405541

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