Product Commercialization & Customer Onboarding Specialist

Product Commercialization & Customer Onboarding Specialist
Department: Regulatory / Commercialization
Reports To: Head of Regulatory
Location: Schiller Park, IL
Position Type: Full-Time, On-Site
Position Summary
The Product Commercialization & Customer Onboarding Specialist is responsible for executing and driving the commercialization and customer onboarding process for new and existing products within a fast-paced high-mix cheese manufacturing environment. This individual is the primary owner responsible for preparing, maintaining, and managing the technical and operational documentation required to successfully onboard customers and launch products. This includes creating customer specifications, maintaining technical documentation, setting up ERP item data, managing packaging-related information, updating customer portals, coordinating approvals, and ensuring all commercialization records remain accurate, complete, and aligned across systems and customers. In addition to performing the day-to-day execution work, this role also drives the cross-functional coordination required to collect information, validate requirements, resolve discrepancies, and keep commercialization projects moving on schedule. The ideal candidate is highly detail-oriented, organized, proactive, and capable of identifying inconsistencies, gaps, and operational risks across specifications, labels, packaging artwork, ERP data, formulations, customer requirements, and related documentation before they become problems. This is a highly hands-on role for someone who takes ownership, follows through aggressively, works with urgency, and thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment where accuracy, responsiveness, and execution are critical.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Commercialization Documentation & System Management
Create, maintain, and update customer specifications, technical data sheets, ingredient statements, allergen documentation, label information, and related commercialization records.
Set up and maintain ERP item data including item codes, UPC assignments, packaging identifiers, and related system information.
Complete, update, and maintain customer-required portals, onboarding systems, and external documentation platforms.
Prepare and maintain packaging documentation, pallet configurations, box specifications, and related operational records.
Maintain organized electronic records, revision histories, approvals, and documentation systems.
Ensure all commercialization documentation remains accurate, current, and aligned across internal systems, customer records, labels, and specifications.
Commercialization Coordination & Project Execution
Lead and execute commercialization activities for new and existing products from customer onboarding through production launch.
Serve as the primary cross-functional coordinator between Sales, Operations, Production, R&D, Purchasing, Regulatory, Quality, customers, suppliers, and outside vendors.
Collect, organize, and verify information required for customer onboarding, commercialization, packaging development, and operational setup.
Translate customer requirements into executable internal specifications and operational requirements.
Coordinate packaging development activities, artwork reviews, operational approvals, and commercialization timelines.
Drive projects forward through persistent follow-up with internal teams, suppliers, customers, and external partners.
Monitor commercialization timelines and proactively escalate risks that could impact onboarding, production readiness, or launch schedules.
Assist with establishing forecast-driven minimum order quantities and material planning requirements for packaging and related components.
Validation, Compliance & Accuracy
Review and validate specifications, labels, packaging artwork, ERP data, and customer documentation for completeness, consistency, and accuracy.
Identify inconsistencies, missing information, duplicate data, and discrepancies across specifications, labels, formulations, packaging artwork, customer requirements, and ERP systems.
Verify consistency of product data across multiple customers, systems, and platforms for the same item.
Coordinate documentation and approvals related to regulatory, certification, and customer-specific requirements including organic, kosher, halal, and identity-preserved programs.
Ensure commercialization and onboarding activities comply with customer, regulatory, and internal company requirements.
Support continuous improvement efforts to improve commercialization accuracy, responsiveness, and execution efficiency.
Qualifications
Education
Associate or Bachelors degree preferred, ideally in Food Science, Business, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, or related field.
Experience
25 years of experience in food manufacturing, commercialization, regulatory documentation, customer onboarding, product specifications, project coordination, or related roles preferred.
Experience within the dairy or cheese industry strongly preferred.
Experience working with customer specification portals, packaging documentation, ERP systems, and technical documentation systems preferred.
Experience managing multiple cross-functional projects within a fast-paced manufacturing environment preferred.
Skills and Competencies
Strong sense of ownership and accountability.
Self-starter with a strong sense of urgency and follow-through.
Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail.
Strong ability to audit, reconcile, and validate data across specifications, labels, packaging artwork, ERP systems, and customer documentation.
Ability to identify inconsistencies, discrepancies, and downstream operational risks resulting from inaccurate or incomplete information.
Strong follow-up and project coordination skills.
Persistent in obtaining information and driving projects to completion.
Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to work independently and proactively drive projects forward.
Comfortable operating in environments with multiple moving priorities and evolving customer requirements.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Proficient in Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Outlook, and Word.
Proficient with Adobe Acrobat.
Experience with ERP systems preferred.
Ability to adapt and perform in a fast-paced, customer-driven manufacturing environment.
Professional and responsive communication style with both internal and external stakeholders.
Success in This Role Looks Like
New products and customers are onboarded accurately and efficiently.
Commercialization timelines are proactively managed and communicated.
Specifications, labels, packaging artwork, and ERP data remain accurate and aligned across systems and customers.
Packaging and artwork approvals are completed without delays or unnecessary rework.
Customer requests and documentation needs are handled with urgency and professionalism.
Potential issues are identified early and resolved before impacting production or customer timelines.
Internal teams receive clear, complete, and actionable information to execute successfully.
Product launches occur without delays caused by missing information, documentation gaps, packaging errors, or setup inaccuracies.
Work Environment & Physical Requirements
Ability to sit for extended periods.
Occasionally visit warehouse and production areas.
Ability to lift up to 20 lbs.
Additional Information
This position is ideal for a highly motivated individual who enjoys owning processes, solving problems, and working cross-functionally to ensure customer needs are met accurately and efficiently. This is not a managerial oversight role the individual in this position is expected to personally execute and drive the day-to-day commercialization, onboarding, documentation, ERP setup, and coordination activities required for successful product launches and customer support within a fast-paced manufacturing environment.