What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chief Commercial Officer position at Kinora Group?
Location: Midwest US (with travel)
Own the end-to-end commercial agenda for a new Midwest manufacturing platform, building a best-in-class co-packing facility to serve both large established brands and smaller emerging brands looking for additional capacity.
Well capitalized and institutionally backed, with a mandate to scale globally through a combination of greenfield development and future acquisitions. The platform is being built deliberately prioritizing revenue visibility, operational excellence, and long-term customer partnerships, rather than short-term volume.
Role Overview
This hire is a foundational commercial leader, critical to underwriting the first facility and setting the commercial DNA for the platform. Securing anchor customers, executing financeable long-term contracts, and delivering contracted utilisation at launch and through ramp-up. This role integrates sales, strategy, finance, and operations to build a scalable revenue model.
Mandate:
12–18 Month Success Criteria
- Secure 50% of initial facility capacity under signed take or pay contracts (mix of anchor growth customers)
- Deliver revenue visibility sufficient to support financing
- Build a credible, diversified commercial pipeline beyond Day 1
- Establish the company as a trusted new entrant despite greenfield status
- Lay the groundwork for a repeatable commercial playbook for future sites
Ideal Background
- 15 years in beverage co-packing, contract manufacturing, or adjacent industrial services
- Personally closed long-term supply or take-or-pay contracts
- Deep network across: Energy & functional beverages, Alcohol / RTD, Scaled growth brands
- Strong grasp of manufacturing economics (in addition to sales)
Key Responsibilities
Commercial Strategy & Origination
- Define and execute the go-to-market strategy for the launch site
- Originate and close anchor and cornerstone customers
- Build a balanced, high-quality customer portfolio
Contracting & Financial Credibility
- Lead negotiations for take-or-pay agreements, pricing, complexity, and term
- Deliver lender-credible, financeable contracts in partnership with legal and finance
Customer Leadership & Governance
- Own senior customer relationships and retention
- Implement QBRs, escalation pathways, and service accountability
- Protect margin and operational integrity
Launch & Ramp-Up Delivery
- Align onboarding with commissioning and optimise customer sequencing
- Be accountable for utilisation vs. plan in the first 24 months
Platform Build & Scale
- Create a repeatable commercial model for future sites
- Support expansion through regional demand underwriting
- Build and lead the future commercial team