Project Manager - Commercialization

Join a team that nourishes life from farm to table! Upstate Niagara Cooperative, proudly owned by 200 local family farms, is one of America’s largest and most stable dairy cooperatives. Guided by farmer- and employee-led values, we process and market high-quality milk, yogurt, dips, sour cream, cottage cheese, and more under our trusted brands: Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Milk for Life®, and Intense Milk®. Here, you’ll support sustainable farming, strong communities, and the mission to deliver fresh, local dairy to families every day.

The Project Manager – Commercialization leads the planning and execution of complex commercialization projects, driving initiatives from concept through launch. This role partners cross-functionally and externally to ensure new products and product enhancements are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with business goals.

Responsibilities:

• Manage the full project lifecycle, including ideation, launch, research & development, scale-up, and implementation for commercialization projects.
• Serve as a liaison between internal departments and external customers to define, design, and deliver new products and product improvements.
• Create, update, and maintain project plans and timelines across multiple work streams; track schedules, milestones, and deliverables while providing regular updates to stakeholders.
• Escalate issues as needed and present recommendations for prioritization to senior leadership.
• Assess project risks and develop contingency plans to maintain progress and mitigate delays.
• Coordinate and align required skills and competencies across project teams; collaborate with department managers to secure necessary resources.
• Conduct post-project reviews to identify lessons learned and opportunities for process improvement.
• Champion process evolution for product commercialization by contributing to the development and refinement of existing practices.
• Take ownership of decisions within scope, appropriately challenging assumptions and making calculated recommendations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• Minimum five (5) years of project management experience.
• Minimum five (5) years of cross-functional leadership experience, preferably within a CPG environment.
• PMP certification preferred.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple high-priority projects simultaneously.
• Proven ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity while identifying connections across diverse facts and situations.
• Experience with project management platforms (e.g., Basecamp, MS Project, SharePoint, Smartsheet).
• Strong business acumen, influencing skills, adaptability, and ability to manage internal and external relationships effectively.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite.
• Strong interpersonal, time management, and communication skills with a high level of professionalism.
• Willingness to challenge current processes to maximize resources and enhance company success.

Working Conditions:

• Interpersonal Climate: Upstate Niagara values professional, collaborative, and quality communication across departments. The ideal candidate will embrace a team-oriented approach and support efforts to deliver innovative, high-quality products.
• Physical Climate: This position may occasionally require work in wet and/or humid conditions with moderate noise levels. Safety training and protective equipment (e.g., ear plugs, steel-toe shoes) are provided by the company.

Pay:

$81,000-$107,000

*The salary range indicated in this posting represents the minimum and maximum of the salary range for this position. Actual salary will vary depending on factors including, but not limited to, budget available, prior experience, knowledge, skill and education as they relate to the position’s qualifications, in addition to internal equity. The posted salary range reflects just one component of our total rewards package. Other components of the total rewards package may include participation in group health and/or dental insurance, retirement plan, wellness program, paid time away from work, and paid holidays.

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.

Salary : $81,000 - $107,000