Commercialization Project Manager at Red River Commodities – Fargo, North Dakota

Red River Commodities is a leading processor of sunflower seeds and specialty grains, specializing in high-quality, nutritious food products. We pride ourselves on our sustainable practices, innovation, and commitment to delivering superior products to our customers. Our team shares core values focused on family, pride, passion, safety, and integrity. We work hard, play harder, embrace authenticity, and always support one another to achieve our goals.

Location: 501 42nd St N. Fargo, ND 58102

Position Overview

We’re looking for a dynamic Commercialization Project Manager to help bring the next generation of SunButter products to life.

This role blends strategic thinking, creative problem‑solving, and operational excellence. You’ll guide cross‑functional teams from idea to launch, ensuring that every initiative meets our standards for quality, speed, and consumer impact.

Key Responsibilities

Project Leadership & Execution

Lead end‑to‑end project management for approved innovation, renovation, and product improvement initiatives.

Develop and maintain detailed project schedules, timelines, and critical paths.

Facilitate effective project team meetings, ensuring clarity of priorities, decisions, and next steps.

Champion SunButter’s commercialization tools, processes, and standards, holding teams accountable for delivering against expectations.

Cross‑Functional Collaboration

Serve as the central connection point across R&D, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, Sales, and external partners.

Ensure seamless communication and alignment throughout the development and launch process.

Translate project requirements into actionable plans that balance consumer needs, technical feasibility, and business objectives.

Risk, Issue & Change Management

Identify, track, and mitigate project risks, issues, and dependencies.

Drive structured problem‑solving and root cause analysis to resolve challenges and prevent recurrence.

Recommend adjustments to scope, timing, or resources when needed to protect project outcomes.

Innovation & Consumer Insight Integration

Partner with Marketing and R&D to identify emerging consumer needs and whitespace opportunities.

Support the design of innovation platforms, test‑and‑learn protocols, and consumer testing plans.

Help synthesize consumer insights, category trends, and test results to guide decision‑making and refine concepts.

Continuous Improvement

Evaluate project performance and process effectiveness to identify opportunities for improvement.

Contribute to the evolution of SunButter’s commercialization framework, tools, and best practices.

Promote a culture of learning, agility, and operational excellence.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Food Science, Marketing, or related field; advanced degree a plus.

3–7 years of experience in project management, commercialization, product development, or innovation—preferably in food, CPG, or nutrition‑focused industries.

Demonstrated ability to manage complex, cross‑functional projects with multiple stakeholders.

Strong analytical, organizational, and communication skills.

Experience with stage‑gate or similar commercialization processes.

Passion for food, consumer behavior, and building high‑growth brands.

PMP or similar certification is beneficial but not required.

Who Thrives in This Role

You love connecting dots across functions and turning ambiguity into clarity.

You’re energized by innovation and the challenge of bringing new ideas to market.

You balance creativity with discipline—big‑picture thinking with operational rigor.

You’re a natural facilitator who builds trust, drives accountability, and keeps teams moving forward.

You’re motivated by a fast‑paced, entrepreneurial environment where your work directly shapes the future of the brand.

Company Benefits:

At Red River Commodities, we value our employees and are committed to providing a supportive and rewarding work environment. As a member of our team, you will enjoy a competitive salary, comprehensive health benefits, and opportunities for career growth and development. Below are some additional benefits that we offer.

On-demand pay available through Tapcheck

Paid time off

Paid Holidays

401k & company match

Profit Sharing

Employee Assistance Program

Red River Commodities and its subsidiaries are an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This applies to all employment practices within our organization. Red River Commodities makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

We are committed to maintaining a legal and compliant workplace. As part of our hiring process, Red River Commodities participates in the E-Verify program.