Research and Development Project Manager

Job Title: Senior Project Manager (R&D) – Food Innovation & Product Development

Location: Solon, OH, USA 44139

Contract: 12 months

On-Site role

Job Description:

• WORK LOCATION: Solon, Ohio
• WORK SCHEDULE: FT M-F 8 am to 5 pm

JOB SUMMARY:

• We’re looking for a Senior Specialist – Project Manager to join the client Food PMO team in NDC Solon.
• In this position, you will lead several R&D projects/programs within client Food, with a focus on Top Priority Innovation and Renovation Projects across our Frozen Foods businesses (Meals, Pizza and Snacking)
• You will plan projects End-to-End, ensuring alignment with Idea-to-Launch (I2L), and key corporate strategies and commitments
• You will orchestrate a cross-functional and multi-disciplinary team (R&D, SBU, Zone, Markets) to achieve the project-defined Key Success Criteria and deliver against the business case.
• Managing project stakeholders, negotiating with key decision makers and leveraging with internal and external networks will be essential for your success.
• Reporting to the NPTC Project Management Office Lead, this is a key role to ensure projects are delivered according to key performance criteria and to the satisfaction of key stakeholders.
• The position requires strong project management/leadership, communication, organization, and presentation skills.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Project Management/Leadership:

• Contribute to the future commercial success of the business by considering the whole picture of the project (E2E), and by considering Good for You and CSV strategies and commitments.
• Responsible for Project Management of cross- functional teams of marketing, quality assurance, engineering, product development, etc., promoting a team-building atmosphere for efficient, effective, and flawless execution of the projects along the entire flow.
• Must be able to communicate project status using excellent oral, written, and presentation communication skills.
• Effectively control scope changes through proactive and open communication with stakeholders.
• Must have the ability to manage parallel and sequential project tasks, to identify and communicate project costs and accelerated timing opportunities and risks.
• Must be able to generate and record new knowledge effectively.

People and Resource Management:

• Define roles and responsibilities required for the project.
• Effective resource planning.
• Ensure the resources are available for the project as required.
• Create project team spirit to deliver high quality results on time, on cost and on quality.

Stakeholder engagement:

• Manage project stakeholders, negotiate with client decision makers and business partners internally and externally.
• Vertical and horizontal communication.
• Ability to simplify complex information into simple concepts.
• Create synergies through effective networking with all relevant R&D Units, business partners, markets, SBUs, Head Office and external partners.

Coaching and Sharing:

• Facilitate and coach within the project team and enhance the interaction and collaboration between the various specialists within the client and across R&D Units, Technical and Business Units, and with external partners.
• Develop junior project manager capabilities in project management through regular coaching.

REQUIREMENTS AND MINIMUM EDUCATION LEVEL:

• Minimum of a Bachelor of Science or Engineering Degree (or equivalent), with a sound knowledge of Project Management.

EXPERIENCE:

• >5 years of Project Management experience, preferably in R&D and/or Food & Beverages company.
• >7 years of experience in R&D, Operations, Markets and/or commercial functions.
• Proven track record of strong Project Management.
• Project Management Professional (PMP/PMI) certification is a plus.