Description

Job Summary:

The Senior Project Manager will provide leadership to the Project Management team as well as specific business channels. This individual will manage the New Product Stage- Gate process throughout all Kettle Cuisine sites, enabling effective project execution.

Roles & Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end project lifecycle for new product introduction and product modifications, initiation through commercialization.
• Collaborate closely with cross-functional stakeholders to define project scope, objectives, and success criteria to ensure successful launches.
• Develop and execute comprehensive project plans and timelines, ensuring alignment with overall business goals and strategic priorities.
• Proactively identify risks and issues throughout the project; working with cross-functional stakeholders to mitigate.
• Work with senior leaders to determine and disseminate prioritization of active projects within assigned business channel.
• Lead cross-functional project meetings, providing clear direction, facilitating decision-making, assigning follow-ups, and driving accountability among team members.
• Prepare weekly project progress reports, highlighting outstanding tasks, risks to timeline and other hurdles for senior leadership.
• Demonstrate responsible and professional business leadership, holding cross-functional team members accountable for deliverable deadlines.
• Assist with the development, implementation and improvements of processes and procedures, ensuring best practices as it relates to the project management of new product introductions and product changes.

Level Of Responsibility

• Works with little supervision; work is often not reviewed. Exercises discretion within area of responsibility.
• Recommends actions and alternatives to supervisor and others.
• Coach and Mentor other Project Managers; this individual may have direct reports.
• Position makes an indirect contribution to efforts that generate moderate levels of revenue. 
• Decisions or actions may have a moderate impact on other departments and/or external relationships of the organization. Errors are usually detected through routine verification/ review but may result in some workflow disruption or repetition of work.

Skill Required 

• Bachelor’s degree in any relevant field, preferably with a science/ business/ technical background

• Broad knowledge of food production industry preferred. 
• 7 years of project management, experience in food product development is a plus! 
• Proficient in project management tools (Asana), CRM software (Salesforce) and Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel) and Microsoft Teams.
• Ability to lead cross-functional groups while managing their own agenda in a fast- paced environment.
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to influence and motivate cross-functional teams and drive collaboration.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Previous experience managing accuracy of data, data entry, and document/record management required.  
• Demonstrated ability to problem solve through collaboration with cross-functional teams. 
• Conscientious, accurate, detail oriented, organized team player 
• Ability to quickly learn new systems/processes. 
• Willing to learn and accept changing priorities - Adept at meeting deadlines 

WORKING CONDITIONS AND PHYSICAL EFFORT 

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those a Marketing Manager encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. 

Physical Demands/Efforts 

• Work requires little or no physical exertion. 

Mental & Visual Demands 

• Work performed by this position requires considerable mental concentration to effectively execute complex tasks. 
• Work requires continuous visual effort for extended periods of time. 

Work Environment and Hazards 

• Employees typically work in a normal corporate or home office environment free from noise and hazards. 
• This position has limited exposure to hazards that require the exercise of caution with little likelihood of injury. 
• Less than 25% travel is required for this position. Travel may include out-of-state and overnight stays. 

ADDITIONAL KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES 

• Self-starter able to conceptualize and drive initiatives forward.  
• Motivated by contributing to the overall success of the team.  
• Ability to prioritize long and short-term projects and meet tight deadlines. 
• Independent, flexible, and creative team player 
• Obsessive attention to detail 
• Passionate about food  

Qualifications