Project Manager - Product Development

Description

Summary: The Project Manager – Product Development is a role responsible for planning and tracking start to finish projects such as product launches, repackaging and reformulations. This position requires partnering closely with internal teams such as Marketing, Creative, Supply Chain Management, QA and Regulatory in addition to external parties such as domestic and international Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs). As an integral member of the Product Development team, the Project Manager must demonstrate diligence and assertiveness to drive processes as well as flexibility and adaptability to proactively manage deviations, risks and obstacles that surface during a project’s lifecycle and drive toward completion.   

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for all aspects of company’s new product development and production workflows and timelines; may manage up to 10-15 projects simultaneously
• Works closely with cross functional teams (Marketing, Supply Chain, R&D, Regulatory, Creative, Quality) to capture product/project requirements, scope and success metrics.
• Works with the cross functional teams to establish the execution plan weighing tradeoffs. Continuously track project activities, risks, and issues to ensure programs progress on schedule and within budget while meeting established milestones and requirements.
• Collaborates directly with the cross functional teams when needed to drive issues to closure, and/or escalates issues and mitigation recommendations to upper management.
• Gathers data from other departmental personnel and provides status updates to VP – Product Development and other key stakeholders for feedback and timeline adjustments.
• Interpret and organize information from various sources into a clear and easy to reference summary
• Track and monitor progress to ensure timely execution/delivery of key tasks/deliverables by those assigned
• Develop and maintain a project dashboard to keep other stakeholders informed of project portfolio status, including the leadership team
• Drive continuous improvement by identifying opportunities, creating and refining best practices and processes for successful project execution
• Primary point of contact to lead weekly cross-functional PD meetings, establishing agenda, discussion points and issuing meeting minutes.
• Primary point of contact to lead weekly meetings with Contract Manufacturing Organizations (CMOs), establishing agenda, discussion points and issuing meeting minutes.

Other Duties and Responsibilities:

May perform other duties as needed or assigned to assist with ZO operations.

Work Environment:   The work environment is indoors in a professional office environment.  The floor surfaces are carpeted in office areas and conference rooms with vinyl floor covering typical in hallways, break rooms and computer rooms.

Work Hours: The position is 5 days a week, 8 hours a day with minimum 3 days in office.  Time of initial start may vary with work hours typically 8am-5pm. Work hours and shifts are subject to change depending on operating business conditions and needs. The employee may be required to work overtime and holidays or weekends. Minimal travel (up to 10%) may be required to visit CMOs and/or additional product development resources.

Physical and Mental Demands: Sedentary. Exerting up to 10 of force occasionally and/or greater than a negligible amount of force frequently to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body.  Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Knows and follows proper office-safety protocols and maintain a professional and polished appearance. Use the ability to multitask and monitor multiple projects and needs of internal and external customers. Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, product data sheets, product testing procedures, quality and/or regulatory documents and operating and maintenance instructions and manuals. The employee must also be able to maintain and preserve confidentiality of company information, exhibit strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with internal stakeholders, including international affiliates.

Supervisory Responsibilities:   None

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:  A Bachelor’ degree with minimum three years of project management in a primary accountability role is required; work experience within a related industry (pharmaceutical, CPG, or health/cosmetics) is highly preferred.

The employee must be proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, Outlook and Power Point) as well as project software systems such as MS Project, Smartsheet and Workfront. The employee must demonstrate proficiency with Workfront within 60 days of hire. The employee must be highly proficient in written and verbal communication in English as well as detail oriented, possess excellent time management skills and inter and intra departmental communication ability.  They are experienced in effectively interfacing with people at all levels and across all functions of the organization including the C-Suite. They will have excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills as well as the ability to solve problems and adapt to changing priorities. They should possess a process-improvement mindset to collaborate on ideas to improve efficiencies.

Salary : $95,000 - $110,000