As a New Products Project Manager working with a broad spectrum of responsibilities, this position is key to New Products execution and commercialization. Responsible for driving projects through cross functional areas of the company in order to bring on time, on budget new products to market (including, but not limited to transformational products, custom work for customers, line extensions and SKU configurations). To provide guidance, innovation, risk assessment and transparency to the gatekeepers as we proceed through multiple new product development projects.
 
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Act as key liaison with VP PDI and Sales &Marketing to determine 18 – 36 month product development planning.
• Key leader of process analysis to ensure that we are executing as best in class throughout launch/commercialization process.
• Work with a wide variety of people / departments
• Balance present with future needs
• A catalyst for change, challenging the status quo and championing new initiatives.
• Set a vision and priority list – motivates and hold self and others accountable for delivering.
• Astute when assessing whether the team has the right core capabilities / skill sets (on the immediate and supporting teams) to deliver
• Manage and deliver successful multiple new product development projects simultaneously,
• Ensure timelines / milestones are being met: creating awareness / transparency for the Gatekeepers, identifying any risks
• Improve “design for manufacturing” capabilities by including engineering teams earlier into product development process.

 
EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• A minimum of 5 years of Manufacturing Project management experience required – Leading large projects across all departments
• Process / Engineering / Technical / Equipment experience an asset
• Experience in baking science, ingredient functionality and pastry arts are strong assets
• Strong leadership and organizational skills which can leverage prior functional knowledge from marketing and / or operational and / or engineering experience
• An inventive, imaginative, tenacious problem solver who has a passion for creating new products