Product Development Project Manager

Our Company

Since 2005, CuliNex has been the industry’s premier consulting firm providing product development & strategic business services focused on clean label food products. While maintaining our commitment to continuous learning, we exceed our client’s business goals by developing delicious, clean label foods that create a better planet, healthier people and happier communities.

What We Do

We’re passionate about creating great tasting, wholesome food. We specialize in assisting brand owners, food manufacturers, ingredient suppliers and retailers with achieving their growth goals by bringing successful products to market. Our expertise covers a wide variety of food product categories including frozen, refrigerated and shelf stable products, seafood, bakery goods, soups and sauces, dairy products, grains, produce and snack items.

Job Summary and Mission

This job contributes to CuliNex’ success by ensuring that projects are properly scoped out, professionally executed, completed on time and finished within budget. Project Managers participate in the sales process, supervise their development teams and are responsible for all aspects of their projects. Project Managers also develop and execute operational strategy including recruiting, employee development and operating systems and procedures.

Summary of Key Responsibilities

Essential job functions include but are not limited to the following:

• Participate in product cuttings and tastings, provide direction to Development Lead and Developers to ensure the client’s vision is met. Overall responsibility for final review and approval of formulas, prototype samples, reports, and other project deliverables prior to client submission.
• And certifications.
• Provide training, guidance, and leadership to developers to assure thorough training and advancement based on individualized development goals. Mentor existing team members, conduct capabilities assessments and assist with selecting professional development courses
• Actively participate in the sales process by participating in client discussions. Determine and define project scope and objectives, prepare proposals, cost estimates and related documentation based on predicted resources needed to reach objectives in an effective and efficient manner. Prepare budgets based on scope of work and resource requirements.
• Facilitate internal and external communication. Manage employee and contractor resources, assign tasks, and communicate expected deliverables. Schedule and lead meetings with project team members, clients, strategic partners, suppliers, vendors, and contract manufacturers.
• Utilize industry best practices, techniques, and standards throughout entire project execution. Provide operational and technical leadership to the development team to assure effective product development, planning, resourcing, and prioritization to meet project objectives. Review and provide input to company financial performance, KPI’s and sales goals.
• Manage labor allocation and project workload between team members and contractor resources in coordination with other Project Managers to ensure efficient utilization of resources. Suggest team members for new projects based on skills and capabilities and project needs. Determine when contractor resources are necessary to meet technical requirements or project timelines.
• Provide project updates on a consistent basis to various stakeholders about strategy, adjustments, and progress. Ensure accurate, timely record keeping of project files, agendas, communication, and decision making. Relay key milestones, status, and financial performance to the Director of R&D.
• Prepare and manage project budgets, timelines, and resources from project initiation to close out. Develop and manage a detailed project schedule and work plan. Ensure client satisfaction, company financial goals and employee performance benchmarks are met. Monitor progress and make adjustments as needed, measure project performance to identify areas for improvement.
• Sales & Marketing
• Project Management - Responsible for managing projects from start to finish and interacting with clients.

Special Tasks

• Able to travel up to 25% for plant trials and pilot runs, tradeshows, and conferences.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in Food Science, Culinology, Culinary Arts or related field
• 5+ years’ experience in product development across multiple product categories in a food processing plant, corporate HQ, consultancy, or ingredient company, with at least 3 years in a management role.

Certifications and Licenses

Required

• Member of RCA
• Member of IFT (national & local) and/or

Recommended

• Preventative Controls Qualified Individual (PCQI)
• Certified Research Chef (CRC) or Certified Culinary Scientist (CCS)
• Certified Food Scientist (CFS)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Proven ability to complete projects according to outlined scope, budget, and timeline. Able to deliver results in a fast paced, lean, deadline driven environment and balance multiple changing priorities. Strong familiarity with project management software tools, methodologies, and best practices.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills. Excellent oral and written presentation skills to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Entrepreneurial Spirit
• Communication
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Teams and SharePoint experience preferred). Utilize a combination of media platforms to communicate with internal and external teams.'
• Technology
• Project Management
• Demonstrated success in CPG food product development and commercialization, knowledge of the PD process, consumer trends and development team leadership.
• Self-starter and proactive problem solver with a strong work ethic and desire to please clients. Takes ownership and responsibility over assigned areas, ready to jump in and support the team to accomplish company goals. Creative and resourceful, can think outside the box to create innovative solutions.
• Industry Experience