Junior Innovation Project Manager

Beyond Meat; Amsterdam; On-site; EUR 40,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Beyond Meat in Amsterdam seeks a Junior Innovation Project Manager to support the EMEA innovation and renovation pipeline, turning concepts into clear project plans and driving day-to-day cross-functional execution across R&D, Marketing, Commercial, Operations, Quality and Supply Chain.

The role suits someone with 1–2 years in food/FMCG innovation, NPD or commercialization, eager to take greater ownership and develop hands-on project management and product development skills under the Senior

Qualifications

• 1-2 years of relevant experience in food, FMCG/CPG, innovation, NPD, commercialization or project management.
• Some exposure to coordinating cross-functional projects or workstreams is preferred.
• Understanding of the product development or commercialization process is preferred.
• Experience in a manufacturing or FMCG environment is an advantage.
• Comfortable working with project planning and standard business tools.

Responsibilities

• Innovation Project Execution (EMEA): Support and progressively take ownership of selected EMEA innovation and renovation projects from approved concept through launch.
• Translate agreed project objectives into clear plans, timelines, milestones and actions.
• Coordinate day-to-day project execution and ensure actions and deliverables are completed.
• Keep projects moving and proactively identify delays, risks and dependencies.
• Support launch readiness and project handover.
• Cross-Functional Coordination: Coordinate day-to-day activities across R&D, Marketing, Commercial, Operations, Quality, Regulatory and Supply Chain.
• Organize and facilitate project meetings.
• Ensure clarity around actions, responsibilities and timelines.
• Follow up with stakeholders and proactively address gaps or delays.
• Identify and escalated decisions, risks and trade-offs when appropriate.
• Product Development & Commercialization: Support the development and commercialization of new products and renovations.
• Coordinate product trials, validations and commercialization activities with relevant functions.
• Support development of product, packaging and commercial inputs.
• Help ensure product solutions meet agreed consumer, commercial and operational requirements.
• Develop a strong practical understanding of the end-to-end product development and commercialization process.
• Project Management & Ways of Working: Maintain clear project plans, milestone trackers and project documentation.
• Track risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies.
• Provide concise and structured project updates.
• Support effective use of project management and stage-gate processes.
• Contribute to identifying opportunities to improve project execution and ways of working.

Skills

Cross-functional coordination

Communication

Planning & scheduling

Project ownership

Execution focus

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Food Science, Marketing, Engineering or related field

Job description

Job Description

Beyond Meat, Inc., otherwise known as Beyond The Plant Protein Company supports a portfolio of plant-based products made from simple ingredients without GMOs, no added hormones or antibiotics, and 0mg of cholesterol per serving. Founded in 2009, Beyond Meat’s core products are designed to have the same taste and texture as animal-based meat while being better for people and the planet. The Company’s brand promise, Eat What You Love, represents a strong belief that there is a better way to feed our future and that the positive choices we all make, no matter how small, can have a great impact on our personal health and the health of our planet. By shifting from animal-based protein to plant-based protein, we can positively impact four growing global issues: human health, climate change, constraints on natural resources and animal welfare.

The Junior Innovation Project Manager supports the execution of Beyond Meat’s EMEA innovation and renovation pipeline, taking responsibility for selected projects and workstreams from approved concepts through commercialization and launch. Working closely with the Senior Product Innovation Manager, this role turns agreed priorities and product concepts into clear project plans and drives the day-to-day cross-functional execution needed to bring them to market. This is a hands‑on project management role with meaningful responsibility and exposure across the innovation process. It is well suited to someone who has gained initial experience within FMCG, food, innovation, NPD or commercialization and is ready to build their experience, gradually take greater ownership of projects and further develop their innovation capabilities.

Key relationships

EMEA organization: Sales, Marketing, R&D, Operations, Finance

External: Co-manufacturers, suppliers and development partners

Core Responsibilities

• 1. Innovation Project Execution (EMEA)
  

  Support and progressively take ownership of selected EMEA innovation and renovation projects from approved concept through launch.

  
  

  Translate agreed project objectives into clear plans, timelines, milestones and actions.

  
  

  Coordinate day‑to‑day project execution and ensure actions and deliverables are completed.

  
  

  Keep projects moving and proactively identify delays, risks and dependencies.

  
  

  Support launch readiness and project handover.

  
  


• 2. Cross-Functional Coordination
  

  Coordinate day‑to‑day activities across R&D, Marketing, Commercial, Operations, Quality, Regulatory and Supply Chain.

  
  

  Organize and facilitate project meetings.

  
  

  Ensure clarity around actions, responsibilities and timelines.

  
  

  Follow up with stakeholders and proactively address gaps or delays.

  
  

  Identify and escalated decisions, risks and trade‑offs when appropriate.

  
  


• 3. Product Development & Commercialization
  

  Support the development and commercialization of new products and renovations.

  
  

  Coordinate product trials, validations and commercialization activities with relevant functions.

  
  

  Support development of product, packaging and commercial inputs.

  
  

  Help ensure product solutions meet agreed consumer, commercial and operational requirements.

  
  

  Develop a strong practical understanding of the end‑to‑end product development and commercialization process.

  
  


• 4. Project Management & Ways of Working
  

  Maintain clear project plans, milestone trackers and project documentation.

  
  

  Track risks, assumptions, issues and dependencies.

  
  

  Provide concise and structured project updates.

  
  

  Support effective use of project management and stage‑gate processes.

  
  

  Contribute to identifying opportunities to improve project execution and ways of working.

  
  

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Food Science, Marketing, Engineering or a related field 1-2 years of relevant experience, preferably within food, FMCG/CPG, innovation, NPD, commercialization or project management. Relevant internship or graduate experience can also be considered. Some exposure to coordinating cross‑functional projects or workstreams is preferred. Understanding of the product development or commercialization process is preferred Experience in a manufacturing or FMCG environment is an advantage Comfortable working with project planning and standard business tools.

Key Skills

• Structured, organized and execution-focused


• Strong communication and interpersonal skills


• Able to bring structure and momentum to projects


• Curious and eager to develop within innovation and product development


• Proactive and comfortable taking responsibility and growing into greater ownership


• Able to manage several priorities simultaneously


• Pragmatic problem‑solver with a hands‑on mindset


• Comfortable asking questions and escalating when support or decisions are needed

Role Scope

The Junior Innovation Project Manager has meaningful responsibility for project execution and will progressively take greater ownership while working within the strategic direction and innovation pipeline established by the Senior Product Innovation Manager.

Development Opportunity

The role provides broad exposure to the EMEA innovation process and the opportunity to build experience across product development, commercialization, cross‑functional leadership and project management. For a strong performer, the role is designed to grow over time, with increasing ownership of projects and broader exposure to innovation and product development as capability develops.

Annual salary commensurate with experience

The starting annual base pay for this role is between € 40,000 - €50,000. The actual base is dependent upon many factors, such as training, transferable skills, work experience, business needs and market demands. The base pay range is subject to change and may be modified in the future. The role may also be eligible for bonus, long‑term incentives, as well as benefits.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Beyond The Plant Protein Company is an equal employment opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, religion, ancestry, veteran status, marital status, gender identify, sexual orientation, national origin, liability for military service, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Work Authorization

Applicants must be authorized to work for a U.S. employer. E-Verify is used to validate employment eligibility. This role is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship at this time.

Company Culture

Beyond The Plant Protein Company has a clear value proposition for people and the planet - with innovation at its core. It’s no surprise, therefore, that we attract a passionate team of problem-solvers and individuals dedicated to making the world a better place. Our culture is grounded in cross‑functional collaboration so we can continue to develop products that can both surprise and delight consumers and deliver tangible benefits to society.

Additional

Beyond Meat reserves the right to defer or close a vacancy at any time.