Associate Project Manager, Marketing & Innovation

Blue Diamond Growers; United States; Hybrid; USD 61,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

Blue Diamond Growers, the world’s largest almond processor, is seeking an entry-level Commercial Project Management candidate in Sacramento, CA. This hybrid, day-shift role offers exposure across Marketing, Innovation, R&D, Supply Chain, Sales and Finance, with coaching and clear ownership of defined projects from start to launch.

You will work with cross-functional teams and gain experience in Stage Gate processes, budgeting, risk tracking and communication as you grow into more complex

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of project management, commercialization or related cross-functional project experience.
• CPG experience strongly preferred; food and beverage experience a plus.
• Experience supporting or leading work involving multiple functions, stakeholders and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to build plans, organize complex information and drive work through completion.
• Strong written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify risks, clarify issues and recommend next steps.
• Ability to work effectively across multiple projects and changing priorities.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Project Management, or related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Preferred: Formal project management training or certification, including CAPM or PMP.
• Experience with Stage Gate, product development or commercialization processes.

Responsibilities

• Own defined commercialization and business projects from project start through completion, including product renovations, packaging changes, line extensions and other lower-complexity initiatives.
• Build and drive integrated project plans, aligning milestones, owners, dependencies and timing across cross-functional teams.
• Lead cross-functional project teams - facilitate productive meetings, drive follow-through and keep teams focused on the decisions and actions needed to move forward.
• Manage project scope, timing and commercialization budgets, identifying changes, risks and barriers early and escalating when support or decisions are needed.
• Turn issues into action by tracking risks, decisions and dependencies and helping teams identify practical paths forward.
• Lead projects through Blue Diamond’s Idea-to-Launch (I2L) Stage Gate process, ensuring project requirements, documentation and Gate readiness are complete and accurate.
• Communicate project health clearly and concisely, including progress, risks, business impact, recommendations and decisions needed.
• Support higher-complexity projects led by team members to build exposure to more challenging commercialization work and senior stakeholders.
• Help improve how we work, bringing forward practical ideas that make project execution simpler, faster and more effective.

Job description

Job Overview

Work Shift: Day Pay Type: Salary Hourly Rate (if applicable): N/A Targeted Base Salary Range (if applicable): $61,200.00 - $79,400.00 JOB OVERVIEW: Help bring Blue Diamond’s next products, packaging and business ideas to market while building a career in project leadership. This is an early-career development role with real project ownership. You’ll lead defined projects from the start, with coaching as needed, and take on increasingly complex work as your skills grow. You’ll work across Marketing, Innovation, R&D, Supply Chain, Sales, Finance and other functions to turn ideas into executable plans, solve barriers and keep teams moving toward launch. Along the way, you’ll build broad exposure to how a CPG business works, develop your leadership and communication skills, and help shape a growing Commercial Project Management function. Built to grow: This role is designed as an entry point into Blue Diamond’s Project Management career path, with increasing project complexity, leadership responsibility and senior-level exposure as capability develops.

Responsibilities: Essential Job Functions

• Own defined commercialization and business projects from project start through completion, including product renovations, packaging changes, line extensions and other lower-complexity initiatives.
• Build and drive integrated project plans, aligning milestones, owners, dependencies and timing across cross-functional teams.
• Lead cross-functional project teams - facilitate productive meetings, drive follow-through and keep teams focused on the decisions and actions needed to move forward.
• Manage project scope, timing and commercialization budgets, identifying changes, risks and barriers early and escalating when support or decisions are needed.
• Turn issues into action by tracking risks, decisions and dependencies and helping teams identify practical paths forward.
• Lead projects through Blue Diamond’s Idea-to-Launch (I2L) Stage Gate process, ensuring project requirements, documentation and Gate readiness are complete and accurate.
• Communicate project health clearly and concisely, including progress, risks, business impact, recommendations and decisions needed.
• Support higher-complexity projects led by team members to build exposure to more challenging commercialization work and senior stakeholders.
• Help improve how we work, bringing forward practical ideas that make project execution simpler, faster and more effective.

How You Lead

• Positive and solutions-oriented - brings constructive energy to challenges and helps teams see a path forward.
• Proactive and accountable - takes ownership, follows through and addresses issues before they become bigger problems.
• Confident and collaborative - comfortable bringing people together, asking strong questions and leading without formal authority.
• Clear communicator - simplifies information, adapts to the audience and communicates what matters most.
• Organized without losing the big picture - manages details while staying focused on the project objective and business outcome.
• Curious and adaptable - learns quickly, seeks feedback and adjusts as priorities, assumptions and project needs change.
• Comfortable with healthy challenge - respectfully raises concerns, encourages problem solving and helps teams make decisions.

Minimum Requirements

• 1–3 years of project management, commercialization or related cross-functional project experience.
• CPG experience strongly preferred; food and beverage experience a plus.
• Experience supporting or leading work involving multiple functions, stakeholders and deadlines.
• Demonstrated ability to build plans, organize complex information and drive work through completion.
• Strong written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify risks, clarify issues and recommend next steps.
• Ability to work effectively across multiple projects and changing priorities.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Project Management, or related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Preferred: Formal project management training or certification, including CAPM or PMP.
• Experience with Stage Gate, product development or commercialization processes.

Position Location

This is a hybrid role based out of Sacramento, CA with at least 3 days per week on-site (in Sacramento). Reports To: Group Marketing Manager, Innovation

Why Blue Diamond

In addition to working at the world’s largest, state-of-the-art almond manufacturer, we offer a safe and collaborative team environment, with numerous opportunities for free training and career advancement. Check out the BDG Benefits, Health & Wellness Guide HERE . Grow your career. Partner with us. We Are the Almond People! Blue Diamond Growers (BDG) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. BDG provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, or genetic information. BDG also complies with all provisions of the U.S. Government's Executive Order 11246 dated September 24, 1965 and the rules, regulations and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.

About Blue Diamond

In 1910 a cooperative of 230 California almond growers formed with the following core values: To build strong relationships among growers and with their customers; To communicate directly and honestly; and To work as a team to realize the best return on their investment. More than a century later, Blue Diamond Growers still adheres to these values at every level of our operation. Our employees are strongly committed to the brand and to each other - the word "family" is often used to describe our culture. Today, Blue Diamond Growers represents more than 3,000 almond growers in California - the state that provides over 80% of the world's supply. We are one of the most recognized food brands in the world, with annual sales exceeding $1billion. We believe in transparency and honest communication. Our work style is team-based, working together to innovate, process, and distribute the best almond products to the world. After more than 100 years, our core values of integrity, partnership, innovation and quality remain strong. Our commitment to excellence has driven Blue Diamond's unprecedented growth, innovation, high quality, and value. You'll find these values at work throughout our company. We strive for a diverse workforce, always aiming for greater levels of inclusion. In addition to a robust benefits package, we offer an employee wellness and fitness program, in which a majority of our workforce currently participates.