Global R&D Project Leader — Front‑End Innovation

Nestlé; Fremont Township (MI); On-site; USD 91,000 - 128,000; Full time

Job summary

Nestlé is seeking a Project Manager to lead complex, cross-functional R&D/Innovation initiatives for Nestlé Nutrition's Global Baby Food Meals & Drinks category. You will steer front-end innovation through to industrialization and launch, coordinating science, technology, and stakeholders to deliver consumer-focused solutions.

You will manage scope, schedule, and budgets, coach teams, and align strategy for execution across domestic and international markets.

Qualifications

• Proven (at least five years) experience in project management of large-scale cross-functional and multidisciplinary projects with high business impact.
• Experience in FMCG industry, in R&D and/or Operations/Manufacturing.
• BS in related science fields (e.g.,Foodscience, Material sciences, Agricultural or Environmental sciences, Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Packaging,or related sciences).
• Project Management certification (e.g.,PMP, ITIL, COBIT) and/or Nestlé PM dossieris a plus
• Demonstrated Innovation mindset, with Consumer, Customer and Business Opportunity thinking
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills withtheability to lead, energize and steer multifunctional teamsandto collaborate effectively with stakeholders.
• Excellent coaching skills
• Demonstratedgrowthmindset, with agility, courage, curiosity and resilience, adaptability to navigate in uncertain and ambiguous contexts and embracingrisk mindset
• Ability to travel 10 - 20%, domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Lead the definition and communication of project scope, objectives, and expectations in collaboration with senior management and stakeholders
• Navigate andfacilitateFront-End innovationactivities, distilling complexity and ambiguity and swiftly creating actionsto enable decision making
• Align on the strategy and approach for initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing the project
• Identifythe project resource requirements and lead project planning
• Build and manage the end-to-end project schedule,definethe critical path, trackactivities to ensure functional team members are meeting agreed upon deadlines
• Generate,and communicatestatus reports, and elevate critical issues
• Build andmaintainproject budget
• Connect Science and Technologydata,factsandpeople to deliversolutions with competitive advantage
• Proactivelymanageroadblocks and risk mitigation plans
• Coordinate andfacilitateproject meetings including kick-off meetings, project team meetings, risk assessments, andadditionalmeetings asrequired
• Engage and communicate effectively with partners, stakeholders, and decision makers
• Coordinate andfacilitatepost launch reviewsand communicate key learningsand proposed continuous improvement actions
• Responsible for the consistent application, disciplined execution, and continuous improvement of Nestlé’s I&R processes and tools
• Apply coaching and influencing skillstoleadcross-functional and multidisciplinary teams, by embracing details and ambiguity while keeping a general view to reduce complexity and to strive for rapid but informed management decisions
• Unite and energize team members behind a shared vision,guiding and motivating them to achieve project objectives
• Create an environment that encourages diversity of thought and constructive challenge/debate
• Bring structure,transparency,and clarity to project teams during times of complexity,chaosand/or ambiguity
• Foster collaboration amongst team members, ensuring effective information flow andtimelyresolution of challenges
• Minimize riskand increase project impact by creating alternative scenarios in an agile way to ensure project performance in terms of quality, speed, cost
• Be the guardian of project management excellence by mastering tools and coaching peers and project team members to deliver the highest value
• Connectinternally and externally toidentifyopportunities toleverageknowledge and to enhance competitive advantage
• Coach Project Managers to build their skill sets

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Communication

Agile

Travel willingness

Education

BS in related science fields

Project Management certification

Tools

PMP

ITIL

COBIT

Job description

Nestlé is seeking a Project Manager to lead complex, cross-functional R&D/Innovation initiatives for Nestlé Nutrition's Global Baby Food Meals & Drinks category. You will steer front-end innovation through to industrialization and launch, coordinating science, technology, and stakeholders to deliver consumer-focused solutions.

You will manage scope, schedule, and budgets, coach teams, and align strategy for execution across domestic and international markets.