Innovation Project Manager, Front-End R&D

Nestlé; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 105,000 - 157,000; Full time

Job summary

Nestlé’s Research & Development Center in the US drives end-to-end project management for Front End Innovation initiatives in North America. You’ll lead cross-functional teams from market insights to prototyping and manufacturing, delivering rapid, data-driven decisions while upholding food safety and regulatory standards.

This role emphasizes agile innovation, scalable governance, and the ability to balance technical and business risks. Up to 10% travel is expected within the US.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Science, Engineering, or related field.
• 7+ years of consumer product goods experience developing and commercializing new product concepts.
• 2+ years of experience leading a project team.
• Knowledge of food industry, consumer research, manufacturing, packaging, and commercial functions.
• Experience with food safety, GMPs, regulatory compliance, and quality requirements for food prototypes.
• Ability to lead product development and prototyping on food/beverage products.
• PM and coaching skills in Innovation; start-up mindset using Build-Measure-Learn.

Responsibilities

• Leads, builds, and executes planning across scope, timing, budget, resources, risks, and ownership using PM practices, design-thinking and agile approaches.
• Sets a credible but ambitious project pace, resolves ambiguity, ensures clear accountabilities and handoffs.
• Leads cross-functional teams to synthesize inputs into clear recommendations and tradeoffs.
• Keeps the team aligned on project purpose, learnings, success metrics, and executive communication.
• Leads end-to-end innovation testing from problem definition to prototyping, manufacturing and testing in 8 months or less.
• Creates ideation sessions and drives innovative ideas linked to business priorities and consumer needs.
• Partner with Innovation Insights to test critical assumptions and maintain disciplined research.
• Mobilize R&D support across Innovation Insights, Design, Concept and Prototyping, global R&D, and external partners.
• Coaches teams in agile innovation practices and transfer learnings to shared playbooks.
• Prioritize deliverables across multiple projects and establish post-closure transfer plans.

Skills

Project management

Agile

Cross-functional leadership

Consumer insights

Leadership

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in Science, Engineering, or related field

Job description

Nestlé’s Research & Development Center in the US drives end-to-end project management for Front End Innovation initiatives in North America. You’ll lead cross-functional teams from market insights to prototyping and manufacturing, delivering rapid, data-driven decisions while upholding food safety and regulatory standards.

This role emphasizes agile innovation, scalable governance, and the ability to balance technical and business risks. Up to 10% travel is expected within the US.