Project Account Manager

MeriCal®; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 115,000 - 125,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

No-cost vision insurance

Employer-paid life insurance

Generous paid time off

Sick leave

Employee assistance program

Wellness program

401(k) matching

Job summary

MeriCal is seeking a Project Account Manager in California to lead onboarding and new product launches. You will coordinate with Sales, Planning, Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, Packaging, Regulatory, and Operations to ensure timely, well‑communicated go‑to‑market launches.

You will oversee the Account Support Manager team, maintain launch documentation, and keep customers informed with clear updates. Strong leadership and manufacturing experience are key.

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of experience managing launches and cross-functional projects.
• Experience in vitamin/supplement manufacturing preferred.
• Strong leadership and coaching experience.
• Proven ability to drive continuous improvement.
• Proficient in MS Office suite.

Responsibilities

• Lead onboarding of new customers and product launches using stage-gate process.
• Develop scorecards and demand forecasts for accounts.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to meet milestones.
• Manage launch readiness and risk mitigation.
• Provide regular updates to Sales on progress.
• Maintain strong customer relationships through disciplined execution.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Problem-solving

Process improvement

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

Word

Outlook

SharePoint

Microsoft Lists

Job description

Company Summary

For over 60 years, MeriCal has been at the forefront of innovation in the dietary supplement industry, delivering custom manufacturing and packaging solutions with passion and precision. With state‑of‑the‑art facilities in Southern California and Ogden, UT, we transform ideas into high‑quality products—from research and development to the finished products. Our team, with over 30 years of combined experience, is dedicated to crafting exceptional gummies, probiotics, tablets, capsules, chewables, and powders using clinically backed ingredients. At MeriCal, we don’t just meet expectations—we exceed them, every time. Join us and be part of a dynamic, forward‑thinking team shaping the future of nutrition!

The Opportunity

The Project Account Manager is a dual function leadership role, responsible for the successful execution of new customer onboarding and new product introductions, while also providing oversight and direction of the Account Support Manager team supporting existing customer business. This role owns the coordination, communication, and execution of projects from initiation through launch, ensuring all key milestones, deliverables, risks, and dependencies are actively managed and communicated. The Project Account Manager serves as a primary cross‑functional leader, partnering closely with Sales, Planning, Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, Packaging, Regulatory, and Operations to support a disciplined and successful go‑to‑market process. This role is ultimately accountable for ensuring that new customers and new products are launched within agreed timelines, with clear alignment, proactive issue resolution, and a high standard of professionalism in both internal and external communication.

What You’ll Do

Project Leadership and Launch Execution

• Develop, maintain and present scorecard/metrics/demand forecasts that track progress, challenges, and future growth for dedicated accounts.
• Lead the onboarding of new customers and introduction of new products using a defined stage‑gate/milestone‑based project management process.
• Build, maintain, and drive project plans that clearly identify timeliness, milestones, owners, dependencies, risks, and critical path items.
• Ensure projects do not advance without required inputs, approvals, and cross‑functional alignment.
• Facilitate cross‑functional project meetings to drive progress, remove roadblocks, and maintain accountability for deliverables.
• Monitor launch readiness and elevate issues that may impact timing, cost, quality, or customer commitments.
• Ensure launch status, open actions, risks, and decisions are clearly documented and communicated to stakeholders.
• Partner with internal teams to ensure all startup and launch requirements are completed accurately and on schedule.
• Provide Sales with regular updates on launch progress, key milestones, risks, decision points, and open questions requiring commercial alignment.
• Support the business in maintaining strong customer relationships through disciplined execution, clear communication, and effective internal coordination.
• Identify trends, recurring challenges, process gaps, and drive improvements that strengthen project execution and customer launch performance.

Cross Functional Coordination

• Serve as a key liaison between Sales and Operations, ensuring customer expectations are aligned with internal capabilities, timelines and priorities.
• Collaborate with Planning, Manufacturing, Quality, Procurement, Packaging, Regulatory, and Shipping to support execution of launch activities and milestone completion.
• Drive timely cross‑functional follow‑up on open issues related to product readiness, materials, production scheduling, testing, documentation, packaging readiness, and order priorities tied to new business execution.
• Ensure project‑related communication is proactive, accurate, and aligned across internal stakeholders.

Customer and Account Support Oversight

• Support existing customers in alignment with the mission, service standards, and business objectives of the organization.
• Provide leadership and direction to the Account Support Manager team to ensure customer issues, requests, and risks are addressed in a timely and professional manner.
• Ensure the team serves as a liaison between customer and internal functions including Manufacturing, Quality, Shipping and Account Receivable.
• Monitor account activity, inventory risks, pending assignments, and service concerns, and support escalation as needed.
• Ensure customer‑facing communication related to launches, timeliness, open issues, and project updates is consistent, accurate, and aligned internally before release.

What You’ll Bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or related field.
• Minimum of 5–10 years of experience managing product launches, customer onboarding, or cross-functional projects in a manufacturing environment.
• Prior experience in the vitamin, supplement, nutraceutical, food, or related regulated manufacturing industry strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading complex, cross‑functional projects with multiple stakeholders and shifting priorities.
• Experience leading, coaching, or supervising team members preferred.
• Strong problem‑solving skills with the ability to anticipate risks, remove barriers, and improve process efficiency.
• Experience driving continuous improvement across functional business processes.
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Word, Excel, Outlook, SharePoint, and Microsoft Lists.

The Perks

• No‑cost vision insurance, employer‑paid life insurance, paid company holidays, generous paid time off, sick leave, employee assistance program, and a comprehensive wellness program.
• Affordable medical and dental insurance plans tailored for you and your dependents.
• Exceptional supplemental benefits, including Accident, Critical Illness, Hospitalization indemnity plans, and pet insurance.
• 401(k) matching plan and more.

A reasonable estimate of the current base pay range for this position is $115,000 to $125,000. The compensation offered may vary depending on the candidate’s geographic region, job‑related knowledge, skills, and/or education.

MeriCal is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to providing a workplace that is inclusive and free of discrimination and harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We encourage individuals of all backgrounds to apply. We believe in creating a diverse and inclusive workplace where all employees feel valued and respected, and where differences are embraced as strengths. We are dedicated to fostering an environment that promotes equality and celebrates diversity.

Qualified applicants with disabilities may be entitled to reasonable accommodation under the terms of the Americans with Disabilities Act and/or certain state or local laws. Please contact [e-mail] if you need an accommodation due to a disability to complete an application, job interview, and/or to otherwise participate in the hiring process. This email does not respond to non-accommodations related requests.

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