Project Leader

Conagra Brands; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 82,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Bonus incentive opportunity

Matching 401(k)

Stock purchase plan

Tuition reimbursement

Paid time off

Parental leave

Flexible work schedules

Job summary

Conagra Brands in Chicago seeks an Operations and Supply Chain project professional to support growth, brand maintenance, and productivity initiatives. You will partner with Operations, Plants, Logistics, and S&OP to drive priorities and optimize resource use.

The role emphasizes cross-functional leadership, new product commercialization, cost improvement, and continuous improvement. Strong project management and SAP experience are preferred; you will track milestones and KPIs across product

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or Finance; 3–5 years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, or related functions.
• Experience influencing cross‑functional teams and leading multiple projects concurrently.
• Exposure to Purchasing, Manufacturing, Logistics, and R&I through prior roles or project work.
• Strong project management, problem‑solving, and collaboration skills; continuous improvement mindset.

Responsibilities

• Provide Operations support and project management for growth, brand maintenance, and productivity initiatives.
• Serve as the Supply Chain resource for assigned business teams and coordinate priorities across Supply Chain functions.
• Lead cost improvement projects within assigned product groups and support annual cost targets.
• Support new product commercialization, scale‑up, launch, and post‑launch tracking.
• Drive simplification initiatives such as SKU management, packaging standardization, and specification consolidation.
• Maintain detailed project trackers and communicate timelines to extended teams.
• Monitor Supply Chain KPIs and work with plants and partners on improvement plans.
• Support quality improvement strategies for assigned products.
• Contribute to broader Supply Chain and cross‑functional initiatives as needed.

Skills

Project management

Influence management

Cross-functional leadership

Problem solving

Continuous improvement

Conflict management

Leadership

Education

Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Business, or Finance

Tools

SAP

Job description

Reporting to the Director Operations Business

you will provide Operations support and project management for business growth, brand maintenance, and productivity initiatives. You will serve as the Supply Chain resource for assigned business teams, ensuring effective use of resources and clear communication of priorities across Supply Chain functions for assigned categories. A Taste of Your Responsibilities Support achievement of net sales, profit, and Supply Chain cost and key performance indicator goals for assigned product categories and plants. Partner with internal teams including Operations Business Development, Operations Business Management, Plants, Logistics, Sales & Operations Planning, Demand Management Operations, Brand Design, Manufacturing & Operations Planning, Research Quality & Innovation, Technology and Quality Assurance, Engineering, Finance, and business teams across all organizational levels. Coordinate with external partners including suppliers, co-manufacturers, and vendors. Manage new product and graphic-only commercialization projects, ensuring material readiness, scale-up support, and launch and post-launch metric tracking. Lead project management for cost improvement efforts within assigned product groups and support annual cost targets. Participate in plant and broader Supply Chain performance improvement efforts as requested. Drive simplification initiatives such as Active Stock Keeping Unit Management, packaging standardization, and component or specification consolidation. Assess product offerings with business teams to ensure effective use of Supply Chain resources. Maintain and communicate detailed project trackers to extended teams, driving urgency to meet established timelines. Monitor Supply Chain key performance indicators for assigned groups and support improvement planning with plants and functional partners as needed. Support quality improvement strategies for assigned products. Provide support for other Supply Chain or cross-functional business initiatives as assigned.

Ingredients Required for Your Success

Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering, Business, or Finance. Three to five years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, or related functions. Exposure to Purchasing, Manufacturing, Logistics, and Research Quality & Innovation through prior roles or project work. Strong project management and influence management skills with success leading cross-functional teams without direct reporting authority. Experience supporting new product commercialization or start-up processes. Demonstrated success managing multiple projects concurrently. Strong problem-solving approach. Effective influence management skills and experience leading cross-functional teams in a collaborative environment. Continuous improvement mindset. Collaborative leadership style with experience managing conflict across functions. Exposure to SAP, Supply Chain information technology transaction systems, and information flow processes preferred.

Physical Requirements

This role does not involve regular plant-based work or ongoing manufacturing facility visits.

Compensation Pay Range

Number of Days in Office: 3 #LI-Hybrid #LI-MSL Compensation Pay Range:$82,000-$120,000 The annual salary listed above is the expected offering for this position. An employee’s actual annual salary will be based on but not limited to: location, relevant experience/level and skillset, while balancing internal Conagra employees’ equity. Conagra Brands will comply with applicable law regarding minimum salaries for exempt employees.

Our Benefits

• Health: Comprehensive healthcare plans, wellness incentive program, mental wellbeing support and fitness reimbursement
• Wealth: Great pay, bonus incentive opportunity, matching 401(k) and stock purchase plan
• Growth: Career development opportunities, employee resource groups, on-demand learning and tuition reimbursement
• Balance: Paid-time off, parental leave, flexible work-schedules (subject to your location and role) and volunteer opportunities

Our Company

At Conagra Brands, we have a rich heritage of making great food. We aspire to have the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in food. As a member of our 18,000+ person team across 40+ locations, you are empowered to reach your potential, make an impact and own your career. We're in the business of building champions – within our people and our iconic brands like Birds Eye®, Slim Jim® and Reddi-Wip®. Our focus on innovation extends beyond making great food, it also reflects our commitment to embracing new solutions that positively impact our team, the communities we serve and the health of our planet. Foodies Welcome. Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law. Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request.

At Conagra Brands, we have a rich heritage of making great food. We aspire to have the most impactful, energized and inclusive culture in food. As a member of our 18,000+ person team across 40+ locations, you are empowered to reach your potential, make an impact and own your career. We're in the business of building champions – within our people and our iconic brands like Birds Eye®, Slim Jim® and Reddi-Wip®. Our focus on innovation extends beyond making great food, it also reflects our commitment to embracing new solutions that positively impact our team, the communities we serve and the health of our planet. Foodies Welcome. Conagra Brands is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and/or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law. Reasonable accommodation may be made upon request.