Project Manager-Innovation

Mykelly; Mount Pleasant (WI); On-site; USD 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Kelly Science & Clinical is seeking a Project Manager – Innovation (Global/US) to lead customer-driven innovation projects in the natural colors/food ingredients industry. You will manage projects from product development through commercialization, coordinating cross-functional teams across technical, commercial, supply chain, and operations.

The ideal candidate has 7–10 years of project management experience in B2B food ingredients or related industries and PMP certification or equivalent

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• 7–10 years of project management experience, preferably in food ingredients or related B2B.
• Proven experience leading cross-functional and multi-region projects.
• Experience managing customer projects from development through commercialization.
• Strong stakeholder management across technical, commercial, and operational functions.
• PMP certification or equivalent preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end project management for global customer and innovation projects.
• Set scope, objectives, timelines, milestones, and success criteria.
• Develop plans and critical paths across Sales, Applications, Product Development, Regulatory, Sourcing, Supply Chain, and Operations.
• Lead project kickoffs and define roles and decision processes.
• Identify risks, dependencies, resource constraints, and roadblocks.
• Facilitate cross-functional and cross-regional issue resolution.
• Maintain visibility into the global Innovation project portfolio.
• Establish standardized PM processes, governance, and stage-gate practices.
• Ensure alignment with customer expectations and global strategy.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Stakeholder management

B2B/food ingredients understanding

PMP certification

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Engineering, Food Science, Chemistry, Business, or a related field

Job description

Project Manager – Innovation

Location: South of Milwaukee, WI

Employment Type: Contract-to-Hire
Schedule: Monday–Friday | Day Shift
Compensation: $125,000–$150,000 annually, depending on experience

Kelly Science & Clinical is seeking a Project Manager – Innovation (Global/US) to lead customer-driven innovation projects within the natural colors/food ingredients industry. This role will manage projects from product development through commercialization, coordinating cross-functional teams across technical, commercial, supply chain, and operations. The ideal candidate is a strategic, organized project leader with experience in B2B ingredients, food & beverage, natural colors, or related industries.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end project management for strategic customer and innovation projects globally.
  
• Establish project scope, objectives, timelines, milestones, and success criteria.
  
• Develop project plans and critical paths across Sales, Applications, Product Development, Regulatory, Sourcing, Supply Chain, and Operations.
  
• Lead project kickoffs and establish roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes.
  
• Identify project risks, dependencies, resource constraints, and potential roadblocks.
  
• Facilitate resolution of cross-functional and cross-regional challenges and elevate issues when appropriate.
  
• Maintain visibility into the global Innovation project portfolio and pipeline.
  
• Establish standardized project management processes, governance, and stage-gate practices.
  
• Ensure projects remain aligned with customer expectations, commercial priorities, and global Innovation strategy.

What Success Looks Like

• Improved on-time execution of strategic global customer projects.
  
• Faster progression from opportunity through commercialization.
  
• Stronger collaboration across regions and functional teams.
  
• Reduced delays caused by unclear ownership or regional handoffs.
  
• Improved visibility into project risks, resources, priorities, and overall portfolio status.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Engineering, Food Science, Chemistry, Business, or a related field.
  
• 7–10 years of project management experience, preferably within food ingredients, natural colors, food & beverage, or a related B2B industry.
  
• Proven experience leading complex, cross-functional and multi-region projects.
  
• Experience managing customer projects from development through commercialization.
  
• Strong stakeholder management skills across technical, commercial, and operational functions.
  
• Comfortable working within a matrixed, global organization.
  
• PMP certification or equivalent preferred.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an opportunity to play a key role in global innovation and customer-driven product development, working across technical and commercial functions to move projects from concept to commercialization.

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