Senior Project Management Specialist

SupportFinity™; United States; On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

SupportFinity™ is seeking a Project Manager to lead research and development initiatives within the Global Baby Food Meals & Drinks Category. The successful candidate will oversee project management from innovation to launch, ensuring consumer-centric development and strategic alignment.

Applicants should have over five years of experience in project management within innovation-driven environments, preferably in the FMCG sector. The role requires strong interpersonal and communication skills to lead cross-functional teams effectively.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years in project management of large-scale projects.
• Experience in the FMCG industry, preferably in R&D.
• Ability to travel 10–20%, domestically and internationally.

Responsibilities

• Lead project scope, objectives, and expectations definition.
• Manage project schedules, resources, and budgets.
• Facilitate project meetings and manage risks.

Skills

Project management

Innovation mindset

Excellent communication

Coaching skills

Education

BS in a related science field

Project Management certification (e.g., PMP)

Job description

Company Overview

Gerber Products Company, part of Nestlé Nutrition, is the world leader in nutrition, health and wellness for children from birth to preschool. We joined the Nestlé Nutrition family in 2007 and have been a partner in parenthood ever since. Our Anything for Baby team works closely with experts to create products that enrich and establish healthy habits for children, and are good for the planet as well.

Job Summary

Lead and manage a wide range of complex research and development projects for Nestlé Nutrition's Global Baby Food Meals & Drinks Category. This role has a consumer‑centric, growth‑mindset and passion for innovation, including the development of new science & technologies, product launches, strategic roadmaps & pipelines, and new concept development. Lead projects from the front end of innovation through industrialization to launch.

Project & Process Management

• Lead the definition and communication of project scope, objectives, and expectations in collaboration with senior management and stakeholders.
• Navigate and facilitate Front‑End innovation activities, distilling complexity and ambiguity and swiftly creating actions to enable decision making.
• Align on the strategy and approach for initiating, planning, executing, monitoring, controlling, and closing the project.
• Identify the project resource requirements and lead project planning.
• Build and manage the end‑to‑end project schedule, define the critical path, track activities to ensure functional team members are meeting agreed upon deadlines, generate and communicate status reports, and elevate critical issues.
• Build and maintain project budget.
• Connect Science and Technology data, facts and people to deliver solutions with competitive advantage.
• Proactively manage roadblocks and risk mitigation plans.
• Coordinate and facilitate project meetings including kick‑off meetings, project team meetings, risk assessments, and other meetings as required.
• Engage and communicate effectively with partners, stakeholders, and decision makers.
• Coordinate and facilitate post‑launch reviews and communicate key learnings and proposed continuous improvement actions.
• Responsible for the consistent application, disciplined execution, and continuous improvement of Nestlé’s I&R processes and tools.

Project Leadership

• Apply coaching and influencing skills to lead cross‑functional and multidisciplinary teams, embracing details and ambiguity while keeping a general view to reduce complexity and strive for rapid, 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, chaos, and/or ambiguity.
• Foster collaboration among team members, ensuring effective information flow and timely resolution of challenges.
• Minimize risk and increase project impact by creating alternative scenarios in an agile way to ensure project performance in terms of quality, speed, and cost.
• Be the guardian of project management excellence by mastering tools and coaching peers and project team members to deliver the highest value.
• Connect internally and externally to identify opportunities to leverage knowledge and enhance competitive advantage.
• Coach Project Managers to build their skill sets.

Job Qualifications

• Minimum five years of experience in project management of large‑scale cross‑functional and multidisciplinary projects with high business impact, preferably in a research/innovation‑driven environment.
• Experience in the FMCG industry, in R&D and/or Operations/Manufacturing.
• BS in a related science field (e.g., Food science, 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 dossier is a plus.
• Demonstrated innovation mindset, with consumer, customer and business opportunity thinking.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to lead, energize and steer multifunctional teams and collaborate effectively with stakeholders.
• Excellent coaching skills.
• Demonstrated growth mindset, with agility, courage, curiosity, resilience, adaptability, and a risk‑embracing mentality.
• Ability to travel 10–20%, domestically and internationally.

It is our business imperative to remain a very inclusive workplace.

To our veterans and separated service members, many of the skills you gained while serving—such as flexibility, agility, and leadership—are exactly those that will make you successful in this role. Nestlé also welcomes individuals with disabilities, ensuring an inclusive environment where they can thrive.

The Nestlé Companies are equal employment opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

Job Requisition: 392943