Strategic Project Manager - Decatur, IL or Erlanger, KY

Illinois Ag; Decatur (IL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

ADM in Decatur, IL is seeking an R&D Strategic Project Manager to guide strategic R&D projects from concept to commercial solution. You will lead cross-functional teams of scientists, engineers, researchers, and business colleagues to hit established timelines and deliverables.

The role requires strong communication across disciplines, risk management, and the ability to balance technical, operational, and commercial objectives.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field; advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years of experience managing technical projects.
• PMI/PMP, Lean, Six Sigma, or similar certification is a plus.
• Experience leading multiple concurrent projects and documenting processes.
• Strong written and verbal communication for diverse audiences.
• Change leadership and troubleshooting skills in high-pressure environments.
• Some travel may be required.
• Background check required.

Responsibilities

• Drive delivery of strategic project objectives by monitoring progress, performance measurement, reporting, and proactive risk management to ensure the projects remain aligned with the scope, timelines, and business priorities
• Work across the organization, its business areas, and functions to ensure project teams are working efficiently and meeting expectations
• Establish and maintain high-quality project schedules, baselines, cost estimates, project returns, and estimates to completion, ensuring timely variance analysis, and high-level reporting
• Lead stakeholder alignment and communication while managing team expectations for project deliverables
• Ensure clear communication, effective decision making, and fit for purpose project governance that does not add undue complexity and reduce the R&D team's productivity
• Work with resource managers in a matrix environment to ensure projects are resourced to achieve objectives on the required timeline
• Ensure that project risks are identified and mitigated
• Manage change of scope and resources as projects progress
• Coordinate and synthesize cross functional input from all workstreams including technical, commercial, and operations teams to identify project requirements, align priorities, address concerns, and support project execution

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Communication

Risk management

Troubleshooting

Change leadership

Education

Bachelor's degree in a technical field

Higher level degree preferred

Job description

Position Summary:

The R&D Strategic Project Manager is responsible for managing strategic R&D projects from idea through commercial solution. This role drives cross-functional teams of scientists, engineers, researchers, and business teams towards objectives on an established timeline, and communicates progress and hurdles to key stakeholders as the project progresses.The Project Manager must be able to communicate across disciplines, and understand and coordinate technical, operational, and commercial aspects of a project.

Job Responsibilities:

The following represents many of the duties performed by the position:

• Drive delivery of strategic project objectives by monitoring progress, performance measurement, reporting, and proactive risk management to ensure the projects remain aligned with the scope, timelines, and business priorities
• Work across the organization, its business areas, and functions to ensure project teams are working efficiently and meeting expectations
• Establish and maintain high-quality project schedules, baselines, cost estimates, project returns, and estimates to completion, ensuring timely variance analysis, and high-level reporting
• Lead stakeholder alignment and communication while managing team expectations for project deliverables
• Ensure clear communication, effective decision making, and fit for purpose project governance that does not add undue complexity and reduce the R&D team's productivity
• Work with resource managers in a matrix environment to ensure projects are resourced to achieve objectives on the required timeline
• Ensure that project risks are identified and mitigated
• Manage change of scope and resources as projects progress
• Coordinate and synthesize cross functional input from all workstreams including technical, commercial, and operations teams to identify project requirements, align priorities, address concerns, and support project execution

Job Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in a technical field required, higher level degree preferred. 5+ years of work experience with technical projects
• PMI/PMP, Lean, Six Sigma, or other project management or process improvement certification is a plus
• Several years of experience managing multiple concurrent projects, documenting processes, and leveraging best-suited methodologies and practices
• Strong written and verbal skills with the ability to translate complex concepts into clear, concise, and easily understood information for diverse audiences
• Strong change leadership experience
• Strong troubleshooting skills, with the ability to work in a high-pressure team environment, handle multiple tasks and react quickly to problems and issues
• Some travel may be required. Comfortable managing/participating in various projects concurrently.
• Candidate will need to work within established company and laboratory safety guidelines.
• Willingness to spend time in plant and pilot areas, tolerate extreme temperatures, walk long distances, stand, climb stairs and ladders and move through close spaces.

ADM requires the successful completion of a background check.

REF:112509BR#IncludingYouDiversity, equity, inclusion and belonging are cornerstones of ADM's efforts to continue innovating, driving growth, and delivering outstanding performance. We are committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce and create welcoming, truly inclusive work environments - environments that enable every ADM colleague to feel comfortable on the job, make meaningful contributions to our success, and grow their career. We respect and value the unique backgrounds and experiences that each person can bring to ADM because we know that diversity of perspectives makes us better, together.

We are committed to ensuring all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment regardless of race, color, ethnicity, disability, religion, national origin, language, gender, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, sexual orientation, age, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.