Associate Project Manager (R&D) - PPMO - Nutrition - Columbus, OH

The Opportunity

The Associate Project Manager R&D - PPMO works out of our Columbus, OH location in the Nutrition Division.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

• Responsible for managing multiple projects, from beginning to end, with accountability for project execution.
• Disciplined project management: deliver project excellence by incorporating best practices into project management to deliver and/or exceed customer needs across the Project Management process groups: initiating, planning, executing, monitoring/controlling, and closing.
• Provide clear and consistent communication, both oral and written to all project stakeholders on key project elements such as scope, timeline, issues, etc. Act as point of contact for project reporting and updates to Business Unit and Senior Leadership.
• Perform effective stakeholder management: perform stakeholder analysis, plan and manage stakeholder engagement, control stakeholder engagement, escalation.
• Portfolio Management: Management of Area portfolio of new strategies and products. Provide guidance/structure to Area leadership on new strategies and product launch targets. Management of the portfolio through launch grids, project lists, prioritizations, project data, and resource allocations (in the project ERP) monthly to support AN’s innovation sales.
• Identify process issues and recommend improvements to senior leaders.
• Recommend and implement Project Management strategies and enhancements to improve efficiency.
• Assist in idea capture and cataloging activities of new ideas.

Major Responsibilities

• Responsible for implementing and maintaining the effectiveness of the quality system.
• Ensure project scope and success criteria are clearly established; develop and manage project plan to meet deliverables
• Develop estimates and manage resources to deliver project objectives
• Manage cross-functional project timeline and follow-up with project team members to ensure timely completion of tasks
• Track overall project budget and metrics, as required
• Initiate, lead and communicate project assessments and lessons learned
• Establish clear priorities
• Ensure team is working within project scope and effectively coordinate the activities of the team to meet project milestones
• Proactively identify changes in project scope and ensure appropriate measures are taken to reassess and amend requirements, budget and timeline
• Participate in the development and implementation of innovation plans
• Ensure alignment with key planning processes, such as business planning, brand planning, customer planning, S&OP and corporate project reporting
• Manage project plan in Project Management (PM) software through lifecycle and maintain resource and financial allocations. Maintain documentation, provide data management, and identify communication plans for knowledge sharing for project deliverables for management review. Oversee execution and delivery of all projects and programs within span of program control
• Provide support in compiling and reporting project requirements
• Create and deliver project review presentations
• Maintain documentation and provide data management for project deliverables; identify communication plans for knowledge sharing across functional areas and project teams
• Document cross-functional project plan in PM software
• Proactively identify, monitor & manage project opportunities/ issues/ risks
• Resolve conflict within the project
• Work directly with functional area managers to resolve issues that impact completion of project objectives: determine when to escalate issues to appropriate levels of management
• Provide training/coaching on project management methodologies and processes to meet organizational needs