Project Manager - Emerging Brands - Corporate Office (Bedminster, NJ)

PROJECT MANAGER - EMERGING BRANDS - CORPORATE OFFICE (BEDMINSTER, NJ)

To save time applying, Applegate Farms does not offer sponsorship of job applicants for employment-based visas for this position at this time.

ABOUT APPLEGATE FARMS  

Founded in 1987, Applegate Farms, LLC produces high-quality natural and organic hot dogs, bacon, sausages, deli meats, cheese and frozen products. Our products are made without GMO ingredients, and we source from farms where animals are treated with care and respect and are allowed to grow at their natural rate, all part of our mission – Changing The Meat We Eat®.

Natural can mean many things, but to Applegate natural means our food is:

• From animals Applegate humanely raised without antibiotics, added hormones or growth promotants
• From animals fed a vegetarian or pasture-centered diet (our beef is 100 percent grass-fed)
• Free of added chemical nitrites, nitrates or phosphates
• Free of artificial ingredients or preservatives

Applegate became a stand-alone subsidiary of Hormel Foods in July 2015.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

The Project Manager manages and ensures successful delivery of multiple complex and critical Emerging Brands Commercial and Supply Chain projects for their entire lifecycle. Under the direction of the Associate Director Project and Portfolio Manager, the project manager will work cross-functionally to execute and deliver projects on time with adherence to the project goals and scope.

• Provide consistently strong project management execution of multiple projects while managing key requirements and constraints. Ensure adherence to timelines, goals, and quality standards. Implement best practices and control project scope.
• Lead and facilitate a Segment Team, manage weekly conversations, and provide notes and updates to cross-functional team members and key stakeholders. Foster collaboration, track action items, and document decisions and next steps.
• Communicate effectively across all Emerging Brand functions (like Brand Management, R&D, Manufacturing Alliances, and other core cross-functional teams) and levels, including moderating internal meetings, updating stakeholders, and other communications as required; ensure written project documentation is complete and updated regularly. Tailor communication styles, use various channels, and maintain a centralized documentation repository.
• Develop project scope by collaborating with key stakeholders and plan projects by gathering requirements, defining deliverables, evaluating feasibility, and creating timelines and holding teams accountable to deliver against the plan. Throughout the life of the project, create records such as business requirements, project plans, risk analysis reports, communication plans, and key project performance metrics. 
• Keep team members and stakeholders informed of project status and proactively identify risks; if they arise, solve project issues, and effectively escalate to Senior Management as appropriate. Develop a risk management plan, use status reports and dashboards, and establish an escalation process.
• Utilize project management tools and software to help facilitate projects and accurately report on project statuses. Document lessons learned throughout project lifecycles and continuously improve upon processes. Leverage Asana tool, conduct post-project reviews, and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent related work experience.
• Minimum of 2+ years of Project Management experience in roles involving coordination of product deliverables and managing complex supply chains. Relevant experience in project coordination, team leadership, or similar roles is also acceptable.
• Experience managing multiple projects with substantial logistics and extensive timelines while meeting deadlines and requirements.
• Strong interpersonal skills across different levels of the organization and proven ability to collaboratively work in cross-functional team environments.
• Effectively communicates via concise written and verbal communication; able to write detailed meeting summaries - outlining key decisions and next steps – and project reports.
• Able to build, motivate, guide, support and understand their project teams.
• Excellent planning, organizational and problem-solving skills and able to prioritize project work.
• Proficient in Microsoft Software (Word, Excel & PowerPoint) or equivalent suites; experience with project management tools, specifically Asana, SmartSheet or Microsoft Project, and software used to facilitate project planning and team communication.
• Applicants must not now, or at any time in the future, require employer sponsorship for a w