Senior Project Manager, Innovation

ABOUT ALBERT USTER IMPORTS

Albert Uster Imports, Inc. (“AUI”) is a privately held gourmet food company headquartered in the Washington, DC area (Gaithersburg, MD) with warehouse locations in Kansas City, Las Vegas, Miami, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Gaithersburg. AUI falls under the Vestar Capital Partners portfolio with affiliate organization, Roland Foods, LLC.

Founded in 1968, the company offers over 1,400 products from around the world. We serve leading hotels, restaurants, casinos, cruise lines, airlines, and manufacturers with innovative, high quality products and solutions to their most demanding culinary challenges. We operate a network of distribution centers across the U.S. and serve select international markets as well. AUI has a national direct selling organization of over 60 sales professionals and a staff of culinary experts (chefs and food scientists) adept at custom product solutions.

 

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Senior Project Manager, Innovation, you will lead and own the innovation pipeline managing exciting product launches in the specialty food industry across multiple channels and shaping the future of our product and service offerings. Additionally, you will guide a talented team to complete all project deliverables from conceptualization, to execution, and completion while fostering a culture of collaboration and creativity. You will bring ideas to life by collaborating with new and existing partners worldwide, ensuring seamless integration of products into the AUI portfolio. As part of a dynamic work environment, the tactic and strategic initiatives of this role will include you collaborating with Supply Chain, FSQA, Sales, and Marketing while tracking and reviewing KPIs. This role offers the opportunity to travel to industry events and key supplier locations, adding an exciting dimension to your work.

As a response to the pandemic, Albert Uster Imports Inc. office employees have transitioned to a hybrid working schedule, requiring employees to report in-person Monday through Wednesday, with the option to telework on Thursday and Friday each week. Due to the collaborative, cross-functional nature of the organization, employees at the Gaithersburg office are required to work in-person for the abovementioned days, outside of any People & Culture-approved disability accommodation request.

 

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Execution of Product Launches: Lead the execution of product launches in the sweet category of the AUI portfolio, including managing pricing calculations, item setup, and product information updates. Provide essential input into product features, unique selling points (USPs), and technical support
• Drive Team Success: Lead a team with clear, consistent communication, providing direction and support to ensure all project goals are met and timelines are adhered to
• Manage Cross-Functional Communication & Coordination: Ensure clear and consistent communication across all departments involved in the product lifecycle. Lead collaboration efforts between teams (Sales, Supply Chain, FSQA, Marketing) to ensure the smooth, timely execution of product innovations
• Drive customer R&D support at the AUI Innovation Center activities
• Provide strategic insights to ensure the successful commercialization of sweet products and help achieve revenue goals. Participate in key sales visits and collaborate with the Sales team to close wins

 

QUALIFICATIONS AND SKILLS

Required

• Experience: 3-5 years of experience in project management, commercialization, or product strategy, with a proven track record of driving successful product launches
• Organized and Detail-Oriented: Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to analyze data, track progress, and manage multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring alignment with key innovation and sales KPIs
• Strong Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrated ability to take initiative and build strong relationships, with excellent communication and collaboration skills to effectively work across teams and with external partners
• Strategic Thinker: Ability to think critically and strategically, balancing both short-term goals and long-term vision while executing against a tight timeline
• Expected travel: 15%

Preferred

• Bachelor’s Degree, preferably with a focus in Business/ Business Administration or related field