Senior Product Development Project Manager - JR322-6955

Van Drunen Farms - Momence, IL

Full-time - Mid Level

Momence, IL

Food Manufacturing

About the position

As Product Development Project Manager at Van Drunen Farms, you will play a pivotal role in leading projects that are essential for the company's growth and strategic objectives. This position involves the development of new applications, platforms, and products, requiring both collaborative and independent efforts. You will engage in a variety of projects, ranging from short-term, single-deliverable tasks to longer-term, multi-faceted initiatives. Your role will also include customer-centric troubleshooting to effectively address challenges and opportunities faced by our corporate customers, manufacturing plants, innovation pipeline (Marketing), Quality department, and the R&D Team. In this position, you will demonstrate expertise in our ingredients and product formulations, particularly in flavor and sensory science, as well as the impact of food chemistry on organoleptic characteristics and manufacturing performance. You will oversee all aspects of the concept-to-launch development cycle, which includes sales/customer consultation, project scoping, documentation assembly, formula and application development, trials of various scales, and technology transfer. Your proficiency in Van Drunen Farms' processing technologies will be crucial as you serve as both an internal and external consultative ingredient and food science expert. You will be responsible for formula optimization concerning nutrition, sensory, and processing attributes, while also troubleshooting product design or ingredient-related production issues. Building and maintaining strong relationships with co-manufacturers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders will be key to your success. You will independently manage technical projects, collaborating with cross-functional teams to meet defined timelines, budgets, and deliverables. Additionally, you will develop written reports and presentations for various stakeholders, ensuring clear communication throughout the process. Flexibility for occasional travel is also a requirement of this role.

Responsibilities

• Lead projects that contribute to the company's growth and strategic goals through the development of new applications, platforms, and products.
• Demonstrate expertise in ingredients and product formulations, including flavor and sensory science.
• Oversee the concept-to-launch development cycle, including sales/customer consultation, project scoping, and documentation assembly.
• Manage formula and application development, trials of various scales, and technology transfer.
• Serve as a consultative ingredient and food science expert, applying food science knowledge to optimize formulas for nutrition, sensory, and processing attributes.
• Troubleshoot product design or ingredient-related production issues, driving to root cause.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with co-manufacturers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.
• Independently manage technical projects with cross-functional teams against defined timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
• Develop written reports and presentations for various stakeholders, ensuring clear communication.
• Perform other duties as needed.

Requirements

• 5-10 years of experience in the food manufacturing and processing industry with an emphasis in Food Science preferred.
• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Culinary Science, Chemistry, Biology, or a related discipline; advanced degree preferred.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Suite.
• Developed listening, verbal, and written communication skills.
• Flexibility and adaptability to changing priorities.
• Strong problem-solving skills and good judgment.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.