Project Manager, Supply Chain Operations

Position Title: Project Manager, Supply Chain Operations

Position Type: Regular - Full-Time

Position Location: Oakbrook Terrace

Requisition ID: 9423

Business Deployment Project Manager

The Business Deployment (BD) Project Manager represents North American Integrated Supply Chain (ISC) as a strategic leader supporting: Innovation projects, Strategic Network Optimization projects and business execution process improvements. The BD leads and supports critical business projects through the Stage & Gate Process and into every day operations. This role is responsible for identifying, initiating, and driving strategic change within the organization in terms of product and network optimization. The BD PM acts as a business partner across all North American functional groups, empowered to speak and make certain decisions on behalf of ISC. To do so, it is critical the individual form strong, positive relationships with internal partners (such as Sales, Marketing, R&D, Technical Services, Operations) and know our North America business priorities. They must develop a deep understanding of our manufacturing facilities, products, processes, capabilities, customers and competitive environment to be effective.

Project and Process Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
Innovation Projects: Represent ISC on Innovation led Projects. Lead the Commercialization of new products once a final formula has been tested and approved for launch (assume project leadership from R&D or Marketing)
o Support innovation projects through their entire Stage & Gate process, first by consulting on network capabilities and capacity as the ISC representative during the development phase and finally by leading the execution of launch, aligning all key functional groups within ISC: Technical Services, Procurement, QA, Operations, Supply Chain and Agriculture
o Become the ISC gatekeeper for all innovation projects by serving as the ISC representative to review and advise on capacity, capability, safety, regulatory, etc. Gives ISC “yes” or “no” to gate approvals and decisions impacting the manufacturing facilities
o Manage project execution with a “big hat” business approach to work with and coordinate all functional inputs (engineering, process innovations, research and development, technical services, quality, procurement, plant teams) to meet the project conditions of satisfaction
o Collaborate across the greater cross functional team, identifying opportunities and challenges to enable excellence in execution.
o Track project progress and update key stakeholders by using effective project management skills and tools
o Lead project review meetings to highlight significant updates, identify opportunities and challenges and support functional partners

Strategic Network Optimization Projects: Lead strategic projects and cost savings initiatives that are considered critical to business success, competitiveness
o Serve as the ISC gatekeeper for all non-innovation projects touching our manufacturing facilities by reviewing and providing direction on capacity, capability, safety, regulatory, etc.; providing the ISC “yes” or “no” to the Gate approvals
o Use effective project management skills, including but not limited to GANTT charts, A3 problem solving, chartering, stakeholder analysis, RACI, work breakdown structure; critical path; crashing technique; setting milestones and progress reporting to move a project from inception to completion
o Continually effect change by identifying gaps in processes and business process improvement opportunities, presenting and having senior leadership sign off on a project plan to execute the change, and managing the implementation to completion

Business Execution: Lead and participate in cross functional meetings and business processes improvement initiatives. A key objective of the BD is to ensure smooth execution of projects even when the BD is not the Project Manager. These may include some or all of the following and are ever-changing as business needs evolve:
o Represent ISC at the New Business Opportunity Meeting. Make “go” and “no go” decisions based upon business priority: capacity; anticipated profitability
o Assist with the discontinuation process of obsolete materials within our systems and in our plants and warehouses – inventory optimization, stranded and aged inventory management, production transfers, and DC threshold minimums
o Lead weekly meetings to ensure all functional areas of commercialization (manufacturing, R&D, scheduling, tech services, quality, etc) are aware of every project within the North American manufacturing network and how and when it will impact each plant and the entire business.
o Lead Process Improvement Activities as needed to bring functional groups together to improve areas identified as opportunities to streamline processes and reduce waste of any kind within the network

• High energy and positive person who can motivate a team by fostering fun while working hard
• Willing to learn the details, yet able to see and communicate the big picture; able to see and understand different sides of the same story and mediate/impact change and bridge stakeholders
• Able to develop, execute and manage a portfolio of complex projects; demonstrating the ability to prioritize and manage multiple project activities
• As a liaison between ISC and Commercial, the BD is able to facilitate uncomfortable conversations and become the conduit to bring about understanding between all functions – thereby ensuring projects execute more efficiently
• Manage project resources, including the cross-functional project team
• Establish and implement a project communication plan, including information management
• Able to coach peers where needed in order to accomplish project goals
• Able to assess risks to project success and mitigate leveraging tools such as PERT (Program Evaluation Review Technique)

• Must have: Bachelor’s Degree (preference in management, marketing, organizational behavior, and engineering) or equivalent combination of both education and strong business experience required

• Management experience at a senior level (3+ years)
• Operational experience in middle management type roles (5+ years)
• Proven record of leadership, fostering teamwork, and the ability to work collaboratively
• Plant experience is considered a significant asset
• Project management experience
• Marketing Experience
• New Product Development / Commercialization Experience (Stage & Gate Process)

The health and safety of McCain employees and their families has been our number one priority since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Supported by science, and in line with our culture and values, we believe that being vaccinated is the most effective way to protect each other, our families, our customers, and our communities. It is therefore a requirement that the successful candidate for this role be fully vaccinated and have completed the mandatory incubation period prior to the candidate’s start date with McCain, subject to reasonable accommodations if you are unable to be vaccinated for protected grounds under applicable human rights legislation (e.g. medical or religious reasons).

McCain Foods is an equal opportunity employer. We see value in ensuring we have a diverse, antiracist, inclusive, merit-based, and equitable workplace. As a global family-owned company we are proud to reflect the diverse communities around the world in which we live and work. We recognize that diversity drives our creativity, resilience, and success and makes our business stronger.

McCain is an accessible employer. If you require an accommodation throughout the recruitment process (including alternate formats of materials or accessible meeting rooms), please let us know and we will work with you to meet your needs.

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Job Family: Supply Chain & Logistics
Division: NA Supply Chain
Department: Business Development and Inter Comp Ops
Location(s): US - United States of America : Illinois : Oakbrook Terrace || CA - Canada : New Brunswick : Florenceville-Bristol || CA - Canada : Ontario : Toronto

Company: McCain Foods USA, Inc.