Foods you love. Brands you trust. And a career that empowers you to grow. 
 
At Nestlé USA, we’re all working towards the same goal – to delight and deliver for our consumers. With a rich portfolio of beloved brands, including DiGiorno, Toll House, and Coffee mate, in 97% of U.S. households, we have a unique opportunity – and responsibility – to be there for every moment in our consumers’ lives.

Joining Nestlé means becoming part of an inclusive workplace that inspires innovation, encourages strategic thinking and creativity, and celebrates your achievements. No matter where you work within the organization, you are empowered to challenge the status quo, embrace risk-taking, and pioneer new ideas. Our supportive and collaborative environment encourages bold ambitions and continuous learning so that everyone can grow and thrive.
 
This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship.

Position Summary: A highly motivated and detail-oriented Senior Technical Project Manager to spearhead key back-office automation initiatives. This role entails overseeing the planning, execution, and successful delivery of automation projects aimed at streamlining internal operations, enhancing efficiency, and minimizing manual processes across various departments, including finance, human resources, and IT. The ideal candidate will possess a robust understanding of project management methodologies, business process improvement, and change management to implement cutting-edge automation technologies. The Project Manager will work closely with cross-functional teams, stakeholders, and external vendors to ensure projects are completed on schedule, within scope, and within budget. This position is vital for driving digital transformation across various administrative and operational functions.

A strong sense of urgency and the ability to thrive under tight deadlines are essential for success in this role. Candidates should be self-motivated, agile, and focused on delivering results. Travel requirements are estimated at 10%-20% for visits to manufacturing sites and events.

Primary Responsibilities:

Utilize project management tools, metrics, and skills to guarantee timely, budget-conscious, and flawless execution of complex projects from inception to completion. Key responsibilities include:

• Identify and document automation opportunities within back-office functions to enhance efficiency and reduce manual workloads.
• Develop project proposals, business cases, and charters for new automation initiatives.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to define project scope, objectives, deliverables, and success criteria.
• Create comprehensive project plans that include timelines, resource allocation, risk assessments, and budgets.
• Act as the primary liaison for back-office automation projects, ensuring effective communication among stakeholders, project teams, and leadership.
• Facilitate project meetings, providing updates on progress, risks, and mitigation strategies.
• Manage stakeholder expectations and foster a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Align project strategy and approach with key stakeholders throughout the project lifecycle.
• Identify resource requirements and address constraints, resolving issues at the appropriate level when possible.
• Construct and manage the project schedule, define the critical path, track activities, and ensure deadlines are met. Generate and communicate status reports, escalating critical issues as necessary.
• Proactively manage obstacles and develop risk mitigation plans.
• Coordinate and facilitate kick-off meetings, project team meetings, risk assessments, lessons learned sessions, post-launch reviews, and additional meetings as needed.
• Ensure transparency and effective communication regarding project status to cross-functional team members, Program Managers, and the Business Leadership Team.
• Oversee the procurement and management of third-party vendors or contractors involved in automation projects.
• Monitor progress to ensure that milestones are met across various assigned projects and programs in your portfolio.
• Manage and track project budgets and savings commitments, which may reach into the millions.
• Address risks and issues that arise throughout the project lifecycle and implement corrective measures as needed.
• Ensure the effective execution of change management for each project managed.
• Manage and monitor a sub-portfolio of digital projects.
• Ensure cross-functional teams adhere to common project deliverables.
• Manage risks and issues, taking corrective actions and escalating as necessary.
• Ensure project goals align with the company’s objectives and are clearly linked to value, with clearly defined success criteria.
• Seek and pursue continuous improvement opportunities in the digital space to drive simplicity and advancement of Nestlé's technologies.
• Actively participate in portfolio management and maintenance needs as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned within Digital in Manufacturing.

Qualifications

Requirements and Minimum Education Level:

• A Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Information Technology, Engineering, Finance, or a related field is strongly preferred, or equivalent experience is required.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent is highly preferred.
• Certification in Agile methodologies (e.g., Certified ScrumMaster) is a plus.

Experience:

• A minimum of 7 years of project management experience is required, with at least 7 years in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience in food or pharmaceutical manufacturing is preferred.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience driving continuous improvement projects is preferred.
• Proven experience working with, influencing, and directing multiple cross-functional teams simultaneously.
• Experience managing large-scale projects (million-dollar budgets), including schedules and resources.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Projects or equivalent tools is required.
• Familiarity with waterfall, agile, and scrum project methodologies is required.
• Strong communication and presentation skills are essential for this role.

Preferred:

• Experience with SAP.
• Knowledge of ERP systems and their integration with automation solutions.
• A proven track record of leading process improvement and automation projects from initiation to completion.

Skills:

Program Management Core Competencies:

• Customer-Centric: Prioritize the needs of both internal and external customers.
• Leadership: Inspire and lead others toward goal achievement through daily interactions.
• Analytical: Make informed decisions and solve problems through careful analysis of information and evaluation of results.
• Business and Financial Acumen: Synthesize and interpret financial information and results effectively.
• Communication: Communicate, influence, and negotiate with executives, supervisors, peers, and subordinates, providing clear information through various channels. Excellent written and oral communication skills are essential.
• Conflict Resolution: Remain calm in difficult situations, resolve conflicts, and negotiate effectively while knowing when to escalate issues.
• Organization and Project Management: Organize, plan, and prioritize work efficiently.

Additional Functional Skills:

• Strong understanding of the project lifecycle, with the ability to create and establish project controls from the ground up.
• Capability to train project teams on requirements and procedures, including necessary monitoring and enforcement.
• Ability to track progress and spending across multiple projects in alignment with overall program budgets.
• Skilled in identifying dependencies across multiple projects and ensuring coordination for successful execution.
• Proficient in analyzing existing business processes and identifying opportunities for improvement through automation.

Additional Effectiveness Skills:

• Strong interpersonal and insight skills to work effectively and negotiate within a matrix organization.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams effectively and achieve consensus toward completing objectives within time constraints.
• Capability to challenge the status quo effectively while maintaining compliance and fostering business relationships.

It is our business imperative to remain a very inclusive workplace.
 
To our veterans and separated service members, you're at the forefront of our minds as we recruit top talent to join Nestlé. The skills you've gained while serving our country, such as flexibility, agility, and leadership, are much like the skills that will make you successful in this role. In addition, with our commitment to an inclusive work environment, we recognize the exceptional engagement and innovation displayed by individuals with disabilities. Nestlé seeks such skilled and qualified individuals to share our mission where you’ll join a cohort of others who have chosen to call Nestlé home.
 

The Nestlé Companies are equal employment opportunity employers. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Prior to the next step in the recruiting process, we welcome you to inform us confidentially if you may require any special accommodations in order to participate fully in our recruitment experience. Contact us at accommodations@nestle.com or please dial 711 and provide this number to the operator: 1-800-321-6467.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship. 

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Job Requisition: 356783