Project Manager - Brand Change and Innovation

Our Company: 

Congo Brands is at the epicenter of where consumer demand meets product development. Through brand partnerships with lead influencers, we are afforded an inside look at what consumers truly desire. Congo Brands is a health and wellness brand that sells supplements, fitness snacks, hydration drinks, energy drinks, and more through e-commerce and retail partnerships. Congo Brands houses some of the world’s most noted brands including Alani Nu, Prime Hydration, and 3D Energy. Congo Brands is on pace to become one of the world’s most noted consumer product companies, with revenue growth increasing exponentially year over year. Congo Brand’s goal is to be the go-to ‘Better for You Brand’ for everything from ready-to-drink beverages, snacks, supplements and more.

The Role:

As a Project Manager - Brand Change and Innovation you'll be entrusted to efficiently implement our strategic directives within the Beverage, Nutrition, and Personal Care products domains. Your expertise will be crucial in improving existing product ranges, coordinating cross-functional stakeholders, and leading Innovation and Cost/Risk/Supply optimization initiatives. The candidate in this role will be responsible for helping drive the core project plan – clarifying, assigning, and tracking tasks, communicating progress to leadership, helping drive cross-functional conversations around core project deliverables, etc. The candidate in this role will also be expected to contribute as a thought partner to help appropriately sequence the work, prioritize what should be done when, and recommend approaches that are most effective to accomplish project objectives.

This role is on-site at our Louisville, KY headquarters. Individuals MUST have CPG/food & beverage experience. A background in packaging engineering is preferred.

Key Responsibilities:

• Oversee a portfolio of projects, playing a pivotal role in the execution of project timelines and resource allocation, with an in-depth understanding of the interconnections between tasks throughout the product commercialization process.
• Drive the commercialization procedures for product Innovations and modifications: including changes in formulation, packaging revamps, and cost optimization measures.
• Partner with R&D and operations departments to ensure a seamless transition and execution of product modifications.
• Evaluate and control potential risks related to brand transformation initiatives, formulating risk mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
• Guide intricate projects through the Stage Gate procedure and gather post-project reviews for examination.
• Conduct cross-functional meetings, identifying follow-up action items as directives for the main project group(s).
• Gather cross-functional feedback (for instance: regulatory, finance, operations, sales, marketing) for new initiatives, ensuring that key stakeholders have representation within the team.
• Develop project scorecards (project status, action items, accomplishments) for key associates and foster accountability for teams in charge of completing given tasks.
• Play an "activist" role in surmounting challenges and maintaining project momentum through the Stage Gate procedure.
• Foster and sustain significant relationships across cross-functional teams and with external vendors.
• Deploy effective project management techniques, 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 guide a project from conception to completion.
• Other duties as required.

Key Skills and Experience Preferred:

• Education: Bachelors Degree in Business, Supply Chain, or related fields.
• Experience: Minimum 2 years of responsibility in Project Management, Change Management, R&D Innovation, or Supply Chain analysis. Experience in packaging engineering is a PLUS.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills (written and oral).
• Demonstrated strength in inspiring a team-oriented collaborative environment.
• Ability to work independently/Self-starter.
• Ability to travel as needed.
• Strong MS Office/Excel and Smartsheet capabilities.
• Has a demonstrated passion that align with the core values of Alani Nu.
• Experience with NetSuite/ERP systems is a plus.
• PMP Certification is a plus.

Benefits & Perks:

• Competitive Salary
• Health/Vision/Dental Benefits
• 15 days of PTO + 8 paid holidays
• 6 weeks paid parental leave
• 401(k) plan with employer match
• Monthly cell phone stipend
• AND SO MUCH MORE!

#PRIME

Congo Brands, LLC. Is an Equal Opportunity Employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status, age, or any other classification protected by Federal, state, or local law.