Associate Director, Project Management

Jack Link's Protein Snacks•Minneapolis, MN

22h•$140,000 - $170,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director of Project Management is a high-impact leadership role responsible for driving the strategic execution of complex, cross-functional initiatives across the organization. You will lead a team of project managers to ensure that critical business projects, ranging from product innovation to infrastructure modernization, are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with Jack Link’s core objectives. A primary focus of this role will be the development and oversight of an LSI’s strategic framework to optimize all key pillars of growth that include execution of 3-year innovation pipeline, leading all volume growth initiatives for the Jack Link’s Brand & LSI emerging brands, and prioritization of the entire project portfolio.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering or a related field; MBA preferred.
7+ years of project management experience in a fast-paced Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) or manufacturing environment.
Expert proficiency in MS Project, Smartsheet, or Jira; strong experience with ERP systems (e.g., SAP) and data analytics tools like Power BI.
Proven track record of managing direct reports and leading cross-functional teams without direct authority.

Nice To Haves

PMP or Six Sigma Green/Black Belt preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee the project portfolio and align delivery with long-term business goals, including Innovation Big Bets.
Manage the prioritization of a massive portfolio (144+ projects), balancing resource constraints against commercial impact.
Directly lead and mentor a team of project managers, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and professional growth.
Set clear performance standards and conduct regular reviews to ensure the team meets all project accountabilities.
Establish and uphold rigorous PMO standards and methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, or Hybrid) across the organization.
Standardize project delivery frameworks to ensure consistency, specifically for large-scale manufacturing and supply chain projects.
Partner with Senior Leadership in Marketing, Operations, and Supply Chain to resolve resource conflicts and ensure alignment on project outcomes.
Act as a “Trusted Advisor” to executive stakeholders, providing transparent insights into project health and risks.
Define project requirements, budgets, and resource estimates for the entire portfolio.
Proactively identify and mitigate risks, escalating critical issues to the executive level before they impact the bottom line.
Maintain real-time dashboards and status trackers to provide clear, actionable reporting on project health and resource utilization.
Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.