Junior Portfolio & Innovation Leader- Supply Chain

Flora Food Group•New Century, KS

About The Position

The Junior Portfolio & Innovation (P&I) Lead plays a critical supporting role within the Innovation Supply Chain, acting as an operational partner to cross functional teams across Marketing, R&D, Planning, Procurement, Logistics, Engineering, Quality, and Sourcing Units. P&I represents the end-to-end supply chain in project teams for Innovations, Renovations, Value Creation Projects (VCPs), and network changes—ensuring projects launch on time, in full, and with the right technical and operational readiness. This role combines analytical and operational excellence with strong cross functional collaboration. The Junior P&I Lead assists with feasibility assessment, code creation, data validation, trial coordination, supply chain risk identification, and supporting projects through the Gate approval process.

Requirements

2–4 years of experience in supply chain, planning, innovation project coordination, or a similar operational role.
Strong analytical skills and comfort working in ERP/MDM systems (e.g., SAP, Maextro).
Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines in a structured, organized manner.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills with cross functional teams.

Nice To Haves

Experience in FMCG (Fast Moving Consumer Goods) or food manufacturing
Exposure to innovation or renovation workflows, stage gate processes, or technical project management.
Familiarity with demand/supply planning concepts and tools (IBP, Power BI, S&OP).
Knowledge of packaging formats, raw material structures, or manufacturing processes.

Responsibilities

Support the development of project scopes, feasibility assessments, and supply chain requirements during early project stages.
Conduct high-level capacity checks with Planning and identify potential CAPEX needs or supply chain risks.
Collect and coordinate supply chain inputs for Gate documentation across all stages.
Assist in planning for first productions, stock builds, and operational readiness.
Collaborate with R&D, T&I, Planning, Procurement, Logistics, and Quality to understand recipes, packaging, material, and technical requirements.
Participate in technical kick‑off meetings and support Technical Risk Assessments (TRA) and Project Classification Tools (PCT).
Act as the link between North American commercial teams and EU/global supply chain functions when applicable.
Use SAP-integrated tools such as Power BI reports, Material Reports, Maextro, and BOM views to validate supply chain data.
Support creation and maintenance of Code Request Forms and master data inputs required for new SKUs and MRPs.
Assist with costing inputs using the Innovation Costing Template, gathering raw material, pack, conversion, and logistics data.
Track projects and ensure KPIs such as BOM creation, costing, artwork release, and material deliveries remain on track.
Support reporting of project status, risks, and milestones to P&I leadership and Planning teams.
Support T&I and R&D in trial requests, preparation, and execution at Sourcing Units or 3PM partners.
Ensure readiness documentation, artwork requirements, palletization references, and production planning inputs are aligned for smooth first production.
Identify opportunities to simplify processes, reduce complexity, and improve data accuracy in areas such as BOM management, code creation, and project handovers.
Contribute to continuous improvement in project delivery and supply chain performance across the P&I team.