Manager, Project Management & Portfolio - Remote

EAGLE FAMILY FOODS, INC.•Buffalo Grove, IL

56d•Remote

About The Position

The Manager of Project Management & Portfolio is essential to Eagle Foods' ability to deliver excellence across its innovation and commercialization pipeline. Reporting into R&D while supporting cross-functional teams company-wide, this role is responsible for leading high-priority projects (approximately 50% of the time), managing two direct reports, and contributing to broader portfolio planning and prioritization. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and brings a balance of strategic thinking and execution. They will apply structure, tools, and clear communication to drive progress, ensure accountability, and enable timely decision-making. This role is also instrumental in reinforcing Stage-Gate discipline, improving project visibility, and driving continuous improvement in how the organization operates.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Project Management, or a related field is highly preferred; a Master's degree is a plus
Minimum of 5 years of experience in CPG project management or commercialization, with a demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
Some experience mentoring or supporting junior team members
Strong working knowledge of Stage-Gate processes and cross-functional innovation practices
Proficiency in project management and reporting tools such as Smartsheet, Power BI, or Microsoft Project
Proven ability to manage and coach a team, including direct oversight of two project management professionals
Committed to fostering a collaborative, accountable, and high-performing team culture
Skilled in cross-functional collaboration with departments such as Marketing, Sales, Operations, Regulatory, and Finance
Ability to influence and guide project teams to maintain momentum and achieve outcomes
Builds strong relationships across teams to ensure clear handoffs, alignment, and effective communication
Experience supporting ownership of an innovation project portfolio, surfacing risks and tradeoffs as they arise
Demonstrated ability to contribute to prioritization discussions and capacity planning at a portfolio level
Applies strategic thinking to drive timely decision-making and support executive leadership with actionable insights
Identifies opportunities for parallel workstreams to accelerate execution and improve time-to-market
Brings a continuous improvement mindset, contributing to the enhancement of systems and processes that increase efficiency and reduce redundancy
Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills
Skilled at translating complex, cross-functional project details into clear, concise updates for a variety of audiences
Ensures consistent documentation and communication of project status, risks, and decisions
Provides executive-level visibility through regular reporting and insight generation
Demonstrated success in directly leading commercialization and innovation projects across product categories
Maintains proactive control over project schedules, risk mitigation, and critical decision points
Champions the use of project management tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Power BI) to drive visibility, transparency, and alignment
Acts as a Stage-Gate process champion, upholding standardization and clarity around project expectations
Supports team development in planning, communication, and effective use of project tools

Nice To Haves

PMP certification is preferred

Responsibilities

Lead high-impact innovation and commercialization projects, ensuring on-time execution and stakeholder alignment
Use Stage-Gate methodology to manage project phases and guide cross-functional teams from concept to launch
Ensure compliance with Eagle Foods' Stage-Gate process and drive clarity on expectations at each project stage
Partner with stakeholders in Marketing, Sales, Operations, Regulatory, and Finance to resolve issues and align on critical path activities
Manage two direct reports, ensuring team collaboration, accountability, and workload balance
Collaborate with the Vice President, R&D and other leaders to maintain the project portfolio and identify opportunities for streamlining and prioritization
Translate complex information into clear communications and reports for project teams and leadership
Champion the use of project management tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Power BI) to track progress, share information, and ensure transparency
Identify and implement process improvements to enhance speed, efficiency, and decision clarity
Support development and refinement of tools, templates, and workflows to standardize execution