Project Leader

Eurofins•Ithaca, NY

2h•$100,000 - $140,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Project Leader manages food product research and development projects across multiple product categories and technologies, guiding work from project planning and experimentation through pilot-plant scale-up and commercial plant testing. The role serves as the primary client interface during active projects, translating client needs into deliverables, communicating progress and budgets, and maintaining client satisfaction and relationships. Project Leaders also contribute to business development by identifying client needs, supporting new opportunities, and leading innovation activities. The position supervises a group of up to three technical staff and supports their training and professional development. It requires on-site work in a science laboratory and pilot-scale food-processing environment, with exposure to chemicals or other hazardous materials and a wide range of foods, including potential allergens. Overnight, weekend, interstate, or international travel is required regularly, approximately 25% of the time. Occasional handling of loads up to 50 pounds is required using appropriate lifting equipment and techniques. This is a first-shift position, scheduled 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The listed salary range is $100,000–$140,000 per year.

Requirements

Ph.D. from an IFT-accredited food science program with six years of related experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Experience in project management and supervision of professional technical personnel.
Experience in full-cycle product development.
Trustworthiness and discretion in handling confidential information.
Ability to communicate confidently with clients about business and technical needs and redirect projects in the client’s best interest.
Ability to cooperate, provide support and guidance, empower team members, and recognize team and individual accomplishments.
Ability to independently direct a team’s work on technical project challenges using education, experience, and available resources.
Flexibility to shift resources, roles, and priorities as needed.
Excellent interpersonal skills; professionalism and a team-oriented approach.
High energy, a hands-on approach, and a strong interest in product development.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including preparing clear reports and presentations and delivering them confidently to clients.
Strong and timely decision-making skills and strategic thinking ability.
Ability to create spreadsheets, graphics, and reports using standard software applications.
Valid driver license.
Ability to work on site and in a science laboratory with exposure to chemicals or other hazardous materials.
Ability to travel overnight, on weekends, interstate, or internationally by air regularly, approximately 25% of the time.
Ability to occasionally lift, move, push, pull, or otherwise exert up to 50 pounds using appropriate equipment and techniques.
Ability to work with a wide range of foods, including potential allergenic foods, and with lab- and pilot-scale food-processing machinery.

Responsibilities

Demonstrate and promote the company vision; maintain regular attendance and punctuality; and apply GMP/GLP as appropriate.
Use project-planning documents and tools to direct multiple projects.
Provide technical guidance on experimentation, pilot-plant scale-up, and commercial plant testing.
Travel to clients or third parties as necessary, including travel to client accounts for meetings.
Develop and/or approve project plans, work orders, and scope-change documentation.
Review and edit reports, summaries, and emails; lead conference calls; and review and approve lab notebooks.
Track project performance through interaction with clients, project teams, and direct reports.
Manage project resource expenditures against budgets and adjust as necessary.
Serve as the primary client interface during active projects; understand client needs, establish deliverables, communicate progress and budget visibility, and ensure client satisfaction.
Support strategies and tactics to maintain and strengthen client relationships during and between projects.
Share key information with other business units to coordinate a unified approach.
Manage up to three technical staff, coordinate training, interview candidates, and support direct reports’ professional development through coaching, training, and shared responsibility.
Conduct year-end reviews of direct reports and contribute to reviews for the wider team; track professional development plans and, as applicable, implement corrective counseling or disciplinary actions.
Communicate key business-planning, project, personnel, and client information throughout the organization through meetings and other communication tools.
Support proactive and reactive new-client prospecting and develop a referral network of clients, vendors, and contacts.
Lead proactive innovation activities, internal innovation projects, prospective-client visits, and/or development of project-initiation documents.
Conduct activities safely and efficiently and perform other duties as assigned.