Project Manager (24-month contract)

Mars • Edmonton, AB

1d • $88,000 - $121,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

Champion Petfoods is looking for a Project Manager (24-month contract) to join their rapidly growing company. This role is central to the brand's evolution, leading the functional transformation of packaging across their premium product portfolio. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing the entire workflow, from design to execution, ensuring new packaging amplifies brand equity, shelf presence, and premium performance. This position requires a highly organized, cross-functional leader who can coordinate creative agencies, marketing brand managers, technical packaging engineers, and supply chain partners to deliver a commercially successful and visually stunning brand refresh. The Project Manager will also guide the integration of sustainability goals into new packaging, including managing the transition to more sustainable materials and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations like the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and California’s Senate Bill 54 (SB 54). The role works a hybrid schedule with 3 days in-person at their Corporate office in Louisville (CO), Nashville (TN) or Edmonton (AB).

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, or a related field.
• 5+ years of dedicated project management experience within the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) or a related industry.
• Proven track record of managing large-scale projects, particularly packaging artwork refreshes, new product launches, or brand renovations.
• Proficiency with modern PM software (e.g., Asana, Smartsheet, MS Project) and artwork management/approval platforms.
• Exceptional communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional peers and senior leadership.
• A practical understanding of packaging sustainability trends and regulations is a strong asset.

Nice To Haves

• PMP (Project Management Professional) or equivalent project management certification is highly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Support the end-to-end creative process and spearhead commercial execution of the global brand packaging refresh.
• Manage the entire workflow, from design to execution, ensuring new packaging amplifies brand equity, shelf presence, and premium performance.
• Guide the integration of sustainability goals into new packaging, including managing the transition to more sustainable materials and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.
• Coordinate creative agencies, marketing brand managers, technical packaging engineers, and supply chain partners.
• Work closely with the Marketing Operations Manager for the operational workflow for a major brand packaging refresh, working to overlie timelines and action items acting as the bridge between designs, prepress, and final technical execution.
• Manage the complexity of updating artwork and structural designs across an extensive SKU catalog, ensuring flawless consistency with new brand guidelines and regulatory labeling across all international markets.
• Ensure that new packaging materials, including sustainable options, successfully support the premium printing, finishing, and structural aesthetics required by the brand refresh.
• Lead cross-functional project teams through the complete product commercialization process, ensuring on-time delivery from concept validation and trial runs through to a successful commercial launch.
• Author and manage comprehensive project timelines (e.g., Gantt charts), proactively identifying potential bottlenecks, supply chain risks, or design challenges, and developing robust mitigation plans.
• Act as the primary project management link with Kitchen, Ingredient supply, Regulatory, and material suppliers to ensure quality, specifications, and timelines meet project milestones.
• Project manage the transition of the portfolio to meet the mandates of EU PPWR and California’s SB 54, ensuring all new packaging is recyclable, compostable, or reusable by the required deadlines.
• Partner with Packaging R&D to track and validate projects that integrate sustainable materials, such as Post-Consumer Recycled (PCR) content, into the new brand packaging designs.
• Establish and maintain tracking systems for packaging metrics (weights, material types, etc.) required for internal sustainability goals and regulatory reporting.
• Partner with Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) and Supply Chain to design run-out strategies for existing inventory, minimizing write-offs of obsolete packaging during the roll-out of the new brand designs.
• Ensure that redesigned packaging retains its structural integrity and durability across all distribution channels, including retail and high-velocity e-commerce (e.g., Amazon, Chewy).
• Confirm the execution of shipping tests, transit trials (e.g., ISTA testing), and packaging line trials to guarantee the new packaging performs flawlessly from the factory to the consumer.

Benefits

• US: Salary range from USD$88,000 to USD$121,000, 401k with Company, and donation matching.
• Canada: Salary range from CAD$100,000 to CAD$137,000, RRSP with Company matching.
• Industry Competitive Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision and Employee Assistance Programs to meet your individual or family needs.
• Continuing Education: In House & Online Learning & Development, as well as an Education Assistance Program.
• Free Bag of Premium Pet Food each month
• Free Parking

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level