Research and Development Project Manager - Decatur, IL

Archer Daniels Midland•Decatur, IL

About The Position

Research and Development Project Manager is responsible for managing projects in new technology development for Food, Nutrition, Sustainable Materials, and Biofuels from conception of an idea through the definition of a commercial solution. The Project Manager works in a Matrix environment to develop Technology Development Plans, drives a cross-functional, integrated team of engineers, researchers, and business analysts towards objectives on an established timeline, and communicates progress and hurdles to key stakeholders as the project progresses. The Project Manager must be able to communicate across disciplines and understand and coordinate operations, technical, engineering, and commercial aspects of a project.

Requirements

A Bachelor’s degree in Process Engineering, Food Technology, Chemical or Biological Engineering, Chemistry or Biology or related fields is required.
Three to five years of experience in process operation, engineering design, and/or R&D in the food and/or chemical industry project management.
Solid understanding of plant operations, financial analysis, and technology is required.
Certification or training in Project Management (i.e. PMI) is required.
Excellent written and oral communication skills to communicate with managers, engineering, and R&D staff via reports and presentations.
Effective communication of engineering data with research, operations, research, and business staff.
Strong organizational skills to manage highly resourced projects on established timelines.
Strong leadership skills to encourage open collaboration, provide technical expertise, and positively contribute to research teams.
Able to function within matrix project management environment.
Must possess well-developed analytical skills to coordinate with technical leads and drive decisions to reduce risk and generate a minimal technical solution.
Some travel may be required.
Comfortable managing/participating in various projects concurrently.
Candidate will need to work within established company and laboratory safety guidelines.
Willingness to spend time in plant and pilot areas, tolerate extreme temperatures, walk long distances, stand, climb stairs and ladders and move through close spaces.
Project management, leadership, time management and prioritization, communication, integrity, mechanical and technical aptitude, analytical ability, problem solving, independent judgment, teamwork, persistence, detail oriented and safety commitment

Nice To Haves

A Master’s degree is desired.
The ideal individual has experience working across functional groups to manage long term, highly resourced projects.

Responsibilities

Plan, manage and implement R&D technology development projects to drive development of a minimal technical solution for commercial processes.
Develop and maintain a Technology Development Plan, which outlines a project's tasks, milestone dates, status, and allocation of resources to stakeholders and other interested parties.
Establish deadlines and maintain progress towards milestones.
Work with Resource Managers in a Matrix environment to ensure Technology Development projects are resourced to achieve objectives on the required timeline.
Manage project team members and sub-stream leads in a Matrix environment, including Researchers, engineers, operations and plant personnel, and Business/Commercial liaisons.
Utilize Project Management best practices to ensure that project risks are identified and mitigated.
Identify project and technical objectives with key stakeholders and project sponsors and gain alignment.
Ensure that key stakeholders are informed at key stages of development.
Manage change of scope and resources as projects progress.
Development of Technology Transfer Package at the closure of technology development projects.
Understand technical, commercial, and operations interests and concerns in the process.
Direct Researchers to drive highest impact experimentation and trialing to maximize overall value of a commercialized process.
Write detail reports and prepare comprehensive presentations.

Benefits

In addition to competitive pay, we support your diverse needs with a comprehensive total rewards package to enhance your well-being, including:
Physical wellness – medical/Rx, dental, vision and on-site wellness center access or gym reimbursement (as applicable).
Financial wellness – flexible spending accounts, health savings account, 401(k) with matching contributions and cash balance plan, discounted employee stock purchasing program, life insurance, disability, workers’ compensation, legal assistance, identity theft protection.
Mental and social wellness – Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) and Colleague Giving Programs (ADM Cares).
Additional benefits include:
Paid time off including paid holidays.
Adoption assistance and paid maternity and parental leave.
Tuition assistance.
Company-sponsored training and development resources, such as LinkedIn Learning, language training and mentoring programs.
Benefits may vary for bargained locations, confirm benefit eligibility with your recruiter.