Sr. Manager, Global Initiative Leader

Wella

3d•$108,750 - $145,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Global Initiative Leader (GIL) is responsible for leading a cross-functional team to develop and execute a comprehensive initiative plan that delivers in-market success and strong business results. Leveraging expertise in initiative systems, the GIL collaborates closely with multifunctional stakeholders—particularly R&D, Commercial/Brand Leader and Go-to-Market Leader—to ensure all learning, qualification, and execution activities are effectively completed in support of a successful launch. The GIL manages a portfolio of projects aligned with business priorities, across new product launches and Supply Chain design.

Requirements

5+ years in Supply Chain and Project/Initiative Management (FMCG)
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, or related field
Proven project management experience (2–3+ years)
Strong understanding of NPD and Stage-Gate processes
Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast-paced environment
Advanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Project
Experience in Supply Chain (Planning, Manufacturing, Procurement) or R&D
Exposure to manufacturing environments and cross-functional teams (Packaging, Process, Production)
Influences and aligns stakeholders
Leads with clarity, pace, and strong results focus
Builds collaborative, cross-functional relationships
Adapts leadership style to people and situations
Provides clear, timely feedback
Communicates simply to enable decisions
Takes ownership and delivers on commitments
Simplifies complexity and prioritizes what matters
Uses data and judgment to solve problems
Stays resilient under pressure
Acts with urgency while maintaining quality
Makes timely, confident decisions

Responsibilities

Leads and manages projects through the stage-gate process, ensuring robust preparation and execution.
Owns a portfolio of initiatives using clear Critical Path Schedules (CPS), aligned dependencies, and milestone tracking.
Drives delivery of innovation, new launches, margin improvement, and compliance projects.
Ensures clarity of objectives, success criteria, and full readiness (technical, commercial, financial) at launch.
Coordinates cross-functional teams (Brand, Markets, R&D, Supply Chain, Procurement, Regulatory, QA) for aligned execution.
Partners with stakeholders to deliver a strong pipeline that supports strategy, growth, and profitability.
Synthesizes inputs into clear recommendations for leadership decisions.
Embeds learnings across projects to continuously improve speed, quality, and effectiveness.
Acts as the single point of contact for governance, clearly framing risks, trade-offs, and recommendations.
Proactively identifies, manages, and escalates risks to ensure timely mitigation and decision-making.
Drives alignment with leadership, ensuring adherence to launch strategies or recommending adjustments as needed.
Leads crisis and alert processes, mobilizing teams for rapid response and resolution.
Oversees escalation plans, ensuring strong structure, follow-through, and fast issue resolution.
Leads through influence, coaching teams to operate effectively within the stage-gate process.
Ensures coordinated, high-quality execution across functions, delivering on time, cost, and scope.
Builds capability by coaching team members and strengthening initiative management practices.
Effectively delegates, monitors progress, and ensures high standards of delivery.
Drives adoption of tools, methodologies, and best practices across teams.
Supports smooth transition from planning to execution, ensuring continuity and proactive issue resolution.