Sr. Project Manager

Ajinomoto Foods North America•Ontario, CA

8d•$140,000 - $150,000

About The Position

The Senior NPD Project Manager is responsible for leading and executing complex New Product Development (NPD) projects across Ajinomoto Foods North America (AFNA). This role partners closely with Category Management, R&D, Operations, FSQA, Supply Chain, Finance, and other cross‑functional teams to deliver NPD projects on time, within scope, and aligned with business objectives. The Senior NPD Project Manager is accountable for project execution excellence, adherence to governance and risk management, and continuous improvement of the NPD project management framework, aligned with AFNA’s NPD system and PM best practices.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Food Science, Business, Operations, or a related field.
4-6 years of project management experience, including significant experience leading complex, cross-functional NPD projects.
Demonstrated experience working within a structured stage‑gate or governance-based NPD process.
Strong understanding of food manufacturing, CPG, and/or foodservice product development environments.
Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced, matrixed organization.
Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills.

Nice To Haves

PMP or equivalent project management certification.
Experience in regulated manufacturing environments (food safety, quality, regulatory compliance).
Experience working across multiple manufacturing plants and supply chains.
Demonstrated experience driving process improvement within project management or NPD systems.

Responsibilities

NPD Project Leadership & Execution
Lead end‑to‑end execution of assigned NPD projects from concept approval through commercialization, following the AFNA NPD stage‑gate process.
Develop and manage integrated project plans covering scope, timeline, resources, dependencies, and deliverables across all NPD stages.
Proactively identify, assess, and manage project risks, issues, and trade‑offs to ensure successful project outcomes.
Drive disciplined execution in a highly cross-functional environment involving Marketing/Category Management, R&D, Engineering, Manufacturing, FSQA, Regulatory, Supply Chain, and Finance.
Governance, Process & PMO Alignment
Ensure projects comply with AFNA’s NPD governance, documentation, approvals, and review requirements.
Prepare and lead project reviews, gate meetings, and executive updates with clear, data‑driven communication.
Partner with the PMO to apply standardized tools, templates, and best practices across NPD projects.
Support audits, assessments, and post‑launch reviews to drive learning and continuous improvement.
Stakeholder & Cross‑Functional Management
Serve as the primary point of coordination for cross-functional project teams, ensuring clarity of roles, responsibilities, and deliverables.
Support Category Managers by translating strategic direction into executable project plans while maintaining clear ownership boundaries.
Facilitate alignment across multiple plants, functions, and external partners as required.
Continuous Improvement & Capability Building
Contributes to the ongoing evolution of the AFNA NPD project management framework to improve speed, clarity, and execution effectiveness.
Mentor and coach project managers and cross-functional team members on NPD project management practices.
Identify opportunities to improve communication, efficiency, and decision-making within the NPD process.