The Russell Stover Innovation team is helping to shape the future of the US chocolate market through world-class innovation. Become part of a progressive team that innovates, develops, and commercializes new products for future launch in market. You will act as project manager, consensus creator and thought partner to the organization’s leaders. You will run point on essential cross-functional projects across the company and plan and run regular PMO stage gate meetings. This is the role for you if you are deeply passionate about cross-functional project management, high-level thinking, and on-the-ground execution. You like moving quickly, you are not afraid to make the tough priority calls, and you believe in the power of the Russell Stover brand. This position reports to the VP of Innovation.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Oversee strategic business initiatives from development through successful execution under the guidance of senior leadership.
• Assist and communicate with executives in decision-making, program management, and initiative implementation.
• Develop and supply PMO templates, best practices, and training to the organization to improve current processes.
• Coordinate organizational procedures for optimized efficiency and productivity.
• Consult with project leads to help them conduct risk assessments and ensure project timelines and deliverables are hit.
• Act as project manager for the company’s top strategic projects by establishing and managing timelines, running project status meetings, and ensuring projects stay on track and costs are optimized.
• Run the company’s stage gate process by planning PMO meeting agendas, running PMO meetings, writing and issuing PMO meeting notes, and conducting scorecard tracking to ensure continuous improvement.

TO BE CONSIDERED AN APPLICANT FOR THIS POSITION, YOU MUST SHOW HOW YOU MEET THE BASIC QUALIFICATIONS AS OUTLINED IN THE REQUIREMENTS

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree
• 5+ years of PM experience in fast moving consumer goods company in similar conditions (high number of projects, managing big projects, in a fast-paced environment)
• Knowledge of Waterfall, Agile, Stage Gate, and DevOps best practices and history of using these methodologies to improve processes
• Experience evaluating and implementing Innovation Management / PLM Software Solutions
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including MS Project and MS Visio
• Experience tracking portfolio governance KPI’s and metrics and using PPM portfolio tool reporting
• Experience quantifying resource capacity / demand models and identifying constraints

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business or other relevant discipline
• Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) strongly preferred
• Track-record of effectively managing teams to complete time-sensitive large-scale projects with minimal guidance
• Mindset for continuous transformation of PMO processes/ tools to stay relevant
• Strong business and project leadership skills; assertive and diplomatic, able to manage up and down the organization with influence, willing to hold others accountable
• Excellent communication and listening skills; ability to step away from the details and share the big picture impact
• Dynamic problem solver with solid analytical skills
• Superior project timeline development, risk assessment, and prioritization skills
• Highly organized and detail-oriented with a strong bias for action

Company Description
Russell Stover Chocolates is the nation’s leading manufacturer of boxed chocolates.  The company’s three brands – Russell Stover, Whitman’s and Pangburn’s - account for more than 60 percent of all boxed chocolate sales in the United States through 20+ company-owned retail stores and 70,000 wholesale accounts. After nearly 100 years in operation the company manufactures approximately 100 million pounds of chocolate candies each year in its proud tradition of being “Made in America” and “Handcrafted in Small Batches”.    

In September 2014, Russell Stover Chocolates was acquired by Lindt and Sprungli, the world leader in premium chocolates.   This was the largest acquisition in the history of Lindt and Sprungli which has operations in over 40 countries across the globe.  Russell Stover Chocolates joins sister companies Lindt USA and Ghirardelli to form a powerful confectionery triad in North America.  

Employment by Russell Stover Chocolates is contingent upon I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification, passing the urinalysis drug screen, education verification, and satisfactory reference and background checks.

Russell Stover Chocolates is an EOE/MINORITY/FEMALE/VET/DISABLED  employer. Principals only please.