Plant Project Manager

Employment Type: Salaried
Shift:
Work Arrangement: Onsite

Position Summary:

Project Managers are responsible for managing plant level project execution, including commercialization activities, change management activities, and other priority initiatives defined by the site leadership team.

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Project Management:

- Manage and guide commercialization projects within the manufacturing plant, ensuring that all necessary requirements, including new ingredients, labels, equipment installation, operational requirements, and packaging materials, are in place to support target launch date.

- Act as the single point of contact for the HQ Project Coordination team on all project commercialization activities.

- Facilitate all required follow up at the plant and represent the plant team as needed on commercialization calls.

Plant Directed Process Change Management:

- When change form is initiated, act as the single point contact to facilitate the required activities, including assigning process owner for submitted change requests, monitor active change requests to ensure they progress through the SharePoint system, updating request status as dictated by the SharePoint process flow, conduct training on overall program for new hires/as needed, and provide feedback on overall change management tool and SharePoint site.

Visibility Management:

- Measure project performance using appropriate tools and techniques. This includes writing up all project documentation, submitting progress reports to stakeholders and senior managers and setting the standards and methodology to be used in a project as aligned with the Project Management Office (PMO) processes.

- Report and escalate to management as needed, in accordance with the PMO escalation protocol.

- Prepare materials for and facilitate plant leadership team project reviews as part of the plant's operation model.

Ongoing Improvement:

- Utilizing background and commercialization process knowledge, provide guidance and recommendations on the handling of complex projects to the plant and PMO team as needed.

Education and Experience:

- 3+ years project management experience in the consumer products or food manufacturing industry, including a proven record of successful commercialization, project and process management is required

- Bachelor's degree is preferred

- Ability to travel up to 10%

- PMP and LSS certification is a plus

- Bilingual in Spanish is a bonus

Knowledge and Skills:

- Proven working experience in project management, continuous improvement, or change management in the consumer products and food sectors

- Solid technical background with understanding and/or hands-on experience in new and existing product launches, capital projects, process and continuous improvement projects, infrastructure and operational IT projects

- Strong project management toolset skills (e.g.: MS Project or equivalent)

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills

- Solid organizational skills including attention to detail and multi-tasking skills

Why Join Us:
Ventura Foods innovates and manufactures food solutions for foodservice and retail businesses. We make exclusive products for the world's most iconic restaurants and retailers, we provide ready-to-go product solutions for professional kitchens, and we make consumer brands everyone knows and loves. When you work for Ventura Foods, you get a strong foundation of training, a manager who cares about you and celebrates your success, a safe environment, and challenging work. As part of our team, your future is limited only by how much you’re willing to push yourself to get there. We invest in your growth because you invest in ours.

Ventura Foods offers career growth opportunities as well as competitive compensation and benefits:​

- Medical, Prescription, Dental, & Vision – coverage beginning on your 1st day for eligible employees​

- Profit Sharing and 401(k) matching (after eligible criteria is met)​

- Paid Vacation, Sick Time, and Holidays​

- Employee Appreciation Events​ and Employee Assistance Programs

Physical Demands:
All jobs require sufficient physical strength and dexterity to perform the required task(s) and typically also require at a minimum: intermittent sitting, standing, walking, climbing, squatting, kneeling, pushing, and pulling. Occasional lifting and/or moving up to 50 pounds or more with assistance may also be required. Please see the job description for specific requirements.

Work Environment:
Please see the job description for specific requirements of the position for which you are applying.

Typical shifts are 8-12 hours per day. Additional unscheduled time after hours and on weekends may also be required. Employees must be willing and able to wear personal protective equipment as required by Company policy and/or legal requirements. In addition, certain jobs may require employees to:

- Work outside and/or in adverse temperatures which could include extreme heat, cold, and humidity;

- Be exposed to vibrations, chemicals used in operations, fumes and food allergens (may include soy, dairy and other allergens); and

- Be required to work in confined and dark spaces, and at heights in excess of 18 feet.

Our Culture
Our Culture reflects our commitment to treating every employee with respect and creating an environment where people can do their best work. We rely on a variety of strengths, backgrounds, and experiences across our teams to help us innovate, grow, and deliver for our customers. By fostering a workplace that is supportive, collaborative, and grounded in integrity, we continue to attract strong talent and meet the high expectations of a rapidly evolving marketplace.

Ventura Foods is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law.