For more than 115 years, Ferrara has created sugar confections that enable moments of sweetness, celebration, and connection for candy lovers of all generations. Today, the company is the #1 sugar confectioner in the United States. Ferrara boasts a passionate team of nearly 9,000 employees creating and delivering hundreds of products sold under 20 popular brands like Brach's, NERDS, SweeTARTS, Laffy Taffy, and Trolli to more than 66 million U.S. households annually and popular Dori snacking products under brands such as Dori, Gomets, Pettiz, and Yogurte 100 in Brazil. Additionally, Jelly Belly, known world-wide for its confections, was acquired in November of 2023.
Job Location: ChicagoThis role is based out of our corporate HQ located in downtown Chicago and will be a hybrid in-person/remote role.
Want to make an impact?The Associate Project Manager, Commercialization is responsible for delivering projects with moderate complexity through the Commercialization phase. These projects are comprised of New Product Development (NPD), line extensions, graphic or packaging changes, and/or productivity improvements. This role will partner with the Project Managers through these phases to ensure deliverables, success criteria, timing, and risk/mitigation profile is clear and executed. This individual will also assist in driving integration with the team and ensure alignment with business commitments. This position will manage multiple, simultaneous projects, typically with moderate complexity.
Ways you will make a differencePartner with Project Managers accountable for the "end to end" project management to deliver all commercialization project types on time.Support the Sugar Stage Gate Process and pre-alignment meetings.Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., Marketing, Manufacturing, Finance, R&D, Procurement, and Packaging Engineering) to support successful project execution.Manage project timelines, success criteria, issues, risks, decisions, and assumptions.Communicate project status updates to Senior Management; collaborate with cross functional team to develop recommendations to mitigate issues.Gather feedback on improving the commercialization process; support the development, documentation, and implementation of process improvements.Develop go/no-go recommendations based on the viability of a strategic initiative.Perform special projects as required.Skills that will make you successfulUnderstanding of process and product workflow management systems and tools preferred.Experience in project management or consulting preferred.Strong work ethic with high sense of urgency, accountability, and initiative.Ability to manage multiple projects, customer specific timelines/requirements and deadlines with an ownership mentality.Comfortable with conflict and professionally managing to a solution.Willingness to address issues with urgency.Effective communicator, both written and verbal.Business acumen with strong analytical skills.Continuous improvement mindset with high tolerance for ambiguity.Experiences that will support your successBA/BS required; quantitative majors preferred (i.e., Operations Management, Engineering).1-3 years of relevant experience minimum preferred.Experience and skill presenting concepts across diverse audiences.Proficiency in MS Project and Excel preferred.Proficiency in SAP software and Business Objects/Business Intelligence preferred.EQUAL OPPORTUNITYWe are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. In order to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees, employment decisions and opportunities at Ferrara will be based on merit, qualifications, and abilities, without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital or civil union status, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, military or veteran status, disability, handicap, genetic information, pregnancy (childbirth or related medical condition), or on any other basis prohibited by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including selection, job assignment, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.
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