Senior Food R&D Project Manager

An employer is looking for a Senior Food R&D Project Manager in the Plano, TX area. You will serve as a Project/ Portfolio Manager for the Food Innovation Team (FIT). In this role, you will provide leadership for complex programs and projects in the areas of Innovation, Productivity and Global Food Excellence, that involves cross-functional teams. Tasks will include:
Portfolio & Project Management- 70%
• Lead and manage the Global Food Innovation & FSQ project portfolio, ensuring alignment with global business strategy and organizational priorities.
• Drive cross-functional global initiatives from concept through launch, including new product, process, and packaging innovation.
• Develop and manage project scope, timelines, budgets, resource plans, risk mitigation strategies, and success metrics for complex programs.
• Provide leadership to cross-functional teams, ensuring effective execution, stakeholder alignment, and achievement of project objectives.
• Establish, implement, and continuously improve global stage-gate and project management processes, including governance, decision-making frameworks, and collaboration models.
• Coordinate with key functions including Marketing, Supply Chain, Strategic Planning, and Franchise markets to ensure integrated and compliant project execution.
• Develop and maintain project tracking systems, dashboards, KPIs, and reporting tools (e.g., Monday.com) to monitor portfolio performance and project status.
• Support global market execution by defining frameworks, guardrails, and compliance processes related to menu, ingredient, and LTO initiatives.
• Build organizational capability by promoting standardized project management methodologies and continuous process improvement across teams.
• Maintain a strong understanding of food, process, and packaging technologies and their business implications across global markets.
Chief of Staff/ Operations Tasks- 30%
• Provide thought partnership to Head of FIT and Food Leadership Team (FLT)
• Lead strategic and business operations across the 60+ person Global Food Innovation & Food Safety and Quality teams.
• Demonstrate strong leadership and influence management skills with the ability to gain credibility with Senior Executives while challenging the status quo
• Lead key department meetings, events and offsites
• Execute against time-sensitive requests from Head of FIT and FLT, as well as cross functional business leaders and partners
• Build ‘Executive ready’ project deliverables including presentations and briefs for Head of FIT
• Coordinate recurring initiatives and communications: Annual Operating Plan, Budget, Quarterly Business Planning, Strategic Presentations, etc.

We are a company committed to creating diverse and inclusive environments where people can bring their full, authentic selves to work every day. We are an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer that believes everyone matters. Qualified candidates will receive consideration for employment regardless of their race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, ancestry, genetic factors, age, disability, protected veteran status, military or uniformed service member status, or any other status or characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations, and ordinances. If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to HR@insightglobal.com.To learn more about how we collect, keep, and process your private information, please review Insight Global's Workforce Privacy Policy: https://insightglobal.com/workforce-privacy-policy/.

8-10+ years experience in project/ portfolio management
Strong background in a food R&D, product development, innovation, scientific and/ or culinary environment
Experience in a global organization, supporting different markets
Experience implementing/ optimizing project governance processes
Well versed with project management tools (Monday.Com, Jira, etc.)
Experience with Excel and other MS Office tools
Background on project tracking, reporting, and analysis

PMP

Benefit packages for this role will start on the 1st day of employment and include medical, dental, and vision insurance, as well as HSA, FSA, and DCFSA account options, and 401k retirement account access with employer matching. Employees in this role are also entitled to paid sick leave and/or other paid time off as provided by applicable law.