Nonni's Bakery
Base pay range: $135,000.00/yr - $160,000.00/yr
Additional compensation types
Annual Bonus
Head of Talent Acquisition & HR Sustainability @ Nonni’s Bakery (Ferrero Ecosystem Company) | Developing Hiring Strategies and Metrics Position: Marketing Project Management Office (PMO) Manager
Department: Marketing/Brand Management/Operations Management
Report To: Chief Marketing Officer
Location: Chicago, IL
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (3 days in office)
About Nonni's Job Overview The Project Management Office (PMO) Manager at Nonni's Bakery serves as the central orchestrator of product development and commercialization processes. This strategic role owns the Stage Gate process, manages masterdata integrity, and leads cross‑functional project teams from concept through launch. The PMO Manager ensures efficient project execution, drives time‑to‑market acceleration, and maintains process excellence across R&D, Marketing, Operations, and Sales functions. This position requires exceptional organizational capabilities, strong analytical skills, and the ability to lead without direct authority in a fast‑paced CPG environment within the Ferrero organization.
Key Responsibilities Process Development
Own and continuously optimize the Stage Gate process for new product development and existing product modifications
Coordinate cross‑functional activities to simplify workflows and accelerate time‑to‑market while maintaining quality standards
Ensure process completeness, data accuracy, and compliance throughout all development stages
Identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies; implement process improvements and best practices
Develop and maintain process documentation, guidelines, and training materials
Escalate critical issues, delays, or resource constraints to appropriate stakeholders in a timely manner
Recipe Development & Management
Monitor and track recipe development activities across multiple concurrent projects
Manage recipe variations and ensure version control and documentation accuracy
Assess downstream impacts of recipe changes on manufacturing, procurement, and quality
Resolve timing conflicts and content discrepancies in collaboration with R&D and Operations
Facilitate recipe approval workflows and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements
Oversee creation, maintenance, and accuracy of critical masterdata including product specifications, recipes, packaging details, and SKU information
Ensure reliable information flow across all project stages and business systems
Collaborate with IT, Operations, and Finance to resolve data discrepancies and maintain system integrity
Support business decision‑making through accurate and timely data availability
Drive improvements in IT infrastructure, data management systems, and applications
Establish data governance standards and quality control procedures
Program/Project Management
Lead end‑to‑end direction, coordination, implementation, execution, and control of product development projects and programs
Develop comprehensive project plans, schedules, budgets, timelines, and resource allocation strategies
Report project progress to leadership and stakeholders with clear, concise status updates
Proactively identify and flag potential problems, risks, and issues; escalation for timely resolution
Prioritize competing project activities and ensure appropriate resource allocation across the portfolio
Facilitate project team meetings, track deliverables, and maintain accountability for milestones
Implement quality assurance measures and ensure projects meet defined success criteria
Manage project scope changes and maintain alignment with business objectives
Cross‑functional Team Leadership
Lead cross‑functional project teams through complex product changes from simple line extensions to major innovations
Establish and maintain consistent ways of working within and across project teams
Provide direction, support, and coaching to project team members
Foster collaboration between R&D, Marketing, Sales, Operations, Procurement, Quality, and other functions
Build strong working relationships across all organizational levels
Drive accountability and commitment to project deliverables and timelines
Internal Teams R&D, Marketing, Sales, Manufacturing Plants, Procurement, Quality & Food Safety, Finance, People & Organization, Regulatory & Business Planning
External/Other Entities IT, cross‑functional business units within the Ferrero Group, external vendors and partners
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Food Science, or related field; MBA preferred
5‑8 years of progressive experience in project/program management roles within CPG companies
Working knowledge of full commercialization lifecycle from ideation through launch validation
Proven ability to manage up, down, and across organizational structures
Excellent project management and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail
Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize multiple complex initiatives simultaneously
Strong analytical, decision‑making, and problem‑solving skills
Ability to analyze situations quickly and develop actionable plans under pressure
Action‑oriented mindset with ability to think and react to rapidly changing circumstances
Excellent verbal, written communication, and presentation skills
Strong leadership abilities with proven success leading and motivating cross‑functional teams
Expert proficiency in Microsoft Project and Microsoft Excel
Experience with project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, Stage Gate)
Preferred Qualifications
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
Food manufacturing or baked goods industry experience
Knowledge of Ferrero culture, processes, and organizational structure
Familiarity with SAP, PLM systems, or similar enterprise software
Experience with process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma)
Background in data governance and master data management
Understanding of food safety, quality systems, and regulatory compliance
Working Conditions
Full‑time position based in Chicago, IL - Hybrid arrangement (3 days per week onsite)
Occasional travel to manufacturing facilities and Ferrero offices may be required (15%)
An Equal Opportunity Employer We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants are given equal consideration.
Seniority level
Mid‑Senior level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Project Management, Marketing, and Research
Industries
Food and Beverage Manufacturing
Benefits
Medical insurance
Vision insurance
401(k)
Disability insurance
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Additional compensation types
Annual Bonus
Head of Talent Acquisition & HR Sustainability @ Nonni’s Bakery (Ferrero Ecosystem Company) | Developing Hiring Strategies and Metrics Position: Marketing Project Management Office (PMO) Manager
Department: Marketing/Brand Management/Operations Management
Report To: Chief Marketing Officer
Location: Chicago, IL
Work Arrangement: Hybrid (3 days in office)
About Nonni's Job Overview The Project Management Office (PMO) Manager at Nonni's Bakery serves as the central orchestrator of product development and commercialization processes. This strategic role owns the Stage Gate process, manages masterdata integrity, and leads cross‑functional project teams from concept through launch. The PMO Manager ensures efficient project execution, drives time‑to‑market acceleration, and maintains process excellence across R&D, Marketing, Operations, and Sales functions. This position requires exceptional organizational capabilities, strong analytical skills, and the ability to lead without direct authority in a fast‑paced CPG environment within the Ferrero organization.
Key Responsibilities Process Development
Own and continuously optimize the Stage Gate process for new product development and existing product modifications
Coordinate cross‑functional activities to simplify workflows and accelerate time‑to‑market while maintaining quality standards
Ensure process completeness, data accuracy, and compliance throughout all development stages
Identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies; implement process improvements and best practices
Develop and maintain process documentation, guidelines, and training materials
Escalate critical issues, delays, or resource constraints to appropriate stakeholders in a timely manner
Recipe Development & Management
Monitor and track recipe development activities across multiple concurrent projects
Manage recipe variations and ensure version control and documentation accuracy
Assess downstream impacts of recipe changes on manufacturing, procurement, and quality
Resolve timing conflicts and content discrepancies in collaboration with R&D and Operations
Facilitate recipe approval workflows and maintain compliance with regulatory requirements
Oversee creation, maintenance, and accuracy of critical masterdata including product specifications, recipes, packaging details, and SKU information
Ensure reliable information flow across all project stages and business systems
Collaborate with IT, Operations, and Finance to resolve data discrepancies and maintain system integrity
Support business decision‑making through accurate and timely data availability
Drive improvements in IT infrastructure, data management systems, and applications
Establish data governance standards and quality control procedures
Program/Project Management
Lead end‑to‑end direction, coordination, implementation, execution, and control of product development projects and programs
Develop comprehensive project plans, schedules, budgets, timelines, and resource allocation strategies
Report project progress to leadership and stakeholders with clear, concise status updates
Proactively identify and flag potential problems, risks, and issues; escalation for timely resolution
Prioritize competing project activities and ensure appropriate resource allocation across the portfolio
Facilitate project team meetings, track deliverables, and maintain accountability for milestones
Implement quality assurance measures and ensure projects meet defined success criteria
Manage project scope changes and maintain alignment with business objectives
Cross‑functional Team Leadership
Lead cross‑functional project teams through complex product changes from simple line extensions to major innovations
Establish and maintain consistent ways of working within and across project teams
Provide direction, support, and coaching to project team members
Foster collaboration between R&D, Marketing, Sales, Operations, Procurement, Quality, and other functions
Build strong working relationships across all organizational levels
Drive accountability and commitment to project deliverables and timelines
Internal Teams R&D, Marketing, Sales, Manufacturing Plants, Procurement, Quality & Food Safety, Finance, People & Organization, Regulatory & Business Planning
External/Other Entities IT, cross‑functional business units within the Ferrero Group, external vendors and partners
Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Food Science, or related field; MBA preferred
5‑8 years of progressive experience in project/program management roles within CPG companies
Working knowledge of full commercialization lifecycle from ideation through launch validation
Proven ability to manage up, down, and across organizational structures
Excellent project management and organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail
Demonstrated ability to manage and prioritize multiple complex initiatives simultaneously
Strong analytical, decision‑making, and problem‑solving skills
Ability to analyze situations quickly and develop actionable plans under pressure
Action‑oriented mindset with ability to think and react to rapidly changing circumstances
Excellent verbal, written communication, and presentation skills
Strong leadership abilities with proven success leading and motivating cross‑functional teams
Expert proficiency in Microsoft Project and Microsoft Excel
Experience with project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall, Stage Gate)
Preferred Qualifications
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification
Food manufacturing or baked goods industry experience
Knowledge of Ferrero culture, processes, and organizational structure
Familiarity with SAP, PLM systems, or similar enterprise software
Experience with process improvement methodologies (Lean, Six Sigma)
Background in data governance and master data management
Understanding of food safety, quality systems, and regulatory compliance
Working Conditions
Full‑time position based in Chicago, IL - Hybrid arrangement (3 days per week onsite)
Occasional travel to manufacturing facilities and Ferrero offices may be required (15%)
An Equal Opportunity Employer We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, disability, genetic information, or any other status protected by law or regulation. It is our intention that all qualified applicants are given equal consideration.
Seniority level
Mid‑Senior level
Employment type
Full‑time
Job function
Project Management, Marketing, and Research
Industries
Food and Beverage Manufacturing
Benefits
Medical insurance
Vision insurance
401(k)
Disability insurance
#J-18808-Ljbffr