Senior Project Manager (Innovation)

Who We Are At Freshpet, our goal is to change the way people nourish their pets forever.  We strive to strengthen the bond between people and our pets so that we both live longer, healthier, and happier lives while being kind to the planet. We believe that if we can create fresh, real foods that pets love and help them live healthier lives, that their pet parents will also enjoy the many benefits of a rich life shared with a pet.  IT’S AMAZING WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU START COMPLETELY FRESH! What You Will Do The Sr. Project Manager will be responsible for leading high-impact, cross-functional projects that support the strategic goals of the Innovation & Marketing department. This role requires a strategic thinker with exceptional organizational, communication, and leadership skills to manage complex initiatives from concept to completion. They will support the growth of a project management culture within the organization, modeling structured, collaborative, and forward-looking ways of working. The ideal candidate is an experienced CPG (ideally food/beverage) Project Leader who thrives in an innovative, fast-paced environment and excels at aligning project outcomes with business objectives. This is a hybrid position with 3 days per week in the office in Bedminster, NJ and more when necessary. Key Responsibilities: Project Leadership, Execution, Process Ownership & Optimization Lead the end-to-end management of marketing-related projects, ensuring delivery on time, within scope and an awareness of interdependencies and resource needs. Develop detailed project plans, timelines, and resource allocations aligned with marketing and business strategies. Facilitate project meetings, including status updates, action tracking, and risk escalation, to enable effective decision-making. Identify potential risks and implement effective mitigation strategies to ensure successful outcomes. Foster collaborative relationships with cross-functional teams to ensure alignment on project priorities and execution. Monitor and report on project milestones and deliverables, keeping key stakeholders informed, acting as a key liaison between functions (Marketing, R&D, Procurement, Quality, Manufacturing, etc.) to ensure clear alignment on project deliverables, risks, and issues. Drive alignment, make the conversation meaningful, hold people accountable, drive for clarity, key takeaways and next steps. Build the project management mindset and tools that benefit the cross functional teams.  Champion and own the management of the Stage Gate Process, guiding project leads/teams through the process from Charter to Post-Launch. Provide broader exposure and training on the Stage Gate process – encouraging cross functional understanding and adherence to the process to ensure proper resource allocation and prioritization. Help define how projects are planned, executed, and managed within the organization, ensuring consistency and efficiency.  Drive operational excellence and best practices in project management. Identify process improvement opportunities and propose solutions to simplify ways of working or improve timelines.   How You Will Make an Impact Proven leadership in steering cross-functional teams, managing complex projects and delivering measurable results. Excellent stakeholder management, communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills. Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic and deadline-driven setting. Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving capabilities. Results-oriented and adaptable - Ability to drive results, proactively shifting efforts as trends and business variables change. Inquisitive with a history of seeking out best practices and successfully integrating them into the organization. Champion a problem-solving mindset, fostering agility and structured thinking in overcoming roadblocks. Challenge assumptions, a strategic thinker asking the right questions, steering answers towards the right execution Collaborative, ability to deliver cross functional cooperation throughout the organization and externally.  Invoking trust, shared accountability, and continuous improvement. Self-starter with demonstrated track record of problem solving and priority setting with a high bias for execution and activation. A hands-on, solutions-oriented approach and ability to operate with agility in a growth-focused entrepreneurial environment. A continuous improvement mindset and ability to identify process enhancements that improve project efficiency and quality.   What You Will Bring A passion for executional excellence, collaboration, and business impact. 7-10 years of project management, commercialization, innovation, or a similar role within a fast-paced CPG environment (preferably Food & Bev).   Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain Management, or a related field required. Master’s degree in Business Administration (MBA), or related discipline preferred. Project Management Professional (PMP), Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM), or other relevant certification preferred. Expertise in project management software Familiarity with Agile, Scrum, or Waterfall methodologies (certification a plus).   What We Offer The range for this position is:  XXX,XXX – XXX,XXX At Freshpet, we offer a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package, including medical, dental and vision insurance, basic and optional life insurance, short- and long-term disability protection, flexible spending accounts, and a 401(k) plan with company match, paid parental leave, pet insurance, tuition assistance, a generous PTO plan and so much more! Our Commitment to a Diverse Workforce: Freshpet is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions are made without regards to race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital or domestic/civil partnership status, genetic information, citizenship status (although applicants and employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States), uniformed service member or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law (“protected characteristics”). Disclaimers The salary range provided above is the range of the wages that we will pay for the listed position.  A final determination on the wages within this range is based on a number of non-discriminatory factors, including but not limited to the required work location, previous work experience, skill set, and wage rates for comparable positions. Freshpet is not accepting unsolicited assistance from search firms for this employment opportunity. Please, no phone calls or emails. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at Freshpet via-email, the Internet or in any form and/or method without a valid written search agreement in place for this position will be deemed the sole property of Freshpet. No fee will be paid in the event the candidate is hired by Freshpet as a result of the referral or through other means.   We are interested in every qualified candidate who is eligible to work in the United States. However, we are not able to sponsor visas.       OPTION 2 – ChatGPT Refined Senior Project Manager / Director, Innovation & Marketing Location: Bedminster, NJ (Hybrid — minimum 3 days onsite) Who We Are At Freshpet, we’re on a mission to change the way people nourish their pets forever. We believe that when pets eat fresh, real food, they thrive — and when our pets thrive, so do we. That simple idea drives everything we do. We’re here to strengthen the bond between people and their pets so both can live longer, healthier, happier lives. And we’re doing it in a way that’s kinder to the planet. IT’S AMAZING WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU START COMPLETELY FRESH. What You Will Do We’re looking for a strategic, energized, and highly organized Project Leader to guide high-impact, cross-functional initiatives across Innovation & Marketing. As our Senior Project Manager/Director, you’ll bring structure, clarity, and momentum to complex projects — from concept through launch — and play a central role in building a strong project management culture at Freshpet. You’ll thrive here if you love connecting dots, clearing roadblocks, and helping teams operate at their best in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment. Key Responsibilities Project Leadership & Execution Lead end-to-end management of marketing and innovation projects, ensuring milestones, scope, and timelines stay on track. Build detailed project plans, timelines, and resource models aligned to strategic business objectives. Facilitate effective project meetings, manage action items, communicate progress, and escalate risks appropriately. See around corners — identifying potential challenges and creating mitigation plans early.   Cross-Functional Collaboration Serve as a connector and liaison across Marketing, R&D, Procurement, Quality, Manufacturing, and more. Drive clarity, accountability, and shared understanding of priorities and deliverables. Foster strong partnerships to ensure alignment and seamless execution across teams.   Process Ownership & Optimization Champion the Stage-Gate process, ensuring teams are guided, supported, and following best-practice principles. Provide training, tools, and frameworks that build project management capability across the organization. Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, simplify processes, and enhance efficiency. Promote operational excellence by modeling structured, forward-thinking ways of working. How You Will Make an Impact You bring proven success leading complex cross-functional projects in a fast-moving CPG environment. You’re a confident communicator who can influence at all levels, create clarity from ambiguity, and keep teams aligned and energized. You excel at balancing multiple priorities, navigating change, and making smart, data-grounded decisions. You are naturally curious — always seeking better ways of working — and skilled at introducing new tools or processes in a positive, empowering way. You model a problem-solving mindset that encourages collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. You operate with agility and a hands-on approach that fits an innovative, growth-driven culture. What You Bring 7–10 years of project management, commercialization, innovation, or similar experience in fast-paced CPG (Food & Bev preferred). Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or related advanced degree preferred. PMP, CAPM, or similar project management certification a plus. Expertise with project management tools; familiarity with Agile, Scrum, or Waterfall methodologies (certification a plus). A passion for exceptional execution, cross-functional collaboration, and delivering meaningful business impact. What We Offer Salary range: $XXX,XXX – $XXX,XXX Competitive benefits, including: Medical, dental, and vision insurance Basic and optional life insurance Short- and long-term disability coverage Flexible spending accounts 401(k) with company match Paid parental leave Pet insurance Tuition assistance Generous PTO — and more! Our Commitment to a Diverse Workforce Freshpet is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We make employment decisions based on merit and business needs and do not discriminate based on any protected characteristic. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where all employees feel welcomed, valued, and supported. Additional Information Salary determinations are based on factors such as location, experience, skills, and internal equity. Freshpet does not accept unsolicited support from search firms. Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States; Freshpet is unable to sponsor visas at this time.