Innovation Project Manager

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Walker & Company Brands, the maker of Bevel, is a fast-growing consumer packaged goods (CPG) company that exists to make health and beauty simple for people of color. We do this by designing, developing, and testing products and services specifically tailored to our community’s needs and delivering on the promise of great customer service and an easy, practical shopping experience.  

POSITION SUMMARY

As the Project Manager for Product Commercialization and Product Launch, you will play a crucial role in leading multi-functional initiative teams to create, qualify, and launch products while achieving commercial, technical, and market readiness deliverables. You will collaborate with our brand, product, operations, engineering, and customer success teams to manage schedules and ensure task completion. This role is based in Atlanta and directly reports to the VP of Innovation and Sales.

PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS

The ideal candidate for this position will be a motivated and ambitious individual with a strong intellectual curiosity and a proven desire for learning. They should be self-motivated and capable of thriving in a fast-growing, results-oriented environment. Additionally, they must be comfortable handling multiple tasks simultaneously.

• Leadership and Coordination:
• Lead and manage multifunctional initiative teams to drive product commercialization and go-to-market launch.
• Own and manage business and progress measures as a business growth leader.
• Coordinate with brand, product, operations, engineering, and customer teams to ensure alignment and timely task execution.

• Project Management:
• Develop detailed roadmaps for product and brand launches in coordination with Product Development, Marketing, Design, Engineering, and Product Supply teams.
• Key contributors ensure the execution of milestones across different groups.
• Leading project management for all marketing-related initiatives.
• Create, track, and communicate cross-functional dependencies and project timelines.
• Present key decision-makers with trade-offs between alternate paths based on timelines and technical impacts.
• Own all project decision records related to new products and launches. Ensure timelines are met from product release to manufacturing (RTM) through fulfillment.

• Cross-functional Collaboration:
• Coordinate with manufacturing on engineering changes and product improvement initiatives.
• Project management of the overall creative process in support of the marketing and creative team, including creative production planning, hosting biweekly cross-functional creative calls, overseeing briefs, etc.
• Lead weekly cross-functional project status meetings and quarterly leadership meetings

• 2-4 years of project management experience in product development or new product introduction (NPI).
• Experience with project management and coordinating cross-functional teams.
• A keen understanding of the product life cycle from ideation to development to manufacturing to end-of-life.
• Must have an understanding of general manufacturing and quality processes.
• Skilled with project management and productivity apps and systems.
• Strong analytical skills are required.
• Comfortable and experienced in a fast-paced start-up environment with the ability to prioritize work across multiple products and brands.

• Strong leadership and team coordination skills.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously and meet deadlines.
• High attention to detail and strong organizational skills.
• Proactive problem-solving abilities.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or Operations Management required
• Master's degree with a specialization in Supply Chain Management is strongly preferred
• Supply Chain Management Certification (ASCM, CSCMP, ISM) is strongly preferred
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite, with skills in Excel spreadsheets & Pivot Tables
• Working knowledge of inventory management software
• Top Level understanding of all aspects of the Supply Chain Network