BrightPet · 3 hours ago
Project Manager/ Stage Gate Leader
United States
Full-time
Remote
Mid, Senior Level
5+ years expBrightPet is seeking a Project Manager/Stage Gate Leader to drive disciplined execution across customer initiatives including new product launches and onboarding of new customers. This role will lead the development and governance of BrightPet’s stage gate process, ensuring projects progress with financial visibility and adherence to timelines.
Food and Beverage
Hiring Manager
Sheryl Bailey, SHRM-CP
Responsibilities
Lead the ongoing development, implementation, and governance of a formal stage gate process to manage customer projects from ideation through commercialization
Ensure consistent application of PMO standards, tools, and best practices across all customer initiatives
Drive process rigor, discipline, and documentation to improve predictability, decision quality, and execution outcomes
Continuously assess and improve project management processes to enhance speed, transparency, and accountability
Develop and maintain detailed project plans, including task sequencing, durations, dependencies, resource requirements, and critical path milestones
Own project timelines and proactively manage adjustments to ensure commitments are met
Track, manage, and mitigate project risks, escalating issues as needed to maintain momentum
Ensure clear ownership and accountability for deliverables across cross-functional teams
Manage projects supporting incremental volume growth with existing customers, including line extensions, renovations, and capacity expansions
Lead cross-functional onboarding of new customers, ensuring seamless coordination from contract approval through first production and commercialization
Serve as the primary point of coordination for customer-related projects, ensuring alignment between internal teams and customer expectations
Maintain and standardize customer project information to enable efficient execution across multiple facilities
Partner closely with Sales, Finance, Operations, R&D, Quality, and Supply Chain to align priorities and remove execution barriers
Facilitate effective cross-functional project meetings that drive decisions, accountability, and progress
Influence without authority to resolve conflicts, align stakeholders, and drive timely outcomes
Train and coach cross-functional team members on PMO tools, processes, and expectations
Incorporate financial considerations into project planning, including margin, cost, capital requirements, and capacity implications
Partner with Finance to ensure project financials are understood, tracked, and reflected in decision making
Support executive decision-making by preparing clear, data-driven project summaries, including risks, trade-offs, and financial impacts
Ensure projects align with overall business strategy, profitability targets, and capacity constraints
Lead project execution and reporting within the company’s project and portfolio management platform (Monday.com)
Ensure accurate, timely updates to project data to support portfolio visibility and prioritization
Attend and support customer project meetings, trials, and key milestones as required
Become a subject matter expert in BrightPet capabilities, processes, and facility operations
Perform other duties as assigned
Qualification
Required
Bachelor's degree in project management, business, operations, finance, or a related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience
5+ years of project management experience in a cross-functional environment, preferably within manufacturing or consumer packaged goods
Demonstrated experience building, managing, or operating within a formal PMO or stage gate framework
Strong organizational skills with a proven ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously
High level of financial acumen, with experience incorporating cost, margin, and profitability considerations into project decisions
Experience supporting customer growth initiatives, new customer onboarding, or commercialization activities
Proficiency with project management tools and platforms (e.g., Monday.com, MS Project, Smartsheet, SharePoint)
Advanced Excel skills, including analysis and reporting from large or complex data sets
Strong influencing and stakeholder management skills
Ability to drive alignment and execution across diverse functional teams
Results-oriented with a high level of process discipline and attention to detail
Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with ambiguity
Excellent communication, presentation, and problem-solving skills
Continuous improvement mindset with a passion for building scalable processes
Preferred
PMP® or other project management certification preferred
Company
BrightPet
We are a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium and super-premium pet food, treats, and care products.
201-500 employees
Funding
Current Stage
Growth StageTotal Funding
unknown2016-05-05Series Unknown
Leadership Team
David Kowal
Chief Executive Officer
Recent News
2025-05-19
2023-12-26
2023-12-26
Company data provided by crunchbase