R&D Project Manager

RUPRECHT CO•Mundelein, IL

About The Position

The R&D Project Manager sits within a newly formed commercialization and innovation group and will serve as the backbone of our product launch and renovation efforts. The R&D Project Manager will lead complex, cross-functional initiatives, partner closely with commercial, operations, procurement, and external suppliers, and ensure projects move efficiently from concept through first production. This is a highly visible role offering the opportunity to make a meaningful and measurable impact on the business.

Requirements

Minimum of 5 years of project management experience, preferably in a CPG or food manufacturing environment.
Strong experience working within a Stage-Gate or similar structured innovation process.
Excellent communication, influencing, prioritization, problem-solving, and project management skills.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Marketing, Business Administration, or a related field. Master’s degree in Food Science or MBA preferred.
3–5 years of experience in food product development.
CPG experience strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the end-to-end commercialization of innovation, customization, renovation, and optimization projects.
Own and manage detailed project plans, timelines, milestones, and deliverables, ensuring clear accountability across project owners and contributors.
Anticipate risks, develop mitigation and contingency plans, track KPIs, and ensure projects are delivered on time and within scope.
Simultaneously manage multiple complex projects while maintaining strong prioritization and execution discipline.
Lead and facilitate cross-functional project meetings to drive alignment, resolve issues, and accelerate decision-making.
Develop a deep understanding of Kilcoy’s innovation pipeline, operational capabilities, and commercial priorities to act as a true thought partner—not just a timeline manager.
Clearly communicate project status, risks, and trade-offs to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
Translate technical results into clear, actionable recommendations to support business decisions.
Lead packaging development initiatives, heavily leveraging supplier expertise and recommendations.
Manage packaging suppliers in close partnership with Procurement.
Validate all new packaging solutions against Kilcoy’s manufacturing and operational capabilities.
Manage and execute packaging workflows, requests, and inquiries within the broader commercialization process
Drive packaging cost-savings initiatives aligned with company strategy, financial targets, and KPIs.
Own the successful execution of pilot trials, scale-ups, post-scale-up activities, and first production runs for new product launches.
Ensure readiness across R&D, Operations, Quality, and Supply Chain for seamless market introduction.