Project Associate Jobs in Naperville, IL (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary:

As a member of the creative werks Client Services team, the Junior Project Manager is responsible for the day-to-day project management of assigned projects and clients. Junior Project Managers work with internal and client stakeholders to elicit, validate, prioritize, and document client and internal requests or issues and assist in the development of executable solutions to resolve the business and client’s production needs.

The person in this role will own a client(s) and/or business need following the sale cycle driving development, internal/external alignment, project delivery, and close (the end-to-end supply chain). They are the main points of contact and escalation for internal creative werks teams and assists in delivering creative werks operational excellence that meets and exceeds client expectations.

This position requires an elevated level of organizational, planning skills, attention to detail and holding all stakeholders accountable. Working the ability to balance multiple tasks and projects simultaneously, while creating an environment that motivates, inspires, and respects others.

Responsibilities of the Position:

• Ensure all projects/programs are completed on time and within scope and budgeted rate and allocated run time.
• Build and monitor timelines, progress, and keep internal / cross-functional stakeholders accountable and up to date.
• Create regular, detailed status reports on projects.
• Communicate regularly with Sales on issues, challenges, and breakthroughs with projects.
• Assist in and/or track and manage the end-to-end supply chain to meet all client and creative werks needs.
• Initiate and follow through on project workflow challenges and quality assurance issues.
• Ensure that project goals and objectives are accomplished according to time, cost, and performance standards.
• Assist in and/or manage and oversee all pricing requests at assigned threshold and assist with sales when needed.
• Call and facilitate meetings as required, delegating tasks, and following up on progress.
• Continuous Improvement driven through curiosity of identifying areas of opportunities to drive measurable improvement followed by leading the process improvement initiatives. Progress should be tracked by identifying ideas and follow through until complete and delivered.
• Job costing analysis reconciliation of assigned client jobs to understand, report, and deliver improvement on the following:

o Component scrap through mass balance tool

o Demonstrated rates

o Job financials

o Quality holds

o Client attainment

o MISC transaction reconciliation

o Tolling & Material margin

o Planned cost verification for next week

o Status check of jobs in progress

o Cost review of jobs completed in prior week

o Accurate customer contract prices set up (finished good and item level)

• Monitor, track and execute ancillary billing items relating to client nonproduction invoicing. Including but not limited to the following:

o Packaging fixed costs

o OT

o Storage costs

o Line trials

o Potential freight cost

o Samples

o Disposal fees

o Rework/Additional job costs

o Amortization true ups

o Sustainability / waste streams

• Oversee, or assist with another client services team member, client seasonal needs and lead kick off meetings with both internal and external team members, manage and drive planning, scope, tasks, timeline, and communication to deliver on time and in full to desired client results. Execute season-end reviews.
• Maintain Sales ERP system inputs and update project status and forecast / budget review:

o Review monthly forecast and budget for assigned client(s).

o Work with Sales counterpart to establish pipeline and ensure forecast visibility.

o Complete monthly forecast updates and attend monthly forecast meeting.

o Establish seasonal volume locks with client and add to ERP.

o If required, add forecast demand to co-pack schedule.

• Assist in and/or manage internal processes and communication. Including seasonal and annual Locks, Seasonal Kick-Off Meeting, and documented Lock Volumes.
• ERP Item creation including:

o Item master set up

o WI Born on Date

o WI Item Creation

o Current Operations/Materials WI Current Materials,

o WI Current Operations

o Contract Pricing WI Customer Contracts

o Create MIs WI New Manufacturing Instructions

o WI MI SharePoint Upload

• QC Hold disposition: Ensure disposition within 48 hours for assigned quality holds.
• Lead quarterly internal client operations presentation (business review) including metrics on the following: attainment, revenue, consumer units, scrap, shipping, holds, average hold time, material management velocity, and year-over-year trends. Collaborate and assist Sales for client business reviews.
• Day to day management of project execution including daily production reporting if necessary and change management including process deviations.
• Monitor additional internal department KPIs.
• Inventory management

o Complete month end inventory roll-up.

o Monitor slow moving inventory.

o Track inventory and assign appropriate age identification to aged inventory for billing purposes.

o Communicate slow moving inventory with client.

o SLOB management – adherence to storage and materials policies.

o Client weekly reporting and charges.

o Inventory review of items that need to be Pending Disposition, moving from Pending Disposition to Storage Hold.

o COD communication

• Perform other duties as assigned by Management

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

• Knowledge of Project Management philosophies – PMP certification preferred.
• Knowledge of manufacturing processes including raw materials, vendor supply, production processes, machinery, quality control, etc.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills among all levels.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to effectively train, coach, and mentor managers to drive world-class service and results.
• Ability to interact effectively with all levels of senior leadership and with multiple departments.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• Get-it-done mindset: able to handle stress well, humble, and scrappy.
• Open-minded and curious listener who is able to pick up context quickly and can navigate ambiguity to get to the heart of the problem.
• Self-starter attitude who can initiate and drive large initiatives from concept to completion.

Education and Experience:

• 5+ years of relevant experience.
• Experience with an MRP system (fully integrated manufacturing system that links project status to Accounting, Production, Shipping/Receiving, etc).

Food Safety Responsibilities:

• Attend all food safety training sessions (GMP, SQF, HACCP, Allergen, Food Facility Security, Preventing Foodborne Illness)
• Participate in company GMP walks
• Enforce company rules regarding food safety and monitoring

Working Conditions:

• Office setting and warehouse environment with temperature range of 55 – 80 degrees

Physical Requirements:

• Operate standard office equipment
• Reach with hands and arms
• Lift up to 25 pounds