Assistant Project Management Office Manager at Tiger Brands

Job Description
THE JOB AT A GLANCE

• A crucial team member of the Tiger Innovation Process (TIP), you are responsible for coordinating and facilitating R&D lead projects from conception through to launch, ensuring that the TIP is adhered to by all stakeholders. Effective management of project timelines and communication to the project team is crucial including creation of the relevant reports, status updates, completion and approval of appropriate Gate documentation.

Responsibilities
WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Support the Project Lead by coordinating, chairing, and facilitating all project level meetings (brainstorming sessions, scoping sessions, status updates, and other project meetings). Send out meeting requests, Coordinate and schedule project meetings, including preparing agendas and meeting minutes, distribute pre-readings etc.
• Develop and distribute critical path schedule – Determine tasks, timelines, milestones and interdependencies between different work streams ensuring resource is optimally allocated
• Management by exception, you will be responsible for following due governance process to ensure that the project runs on time, escalating challenges to the appropriate decision makers including NPD Managers, Category Leads, Supply Chain, Marketing, etc.
• Manage changes to project scope and schedule by adjusting critical path schedule (CPS) and work breakdown structure to bring the project back on track. 
• Revise the selected course of action and provide regular updates to project team members on upcoming tasks, deadlines, dependencies, and reports to be performed in order to ensure that the project runs on track
• Management of TIP templates and project specific documentation. Ensuring that the relevant documentation is correctly completed and centrally filed for each phase of the project.
• Complete all necessary reports for the project and documentation (e.g. documentation dashboard, project registers, status reports, etc.) within category
• Ensure that Project management disciplines are in place and are regularly updated (e.g. project prioritisation, RAID log, Change log, etc.)

WHAT YOU WILL BE MEASURED ON

• Timeliness of reports
• On time delivery of projects
• Management of CPS

Qualifications
WHAT YOU’LL BRING TO THE TABLE

Key attributes and competencies

• Project Management 
• Understanding of project management processes and the ability to apply it
• Identify opportunities to improve project management processes and efficiency.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of best practices for R&D project management.

Organizational skills – good strategic planning, organising and development skills

• R&D Collaboration - Work closely with R&D scientists, food technologists, and other team members to ensure project objectives are met. Assist in the coordination of product testing, sensory evaluations, and pilot plant trials.
• Cross Functional Discipline collaboration – understanding of different disciplines responsibilities and ability to network, liaise, advise and negotiate with others. Liaise with other departments, such as production, quality assurance, and marketing, to ensure project alignment and communication. Facilitate effective communication between project stakeholders. Ensure all relevant parties are informed of project progress and changes.
• Facilitation – Ability to arbitrate conflicts, and leverage team capability
• Problem Solving – Ability to find solutions to problems and guide the team in meeting the end objectives are met.
• Teamwork– ability to work well with other disciplines internally and externally 

REQUIRED SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in project management, preferably in the food manufacturing industry
• Excellent organizational, time management, and problem-solving skills
• Proficiency in MS Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word), including project management principles, software and tools (e.g. Microsoft Project)
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Ability to work effectively in a team environment
• Basic knowledge of food safety and quality regulations 
• Ability to analyze data and generate reports / present findings
• Project Management Professional certification or equivalent
• Experience with sensory evaluation and consumer testing
• Must be hands on an be able to apply technical mindset to problem solving
• Passion for working in a fast-paced environment
• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Chemistry, or a related field advantageous