Project Manager - New Product Development

As a Project Manager in New Product Development at Ursa Major, you'll manage briefs for product launches, coordinate timelines involving multiple teams, and ensure cross-functional collaboration. Your role is pivotal in overseeing reformulations, tech transfers, and packaging updates, all while maintaining a proactive approach to manage risks and update the executive team on project statuses.

Ursa Major seeks candidates with 5-7 years of project management experience, particularly in the cosmetic or personal care industries. Proficiency in Wrike is essential, and experience with Airtable is a plus. A strong ability to work independently and creatively solve problems in a cross-functional, collaborative environment is highly valued.

Key soft skills for this role include excellent communication to facilitate teamwork, adaptability to navigate dynamic challenges, and a collaborative spirit to work across various departments. A proactive mindset and creative approach to problem-solving are crucial for success in this position.

Yes, the Project Manager - New Product Development position at Ursa Major is remote! This allows you the flexibility to work from wherever you feel most productive while still engaging in our vibrant corporate culture.

At Ursa Major, the culture is a blend of a small-company feel with ambitious growth objectives. You’ll enjoy supportive team dynamics, monthly team outings, and strong emphasis on sustainability, as we are a certified B Corp. We foster a collaborative environment that encourages innovation in product development.

Ursa Major provides a competitive compensation package that includes equity options, a comprehensive health benefits plan, a 401k, generous vacation time, and paid parental leave. Plus, you'll have access to monthly team lunches, a well-stocked kitchen in our office, and opportunities to engage in community service.

As a Project Manager - New Product Development at Ursa Major, you can champion sustainable practices in product innovation, from sourcing materials to final packaging decisions. Your role will include identifying opportunities for eco-friendly changes and promoting practices that align with our commitment to sustainability as a certified B Corp.

In your answer, focus on specific projects you’ve managed, outlining your role in each stage, from planning through launch. Highlight your contributions, especially in coordination with cross-functional teams and how you dealt with challenges that arose during the processes.

Discuss your approach to prioritization, such as using project management tools or establishing clear deadlines. Mention any frameworks you use, like Agile or the Stage-Gate process, to ensure effective prioritization and workflow management.

Choose a specific instance where you encountered significant challenges. Share the problem, your thought process in developing a solution, how you communicated with stakeholders, and what the final outcome was to demonstrate your problem-solving skills.

Emphasize the strategies you use to foster communication, such as regular status meetings, using collaboration tools like Wrike, and setting up feedback loops. Discuss how these strategies help mitigate misunderstandings and align the teams' objectives.

Highlight key performance indicators relevant to project success, such as time-to-market, budget adherence, quality of product deliverables, and stakeholder satisfaction. Explain how you track these metrics and what adjustments you make throughout the project lifecycle.

Discuss your conflict resolution approach, emphasizing listening to all parties, facilitating open discussions, and focusing on collaborative solutions. Provide an example where your mediation led to a positive outcome in a previous project.

Detail your proficiency with Wrike or similar tools, describing how you use them to manage timelines, enhance communication, and document progress. Illustrate this with examples of how software has helped you keep projects organized and on track.

Express your commitment to sustainability with specific examples of how you have integrated sustainable practices into your projects. Discuss the importance of eco-friendly materials, responsible sourcing, and fostering innovative solutions that positively impact the environment.

Share a specific example where you identified inefficiencies and successfully implemented a solution that improved workflow, reduced time, or enhanced team collaboration. Highlight the outcome and any measurable benefits you achieved.

Discuss your strategy for engaging stakeholders, including regular updates, soliciting feedback, and managing expectations. Share an example where you successfully navigated stakeholder relationships to achieve project goals.