Product Change Management Specialist

The PCM Specialist leads and coordinates product change projects for coffee and tea categories in South Africa, ie: Adaptation projects (simple and complex roll-outs), Innovation projects (complex New Product Development inlcuding CAPEX), Redesign, Packaging Change, Promo, Manufacturing projects (new lines installations for production capacity increase), productivity and cost/processes optimization projects, Quality improvement, Limited Edition and others initiated by the Marketing & Sales Unit (MSU) and Manufacturing Unit (MU).

The role is based in the Supply Chain department and co-operates with all the functions as well as with all the local, regional and global scale, R&D, Marketing, Operations, Supply Chain, Sales, Finance, Legal and Quality.

Key accountabilities: 

• Manage all aspects of a large scale and complex Coffee and Tea project (Commercial or Plant Initiated), from start to finish, so that it is completed on time and within budget following I4G (Innovate 4 Growth) /A4E (Adapt 4 Excellence) approach.
• Be a primary contact for both local & global functions for smooth operation at both project pre-alignment,  submission for approval & execution phase, address the business needs & concerns effectively
• Build cooperative, efficient relationships with the project team members, key regional and global stakeholders & keep them informed & engaged all the time to achieve South Africa business agenda
• Maintain timely pre-alignments of the project with key global functions, submissions to LIAM (Local Innovation Approval Meeting) & I4G (Innovate 4 Growth) /A4E (Adapt 4 Excellence) by supporting & linking to all related functions on-time & make submissions fully ready to LIAM&A4E meetings
• Perform process evaluation and closure for all projects post launch
• Lead development and implementation of a broad, coordinated set of projects to meet the revenue, volume, growth, productivity and quality goals and priorities within coffee and tea category; ensure that Supply chain perspective is represented in all phases of project execution.
• Lead and coordinate Coffee and Tea Marketing & Selling Unit (MSU) and Manufacturing Unit (MU) projects within all related functions connected with product/packaging change, enabling its successful launch and ensure, that operational perspective is fully met.  
• Lead project management JDE process implementation within Coffee and Tea category, via building the knowledge, culture and engagement of the team.
• Contribute to projects’ approval meetings for region in case required and prepare reports to communicate the status of the project within and beyond the project team (monthly Project Review Meeting sessions).
• Manage correct distribution and input for projects’ gate documents to pass relevant validation gates.
• Resolve operational problems, minimize delays. Identify, develop, and gather necessary resources to complete the project. Produce, communicate and agree project timelines with respective projects teams, including regular status updates via establishing and leading cross functional Meetings.
• Set up effective relationships with peers and the upper management in local Marketing & Selling Unit (MSU), Manufacturing Unit (MU), region, Global; be the point of contact for coffee and tea projects.
• Ensure that risk assessment and contingency planning (for relevant projects) takes place, is communicated and agreed upon by all stakeholders. Ensure that the contingency plan is acted upon if necessary, to keep the project on track, or recommend accelerating or stoping the project if the business need exists.
• Lead the post-evaluation processes, enable best practice sharing by ensuring all projects are properly closed out and key learnings are documented and communicated to all relevant stakeholders and systems.
• Ensure correct and on-time Regulatory / Copy decks workstream execution, Design2Print process management, masterdata process management and Co-Packing process management.
• Ensure, that project scopes and timing take into consideration minimizing waste (raw, pack write-offs) and unwanted complexity (utilizing existing asset platforms, SKU proliferation) to the business system. Propose and implement plans and contingencies to reduce packaging write offs.
• Manage SKU Master Data function within respective projects to ensure in time SAP product set up to enable further operational actions for volumes and materials management.
• Follow requirements of normative acts related to accident prevention and environmental care, labour and fire safety
• General
  • Ensures the compliance of all operations with Environment & Health and Safety Legislations, Company EHS Policy.
  • Acts in accordance with Company policies & procedures, including but not limited to the Code of Conduct.