Project Lead

Trade Customization Project Lead (18 month contract)

Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Hybrid)

Industry: Personal Care Product Manufacturing

Work Setting: Hybrid

Are you passionate about leading innovation, managing complex projects, and driving supply chain excellence through creative solutions and cross-functional collaboration? Join a dynamic environment where you'll oversee specialized product customization initiatives, optimize business processes, and partner with internal teams and external suppliers to deliver impactful solutions that support business growth, operational performance, and customer success.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead innovation initiatives and manage new projects from concept development through implementation and governance.
• Take ownership of key business performance metrics, including service levels, inventory management, operational efficiency, and project profitability.
• Research market trends, industry best practices, and emerging solutions to identify opportunities for innovation and continuous improvement.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure product designs and project deliverables align with business objectives, quality standards, and customer requirements.
• Partner with commercial, marketing, and category teams to support promotional initiatives and develop effective execution strategies.
• Identify process improvement opportunities and implement scalable solutions that enhance operational effectiveness and business outcomes.
• Monitor supplier performance through regular business reviews, capacity planning discussions, performance assessments, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Support supplier evaluation and selection activities, including participation in sourcing and procurement processes when required.
• Represent project initiatives in governance and decision-making forums, providing updates, recommendations, and business cases for approval.
• Manage project budgets and financial performance, ensuring cost estimates, forecasts, and expenditures align with business expectations.
• Facilitate successful project transitions from development to operational execution while ensuring stakeholder alignment.
• Drive cost optimization, sustainability improvements, and value-creation opportunities through collaboration with strategic partners.
• Work closely with quality and compliance teams to proactively identify and mitigate potential risks.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations, Engineering, Project Management, or a related field.
• 5–7 years of experience in project management, supply chain operations, product development, commercial operations, or a related function.
• Strong experience leading cross-functional initiatives from planning through execution.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Understanding of retail, customer, product, and promotional environments, with the ability to translate business needs into actionable solutions.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities effectively in a fast-paced and evolving environment.
• Strong communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence decision-making at all organizational levels.
• Demonstrated success balancing both strategic planning and hands-on execution.
• Excellent negotiation, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.
• Strong interpersonal skills with experience managing relationships across internal teams and external business partners.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with ERP systems, supply chain technologies, or similar business applications.
• Previous leadership or people-management experience.
• Knowledge of procurement, supplier management, packaging, manufacturing, or operational improvement processes.
• Experience supporting sustainability, cost-reduction, or continuous improvement programs.
• Multilingual communication skills are considered an advantage.