Strategic Project Manager

Strategic Project Manager – Drive Innovation Across Local & International Markets

• Lead exciting transformational growth projects

• High-impact role working with C-Suite & global stakeholders

• Must have FMCG Industry Experience

At Real Pet Food, we're driven by passion, innovation, and a shared love of pets. Our award-winning brands include Ivory Coat, Billy and Margot, Fussy Cat, Natures Gift and VIP. They are trusted and loved by millions, and we're on a mission to lead the way and change the game in pet nutrition.

About the Role

This newly created, high-impact role will lead complex, cross-functional growth initiatives – from New Product Development (NPD) to Brand Renovation across multiple sites and international markets.

You'll be at the centre of innovation, working closely with Marketing, R&D, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and other key teams to deliver projects on time, on budget, and to specification.

In addition to driving complex NPD projects, this position will play a pivotal role in the ZEN Project — a high-visibility initiative requiring close collaboration with C-Suite, Executive, and international stakeholders. This is a rare opportunity to truly make your mark within a fast-paced, growth-oriented FMCG business.

Reporting to an innovative and highly experience Head of Brand Operations you'll join a collaborative, agile team that thrives on delivering results and winning together.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver end-to-end strategic projects across domestic and international markets using Stage Gate methodology. You are known for being Hands-On and have no qualms rolling your sleeves up.
• Facilitate project scoping, resource planning, risk assessment, and contingency management across all key stakeholders including Operations, Marketing, Sales and Production. You are known for being tenacious and being able to keep a project on track
• Champion continuous improvement in project delivery, process design, and stakeholder engagement
• Act as the commercial representative for major operations or cost-saving initiatives
• Communicate progress, milestones, and outcomes to senior leaders and global teams
• Ensure all projects are delivered OTIF, within scope and budget, with learnings captured for future improvement

About You

You're a proactive and influential Project Manager with a passion for bringing ideas to life and managing the end-to-end Project Management process. You thrive on collaboration, innovation, and execution excellence, and you know how to manage multiple complex projects across cross-functional teams.

What You'll Bring

• 8–10 years' experience managing NPD or Innovation projects, ideally within FMCG, manufacturing, or consumer goods
• Proven expertise with Stage Gate methodology and NPD process leadership
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills, from factory floor to C-Suite
• Strong commercial acumen and problem-solving skills
• Advanced knowledge of MS Project, Excel, and PowerPoint
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant discipline (Business, Engineering, or related field) ideally
• This is not a role where you will manage direct reports - you will be hands on in organising meetings, championing deliverables and being the subject matter expert. Whilst being able to delegate is a part of this role, you are known for being a 'do-er' who not only manages the Project Management process from end-to-end but who actively executes the deliverables. 

Why You'll Love Working Here

This is your chance to step into a strategic, high-impact role where your work directly drives business growth and innovation. You'll join a collaborative, forward-thinking environment where ideas are encouraged, and career progression is supported.

If you're ready to take on a role where innovation meets execution, we'd love to hear from you.

A little bit more about us

Welcome to RPF, where we believe in keeping it Real.

Since 1994, we have been Australia and New Zealand's pioneers in fresher dog and cat nutrition. Our story is one of passion for a better way to care for pets, a belief in fresher nutrition, and an unwavering commitment to delivering this to pet parents and pets worldwide.

We're dedicated to fostering authentic partnerships, encouraging real ambition, and providing real career opportunities for our employees to make a difference.

Real means fresher ingredients and fresher methods. We'll never stop expanding, innovating, and trying new things. We compete in every pet category and channel, creating favourite brands such as Ivory Coat, Nature's Gift, V.I.P. Petfoods, and Love 'Em & Fussy Cat

Since the establishment of RPF, we have grown to over 900 people across Australia and New Zealand, China, Southeast Asia and Europe.

With the pet industry growing rapidly (a $15 billion industry) and pets becoming increasingly important in our lives and homes, this is a unique opportunity to be a part of our remarkable growth story and advance your career.

Why join us?

Do work that matters. We're pioneering in a new area of pet food, always striving for fresher. We're restless, creating a better life for our pets.

Make an impact and change the game. You won't be another 'cog in the wheel' here. We give full trust and autonomy for you to do your best work – and to make a real difference. Do you have a great idea for a new product or system improvement? We're all ears

Growing and global. We're growing fast We now have global presence across APAC, and Europe regions and we're only getting started

Work with a pack of awesome, genuine people who are passionate about what they do.

Grow your career with us. We're big believers in lifelong learning. You'll be given access to LinkedIn Learning, plus opportunities for internal mobility and leadership training to fast-track your career.

Pets our part of our family: bring your pet to our Crows Nest office, access our Pawrental leave when you adopt a new cat or dog, pet carer and compassionate leave.

Generous perks including day off for your anniversary, product discounts, volunteering days to help the community, novated leases, a rewards program and parental leave.

What's next?

If you're ready to unleash your potential and make a real difference in the booming pet industry, then we want to hear from you Next steps will include:

• An initial telephone interview followed by 2 face to face interviews and site visit
• 2 work references
• Background Checks including work related references, police checks and credit checks
• Psychometric Assessment

We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. Diversity's not a buzzword here, it's in our DNA. Diverse perspectives shape our culture and make our work better. That's why we're committed to building inclusive teams that represent a variety of backgrounds and skills. If you need any reasonable adjustments, accessibility assistance or would like to note which pronouns you use at any stage of our hiring process, just contact us at accommodations: people&. We look forward to hearing from you.

Please note: NO agencies will be considered during this process. We encourage you to refrain from submitting unsolicited profiles