Project Manager, Product Development

Fungi Perfecti, LLC is a family-owned business dedicated to promoting the cultivation of high-quality gourmet and medicinal mushrooms. In business since 1980, we have been instrumental in developing new technologies and markets for gourmet mushrooms throughout the world.

The Project Manager, Product Development works cross-functionally with Sales, Marketing, R&D, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, and Manufacturing, to bring best in class mushroom-based supplement products from concept through launch, and with existing product organization. This role ensures projects are delivered on time, on budget, and meet the quality and brand standards of Host Defense.

This position will guide the product development process by collaborating with team members to align the roadmap for driving new product ideas, line extensions, market trends, competitive landscape, and consumer insights.  They will own individual projects and maintain project plans through scope, deliverables, schedule, resource requirements, as well as drive decisions based on the regulatory, quality, and food safety frameworks that govern dietary supplement development.

This is a full-time, exempt position with business hours Monday-Friday, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm; work outside of these days and hours occur occasionally to meet the needs of the business. 

This position is located onsite in Olympia, WA and reports directly to the Director of Product Development. Responsibilities herein represent typical elements and criteria considered necessary to perform the job successfully. Other duties may be assigned to meet emerging business needs.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:
Cross-Functional Coordination

• Assists cross-functional project teams: R&D/formulation, regulatory/compliance, packaging/graphics, supply chain/procurement, manufacturing/contract-manufacturing, marketing/brand, sales/channel.
• Provides status updates, risk identification/mitigation, and issue escalation.
• Ensures alignment across departments on timelines, deliverables, dependencies and hand-off points (e.g., from development to commercialization).
• Monitors project progress against schedules.  Updates and communicates status, variances, and corrective action plans.
• Manages change control: scope changes, cost impacts, schedule impacts, documentation of decisions.
• Ensures regulatory/compliance requirements are integrated: ingredient approvals, labeling, claims substantiation, certifications (organic/vegan/non-GMO, etc.) as relevant for Host Defense.
• Tracks and assists with deliverables for packaging development: design, prototyping, compliance/artwork approvals, supplier coordination.
• Tracks and assists in the transition from development to manufacturing to ensure protocols, specifications, quality documentation, and validation or pilot runs as needed.
• Collaborates with Marketing/Sales to coordinate product launch plans: timing, inventory readiness, packaging/materials, marketing collateral, training for sales/retail.

Risk & Quality Assurance

• Proactively identifies project risks (technical, regulatory, supply chain, manufacturing, market) and develops mitigation plans.
• Ensures quality and compliance checkpoints at key milestones (e.g., pilot runs, first article, packaging proofs, regulatory sign-off).
• Maintains documentation of project decisions, approvals, and audits.

Stakeholder Communication

• Serves as the conduit to project stakeholders: leadership, functional leads, external partners.
• Maintains project dashboards, status reports, milestone summaries, and executive-level updates.
• Provides information to help decision makers understand deliverables and outcomes needed.

KEY REQUIREMENTS & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree required (Science, Business, Engineering, or related); advanced degree preferred.
• 5+ years of project or product development management experience in the wellness/nutraceutical/food supplement industry or similar regulated CPG environment.
• Demonstrated success managing cross-functional development projects from concept to launch.
• Strong understanding of regulatory & compliance environment for dietary supplements (labeling, claims, quality standards).
• Excellent organizational, time-management and project-tracking skills; comfortable managing multiple concurrent projects and shifting priorities.
• Strong communication skills (written and verbal), ability to influence and collaborate with diverse teams.
• Experience with project management tools (e.g. MS Planner Premium or Project, Smartsheet) and comfortable with data-driven decision making.

PREFERRED REQUIREMENTS:

• Experience specifically with mushroom-based products, mycology or functional foods/ingredients.
• Experience managing relationships with contract manufacturers, packaging suppliers, and/or external R&D labs.
• Experience with food science and food safety in the shelf stable food/supplement environment.
• Experience in DTC/e-commerce plus retail channel launches.
• Experience with sustainability initiatives or packaging innovation.

Salary Range (DOE): $97,688 – $162,813

For information about our benefits, please go to: https://fungi.com/pages/fungi-perfecti-llc-summary-of-benefits

The Company’s pay range for this job is published in compliance with the State of Washington ‘s Equal Pay Opportunities Act and is not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Additional factors considered in extending an offer include (but are not limited to) responsibilities of the job, education, experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity, alignment with labor market data, or other applicable law.

Fungi Perfecti, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, national origin, disability, or veteran status.