Nestlé Purina Petcare

Project Planning Leader
At Purina we are committed to create richer lives for pets and the people who love them, providing high quality nutrition for cats and dogs and doing more of what matters for pets, people and planet.

Position Snapshot

Nestlé Purina Italy, Portogruaro Plant (VE)

Permanent and full-time role

Nestlé welcome people with disabilities

University Degree in Engineering

Experience: At least 5 years of total experience, including at least 1 experience in project management and at least 1 experience with a strong technical background (e.g., Project Engineer)

You will hold the same level of authority as a team leader/Pillar leader

Reporting line to the Project Manager

Fluency in English is mandatory. Italian language would be preferred.

Compensation Package: CCNL Industria Alimentare, Impiegato, 1° Level, Gross Annual Base Salary €50.000,00 + 7% annual bonus based on overall company performance.

Position Summary
Act as the engineering planning copilot to the Project Manager, owning and maintaining the integrated project schedule baseline and Masterplan across the full project lifecycle. Ensure reliable planning, scheduling, and progress control, providing accurate, forward-looking insights, early identification of deviations, and decision-ready recommendations to support project delivery safely, on time, within budget, and fully aligned with business objectives.

A day in the life of a Project Planning Leader:
1. Planning Set-Up (Before Design Phase)
Establish the project planning approach, assumptions, and governance
Define Work Breakdown Structure (WBS), milestones, interfaces, and planning logic
Develop and obtain approval of the integrated schedule baseline
Ensure constraints, risks, and interdependencies are clearly identified and embedded in the plan.

2. Design Phase

Develop and maintain the detailed integrated schedule covering:

• Engineering
• Procurement
• Construction
• Installation

Coordinate planning inputs across internal teams, engineering partners, contractors, and suppliers

Ensure consistency and alignment of execution strategies.

3. Implementation Phase

Maintain accurate and up-to-date planning data

Monitor progress vs baseline and:

• Identify deviations
• Assess critical path impact
• Propose recovery scenarios

Lead planning routines (WOR/DOR, short-interval follow-up)

Drive contractor planning discipline (resource-loaded plans, compliance)

Ensure alignment between:

• Schedule
• CAPEX
• Resource plans

Facilitate cross-functional coordination and remove execution bottlenecks.

4. Start-up / Full Project Lifecycle

Maintain visibility on commissioning, qualification, handover, and closure milestones

Support readiness and execution alignment

Ensure robust planning documentation, reporting, and lessons learnt.

Across All Phases:

Planning KPIs

Performance dashboards

Risk and mitigation scenarios

Support financial planning and project justification

Ensure compliance with Nestlé standards and best practices.

What will make you successful?

5 years of experience including:

• Project management exposure
• Strong engineering/technical background (Project Engineer, Operations Start-Up Leaders, etc.)

3 - 5 years of planning and scheduling experience on CAPEX projects
Experience in:

• Industrial construction / FMCG / heavy engineering environments
• Project controls (schedule, cost, reporting)
• Contractor and interface management
• Site execution environments

Proven ability in:

• Operating in cross-functional and international environments
• Influencing without direct authority
• Managing complex interdependencies and competing priorities.

What