EXPERIENCE

rachael.g.thompson@gmail.com

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Nextbite | Denver, CO | May 2021 – May 2023

Program Manager, PMO | Oct. 2022 – May 2023

A focused, organized, and collaborative member of the Nextbite PMO, ensuring the successful implementation of new concepts through the effective application of PM methods.

• Executed projects from initiation to launch, utilizing PMO standard methods, systems, processes, and tools, including project schedules, tasks, issue management, and risk identification and mitigation

• Supported project definition during the sales cycle

• Initiated project kick-off and cross-functional team engagement

• Led project cross-functional team in the execution and delivery of pilots into launch

• Communicated program status, timing, action items, issues, and risks weekly with the program core team members, stakeholders, and PMO leadership, including presentations to the Executive Team

Program Manager, Food Experience | Jun. 2022 – Oct. 2022

Created and managed workflows for the Food Experience team, including Culinary R&D, Commercialization, and Supply Chain teams

• Foundation & systems creation and implementation

• Activity & resource planning

• Timeline & progress management

• Analyzing & managing risks

• Document control

Identified areas in need of improvement within processes and procedures

• Created Food Experience Product Development & Commercialization Asana template with input from the Commercialization Director and Food Experience VP to enable efficiency and scalability of workflows

• Facilitated Asana training and learning for the Food Experience team

• Created and executed the organization and migration of all Nextbite files to Google shared drives with managed permissions to create more collaboration and cross-functional visibility

Planned and executed a successful department offsite at Nestlé Professionals Innovation Kitchen to meet with their chefs and immerse in their capabilities.

Sr. Project Manager, Brand Development | May 2021 – Jun. 2022

Managed projects within Brand & Culinary teams.

• Scoped, planned, tracked, and resolved workflow issues from end to end on each project

• Built, maintained, and executed timelines

• Maintained an intimate knowledge of project health, including menu QA oversight

• Scheduled and led meetings with key stakeholders

• Owned project status and reviews, determining action items for team members and communicating to key stakeholders to ensure risk mitigation methodologies are available as needed

• Planned, coordinated, and executed celebrity tastings and special events (i.e. tasting with Wiz Khalifa, tasting with Noah Schnapp, staging food for Wiz Khalifa music video)

Identified areas in need of improvement within processes and procedures.

• Established brand and creative processes for photo and video production

• Established key relationships cross-functionally to break down organizational and departmental silos and implement more effective workflows

• Created a streamlined workflow with Brand, Culinary, Partnerships, Test Kitchen Operations, Creative, and Digital Menu teams to launch new brand concepts in the test kitchen

• Established Asana as the main platform for Brand & Culinary project and program management

Managed and developed on direct report.

Sterling-Rice Group | Boulder, CO | Dec. 2015 – May 2021

Accounts: Almond Board of California, Alden’s Organic Ice Cream, Brewers Association, Daisy Cottage Cheese, Potatoes USA, Truly Grass Fed, San-J, National Honey Board, California Raisins

Producer | Oct. 2017 – May 2021

Manage the creative process from concept and development through production and post production for integrated advertising campaigns that include digital (social media, banners, website, video), broadcast (TV, streaming, radio/podcast), in-store, tradeshow, collateral, and print.

• Lead day-to-day tasks such as internal reviews, client reviews, technical walk-throughs, development handoffs, pre-pro planning and production meetings and anything necessary for project success

• Create and maintain fee estimates, production budgets and tracking, and timelines to ensure project deadlines are met and within the scope of work

• Draft scopes of work and manage changes to scope throughout the project lifecycle, finding creative solutions when needed

• Vet, bid, negotiate, and award vendors

• Work closely with creative, account, media, and social teams to ensure concepts are on strategy and within budget, all deliverables are created to spec, and timely trafficking of assets

Manage front-end and back-end website changes for global account from IA and UX to launch.

Identify cross-departmental issues and work to create and implement improved processes.

Assistant Account Manager & Jr. Producer | May 2016 – Oct 2017

• Managed projects and day-to-day communications with both the client and the internal creative team to execute integrated advertising campaigns

• Managed billing and hours analysis to track client profitability

• Managed client social media content calendar and sweepstakes application development, launch, and maintenance

Freelance Account Executive | Dec. 2015 – May 2016

Supported the account team in North American and European markets for a global account by creating an Instagram strategy, proofing print and digital ads, and working with the media and development teams to execute client website updates.

Einstein Noah Restaurant Group | Lakewood, CO

Marketing Coordinator | Oct. 2013 – Oct. 2015

• Assisted Brand Management with competitive analyses and in-store consumer research to drive marketing strategies and elevate nutrition

• Maintained $2 Million budget for the co-brand concept team