Jillian Pierce, Mba Email & Phone Number

Rochester, Nh, Us

Led New Product Development Project Management Team in the strategic execution of an annual innovation pipeline valued at $185M+, resulting in a 50% increase in project volume year over year while maintaining 40% of initiatives on accelerated timelines. Drove cross-functional alignment between Commercial and Technical teams to build holistic strategies that supported new product launches and maximized market impact. Consistently exceeded expectations in collaboration with the proven ability to influence and motivate cross-functional teams, resulting in a 100% on-time first ship. Transformed an underperforming team member through mentorship and coaching, resulting in her promotion within 7 months. Developed and implemented a Dual-Leader Team structure for the Innovation Team, improving focus and collaboration across 10 Core Teams managing 40+ projects with 1,000+ product items annually. Served as a mentor/coach for all ten teams including leadership of monthly meetings to share best practices, improve communication, and continuously train. Revamped the New Product Development Stage Gate process to maximize process efficiency and reinvigorate the organization on innovation. Championed new process with Project Management and Cross-Function Teams to implement transformation in 7 months (vs. typical 2-year period). Designed a monthly Technical Alignment Meeting to secure Senior Technical Leadership support and proactively manage project risks. Led the #1 priority company project to achieve a +150% increase in gross profit, by aligning technical execution and product pricing to meet strategic business goals. Successfully directed NPD transition to SAP, preparing the Innovation Team to manage 5X the typical workload required to ensure on-time Go-Live with minimal disruption. Recognized for strong systemic thinking and the ability to bridge Marketing and Technical expertise to deliver high-impact, market-driven solutions.

Stratham, Nh

Managed the monthly Stage Gate process, ensuring readiness for 450+ gates annually, supporting strategic project alignment and timely new product launches. Spearheaded the first Lind Global innovation managed by the US team, successfully navigating late-stage packaging and product scope changes without impacting $20M product launch. Secured Group Management buy-in through effective messaging and stakeholder management. Designed and implemented a Project Attractiveness Model to enhance Senior Leadership decision-making by evaluating project potential based on strategic fit, technical feasibility, and financial viability—resulting in a more focused innovation pipeline. Developed and launched the Lindt New Product Development University, an annual cross-functional training program for 70+ team members across 11 departments, fostering a deeper understanding of strategic innovation principles and increasing cross-team collaboration. Led the rollout of the Lindt Global Project Management Academy for the US team, training project leaders throughout the organization on best practices to enhance project execution, communication, and alignment. Hired and managed a Packaging Product Developer, streamlining the Packaging Concepting Process to optimize speed-to-market and ensure alignment with brand standards.

Stratham, Nh

Led the successful transition of Project Management responsibilities from Brand Marketing to the newly formed New Product Development team, ensuring a seamless integration and clear delineation of roles, resulting in constancy achievement of Stage Gate adherence targets (70%+). Developed a comprehensive process diagram outlining roles, responsibilities, and critical steps in the New Product Development process—presented findings to senior leadership, gaining buy-in for new Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) system and driving user adoption. Built and standardized the Project Management team toolkit, implementing best practices, templates, and communication strategies to improve operational efficiency and project transparency. Introduced the monthly Stage Gate process with consistent formats and templates to enhance communication across teams, resulting in improved project tracking and alignment with strategic business goals. Led the turnaround of Seasonal Portfolio readiness, which was significantly below completion targets—motivated cross-functional teams to realign priorities, achieving full project delivery without compromising sell-in schedules and commitments to customers. Collaborated with HR to redesign the entry-level Project Management role, creating the Associate Project Manager position and establishing a training roadmap that streamlined onboarding and team alignment.

Stratham, Nh 03885

Drove sales and profitability of Lindt sub-brands by developing and executing insight-driven marketing strategies that built brand equity and increased volume, resulting in consistent double-digit growth including +28% year-over-year growth for Valentine’s Day 2018. Presented business strategies to national retail partners (Mass, Grocery, and Drug channels), securing successful sell-in and incremental shelf space for key SKUs. Represented Marketing Team at National Broker Meeting, presenting all brand plans on behalf of the team. Successfully optimized assigned product portfolios through collaboration with Sales, Go-to-Market and Supply Chain teams reduce SKU count by 30% on average while simultaneously increasing sales by 15-30%. Developed/presented annual marketing plans to Swiss Group Management, influencing strategic decisions through compelling presentations based on data-driven insights (Cognos, IRI, Nielsen, and Panel data). Briefed and managed advertising and media agencies to develop digital and print campaigns for national media, integrating value-add initiatives to maximize ROI and elevate brand positioning, including co-development of content in partnership with Martha Stewart. Created and executed comprehensive social media and PR strategies to reinforce brand equity and achieve campaign goals, generating increased engagement and media coverage. Led Joint Business Planning meetings with major retail partners, representing the Brand team and aligning strategic objectives to optimize profitability and growth opportunities.

Led the development and launch of Lindor’s largest bag transition in recent years, which included the data-driven introduction of the brand’s top growth-driving SKU, ensuring a seamless rollout across all channels. Secured 3 strategic pallet programs with key national accounts during the competitive Holiday season by partnering with Sales and Customer Marketing teams to maximize in-store visibility. Managed Lindor Club business, including Costco, overseeing a $50M item and launching a successful Q4 Lindor World roadshow event to increase awareness and boost seasonal sales. Developed social media strategy with consistent branding. Conceptualized and executed national promotions (digital video, content creation, social activation, and digital coupons), enhancing brand awareness, and driving consumer engagement. Managed national price increase strategy, representing the Marketing department in cross-functional teams to maintain pricing consistency across product segments and Classes of Trade.

Stratham, Nh

Windham, Nh

- Develop and implement company social media plan- Design and integrate company marketing efforts to align with digital media campaigns- Provide graphic design services for company marketing materials

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Spearheaded new business development efforts, identifying, and pursuing potential clients through lead generation, proposal writing, and pitch presentations, contributing to the acquisition of 25+ clients. Developed and managed social media strategy, increasing brand visibility and engagement for both Brown & Company and its diverse client base. Led copywriting and proofreading initiatives across digital and print media, ensuring brand consistency and delivering compelling content for the agency and 25+ client accounts.

Littleton, New Hampshire

Developed and launched 40+ new product offerings annually by collaborating with global vendors, ensuring alignment with company goals, and driving product portfolio growth. Conducted sales forecasting and performance analysis for all product launches, leveraging data insights to refine product strategies and optimize future offerings. Managed end-to-end product lifecycle, from vendor negotiations to product development and post-launch performance reviews, ensuring strategic alignment and successful execution of go-to-market strategies. Supported cross-functional teams by providing insights on product trends and sales data, enabling data-driven decision-making for catalog and promotional planning.

Manchester, New Hampshire

- Conducted market and competitive research- Wrote press releases aired on all New Hampshire radio stations and articles for client newsletters- Proofread collateral and prepared mailings for 22 clients

Mba

Bs, Marketing

Activities and Societies: Alpha Chi, Sigma Beta Delta, Student Business Advisory Group, Student Government, Up All Night Committee, Pierce.