Stage-Gate & Claims Coordinator

Posted yesterday

sungro horticultureAgawam (MA)

Production, Planning, and Expediting Clerks Claims Adjusting

SENIORITY

Senior

SALARY

$55,000-$75,000

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About the role

Sun Gro Horticulture Job Opportunity Sun Gro Horticulture is one of the most prominent North American horticultural companies, employing over 800 staff and serving customers worldwide. Since its humble beginnings in 1929, it has become the leading supplier of soilless growing mixes to North America's top 100 greenhouse and nursery growers, shipping over 70,000 truckloads of product annually. Sun Gro products are made to exacting standards and conform to high product quality and performance criteria. Sun Gro Horticulture recognizes that its success is due to the strength of its employees. The primary goal of Sun Gro is to promote individual employees' sense of accomplishment and contribution so that employees enjoy their association with Sun Gro Horticulture. The Company invests in its employees so that they are the most knowledgeable in the industry, and undertakes great efforts to nurture loyalty to, and teamwork at, Sun Gro.

Role: Stage-Gate & Claims Coordinator Compensation: $55,000-$75,000 This is a fully onsite role in Agawam, Massachusetts.

Job Summary: The Portfolio & Claims Coordinator is a hybrid role responsible for supporting portfolio management processes and overseeing claims administration across professional growing media and retail product lines (IGC and big box channels).Reporting to the Portfolio Manager Stage-Gate Governance, this role ensures the smooth execution of stage-gate processes while also driving disciplined claims management, reporting, and resolution. The position plays a critical role in maintaining data accuracy, coordinating cross-functional activities, and supporting both product development and operational performance.

Responsibilities:

Stage-Gate Coordination
Support administration of the stage-gate process for product development, reformulations, and packaging initiatives
Schedule and coordinate gate reviews, ensuring all required deliverables are complete and accurate
Track project timelines, milestones, and action items across R&D, operations, and commercial teams
Maintain portfolio dashboards, tracking tools, and documentation
Assist in the preparation of executive portfolio reviews and pipeline updates
Claims Administration Coordination
Serve as the primary point of contact for claims system inquiries and support audits/internal stakeholders
Monitor and manage open claims, ensuring timely progression and resolution
Review claims in the Administration stage to ensure: Accuracy of credit memos (pricing, quantities, ship-to/bill-to details)
Completion of required documentation and system fields
Complete final administrative approvals and close claims when appropriate
Track and follow up on key actions including: Requests for additional information during discovery
Approval/rejection decisions from PMs, DMs, and RSMsCross-Functional Coordination
Act as a liaison between teams, including: R&D, Operations / Supply Chain, Finance, Sales (RSMs, DMs), Regulatory, Marketing, Technical Services (TS), Grower Specialist (GS)
Facilitate alignment between technical product development and commercial execution
Coordinate and lead recurring cross-functional meetings (e.g., claims review, project updates)
Reporting & Analytics
Claims & Operational Reporting
Generate and distribute bi-weekly reports (e.g., SharePoint-based) detailing open claims and status
Lead bi-weekly Teams meetings to review claims, focusing on overdue items and escalation needs
Track claims KPIs including cycle time, aging, and resolution rates
Monthly & Quarterly Reporting
Prepare monthly Claims Integrated Business Planning (IBP) reporting and distribute to stakeholders Compile and analyze quarterly data, including:
Operational Claims Investigation (OCI) metrics and master OCIFinished goods (FG) and output trendsQC Data Entry Compliance by Site Finished goods and raw materials at receipt
Cost impacts by site (e.g., MMCF dollars)
Financial summaries and claims trends
Develop executive-level reporting, including:
Board of Directors (BOD) presentations
Supporting analysis, graphs, and insights
Support portfolio reporting (pipeline health, launch readiness, KPI tracking)
Process & Data Management
Maintain accurate records across claims and stage-gate systems
Ensure data consistency across Planner, SharePoint, reporting tools, and tracking systems
Support continuous improvement of stage-gate and claims processes
Identify opportunities to streamline reporting, workflows, and communication

Education & Experience:

Bachelor's degree in Business, Horticulture, Agriculture, Operations, or related field (or equivalent experience)25+ years of experience in project coordination, claims administration, operations, or a product support role
Experience in horticulture, agriculture, or consumer/retail products preferred
Exposure to stage-gate processes and/or claims management systems is a strong plus
Familiarity with project management or workflow tools
Continuous improvement mindset with strong process orientation
Ability to translate operational and technical data into actionable insight

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