Principal Portfolio Project Manager

Description

The company's Life Sciences business is looking for a senior leader to run a portfolio of large, complex global programs and capital investments.

You will handle both portfolio management and project delivery, making sure initiatives are ranked, funded, governed and completed in line with business goals.

The work covers many large CAPEX and transformation projects at once, spanning manufacturing, engineering, operations, EHS, PSM, IT, real estate, supply chain and commercial areas. You will work in a matrixed global setting, coordinating internal teams, outside vendors, municipalities and suppliers to meet approved business case targets.

Projects can reach $100M, so you need to communicate well with executives, lead strategically, govern with discipline and show a record of measurable results.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of strategic initiatives and capital investments across engineering, operations, EHS, PSM, real estate, IT, supply chain and commercial functions.
• Assess and rank project investments by strategic fit, business value, risk, available resources and organizational capacity.
• Work with business leaders to build and keep up multi-year portfolio roadmaps that support the company's strategy.
• Run portfolio governance reviews, investment decisions, funding approvals and executive prioritization discussions.
• Spot portfolio-level risks, dependencies, constraints and opportunities, and act on them to improve value delivery.
• Build executive dashboards and reports showing capital use, resource load, project performance and business outcomes.
• Make sure each investment matches its approved business case, operational priorities and enterprise strategy.
• Lead multiple concurrent global programs and CAPEX projects in manufacturing and operations.
• Take projects from concept through commissioning, qualification, startup and handover to operations.
• Lead global cross-functional teams without direct reporting authority to reach program goals.
• Manage projects covering process equipment, assembly systems, manufacturing technology, automation and facility infrastructure at global sites.
• Lead facility expansions, process improvements, equipment installations, efficiency projects and capital programs.
• Support projects in EHS, PSM, IT, commercial, supply chain and real estate.
• Confirm technical solutions meet quality, compliance, safety, operational and business requirements.
• Oversee projects and programs that may exceed $50M in capital investment.
• Guide projects through a structured stage-gate process, with proper documentation, stakeholder input, approvals and governance at each phase.
• Prepare and present business cases, project charters, gate reviews and investment recommendations to senior leaders.
• Support enterprise portfolio governance so projects are prioritized, funded and aligned with corporate goals.
• Lead executive reviews and recommend whether to continue, accelerate, change or stop projects.
• Keep tight control of project budgets, forecasts, schedules, risks and financial performance.
• Manage portfolio capital planning, forecasting, cash flow projections and tracking of benefit realization.
• Make sure projects hit approved business case objectives and KPI targets.
• Build and manage integrated schedules, finding and reducing risks to cost and timing early.
• Optimize how capital and resources are split across competing initiatives.
• Develop, validate and maintain project business cases and investment justifications.
• Set measurable KPIs and benefit targets for each initiative and track results against commitments after implementation.
• Confirm projects deliver expected gains in productivity, capacity, quality, compliance, cost and revenue.
• Work with engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, procurement, finance, commercial, EHS and IT teams.
• Manage relationships with contractors, equipment suppliers, engineering firms, consultants, regulators and municipalities.
• Support procurement, vendor selection, contract negotiations and supplier performance management.
• Lead project teams across regions and functions, both directly and indirectly.
• Influence stakeholders and leaders in a highly matrixed organization.
• Build collaboration, accountability, transparency and strong execution.
• Coach project managers and team members on project management practice.
• Lead stakeholder engagement, communication planning, readiness and adoption work for change.
• Make sure business operations are ready to move into new processes, systems and facility capabilities, and sustain the expected benefits.
• Work largely on your own, planning and running work while handling complex issues, risks and deviations.
• Analyze ambiguous operational, financial, technical and organizational situations and develop scalable solutions.
• Make significant recommendations on investment priorities, resource allocation and execution strategies.
• Act as the subject matter expert on portfolio management, capital program execution, project governance and PMO practice.
• Help improve project methods, stage-gate processes, governance frameworks and portfolio practices.
• Coach and train across the PMO organization.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, project management, operations, manufacturing, business or a related field.
• At least 12 years of progressive project, program and portfolio management experience, including leading global CAPEX projects and strategic business initiatives.
• A proven record of managing large capital projects and cross-functional business programs.
• PMP certification from the Project Management Institute, or willingness to earn it within a set timeframe.
• Proven experience managing portfolios of strategic initiatives and capital investments.
• Solid grasp of portfolio governance, prioritization methods, capital planning and resource optimization.
• Ability to balance competing priorities and recommend investments that maximize organizational value.
• Experience giving executive portfolio reports and leading investment decisions.
• Good understanding of business strategy, operations, financial planning and organizational goals.
• Ability to turn complex business problems into workable solutions and judge the long-term effects of investment decisions.
• Deep knowledge of project management principles and lifecycle methods.
• Proven ability to manage scope, schedule, budget, resources and risk across global programs.
• A strong track record delivering large, multi-site CAPEX initiatives.
• Ability to lead several projects and programs at the same time.
• Skill at influencing leaders and teams without direct authority, and trusted by senior stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Strong presentation and facilitation skills.
• Ability to communicate with executives, business leaders and technical teams.
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills.
• Experience working with contractors, vendors, engineering firms, regulators and municipalities.
• Ability to build productive partnerships across varied stakeholder groups.
• Preferred: master's degree in engineering, business administration (MBA), project management or a related field.
• Preferred: experience in life sciences, pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, specialty chemicals or similarly regulated industries.

Conditions

The expected pre-tax pay for this role is $122,000.00 to $196,075.00.

Actual pay may vary based on factors such as prior experience and geographic location.