Portfolio Control Senior Manager

Job Description

• Strategic Planning, Direction & Alignment

• Partner with executive leadership to support the development and refinement of organizational strategy
• Ensure clear linkage between strategy, initiatives, and measurable business outcomes
• Establish mechanisms to continuously align portfolio execution with evolving strategic priorities
• Lead strategic planning cycles from a portfolio perspective (initiative shaping, sequencing, and dependencies)
• Define and govern strategic KPIs and value realization frameworks across the portfolio

• Portfolio Strategy & Governance

• Define and lead the enterprise-wide PPM framework, standards, and operating model
• Translate strategic objectives into a structured and governed project portfolio
• Establish portfolio segmentation (e.g., strategic, regulatory, operational, innovation)
• Ensure alignment between portfolio investments and organizational strategy

• Demand Management & Intake Control

• Design and enforce a centralized demand intake and approval process
• Institutionalize project classification standards (project vs. BAU vs. enhancement)
• Ensure all requests are captured through a unified platform (eliminating shadow processes)
• Ensure all initiatives are uniquely identified and tracked

• Portfolio Prioritization & Optimization

• Establish and govern a standardized prioritization model (value, cost, risk, dependencies)
• Lead portfolio planning cycles and continuous reprioritization
• Optimize resource allocation across competing initiatives
• Manage trade-offs and scenario analysis at portfolio level

• Financial Governance & Value Realization

• Own portfolio-level financial oversight, including budget alignment and tracking
• Ensure project-level budget visibility and linkage to financial systems
• Monitor financial performance (actuals vs. forecast vs. approved budgets)
• Drive benefits realization tracking and value measurement

• Governance & Performance Management

• Define and enforce portfolio governance frameworks, stage gates, and approval workflows
• Define portfolio KPIs, SLAs, and performance metrics
• Establish executive-level dashboards and reporting standards
• Provide actionable insights on portfolio health, risks, and dependencies
• Escalate and manage underperforming or at-risk initiatives

• Tools, Data & Systems Integration

• Lead the implementation and governance of PPM tools and platforms
• Ensure integration across systems (e.g., Jira, ERP, procurement systems)
• Eliminate duplication and enforce a single source of truth
• Standardize project structures (WBS, PO linkage, renewals, etc.)

• Reporting & Executive Insights

• Provide executive dashboards and portfolio insights (status, risks, financials, dependencies)
• Enable data-driven decision-making through accurate and timely reporting
• Communicate portfolio health to senior leadership

• Continuous Improvement & Maturity Development

• Assess current maturity and define a PPM maturity roadmap
• Benchmark against best practices (e.g., PMI (Project Management Institute), Axelos)
• Continuously refine governance, processes, and performance frameworks
• Lead transformation initiatives to enhance portfolio effectiveness

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, IT, Engineering, or a related field
• Master's degree or MBA with a technology management or digital strategy focus (preferred).

Experience

• 10–15+ years of experience in Project, Program, or Portfolio Management
• Proven experience in establishing or transforming PPM functions at enterprise level
• Demonstrated experience developing or contributing to digital transformation strategies and multi-year technology roadmaps.
• Proven track record of designing and running portfolio prioritization frameworks in organizations with competing demands and resource constraints.
• Experience in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
• Strong exposure to financial governance, budgeting, and investment planning
• Experience leading a team or function; not just managing projects, but managing people and building a practice

Certifications

• PMP — Project Management Professional, PMI or equivalent (required).
• PMI-PfMP — Portfolio Management Professional, or PgMP — Program Management Professional (highly preferred; demonstrated willingness to certify is acceptable).

Leadership & Core Competencies

• Strategic thinker; able to hold the long-term direction and the immediate decision simultaneously, without losing sight of either
• Influential communicator; builds alignment across peers, teams, and leadership through clarity, credibility, and consistency.
• Strong governance design and enforcement capability
• Advanced financial and analytical skills
• Decision-making under ambiguity
• Transformation and change leadership
• Structured problem-solving.