Director, Project Management Office (Strategy)

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Wilbur-Ellis invests heavily in our employees by offering skill development and training, competitive compensation and benefits, and a tradition of promoting from within for a broad range of career opportunities. And we foster a supportive, people-first work environment.

"We know the confidence gap can get in the way of meeting spectacular candidates, so please don't hesitate to apply - we'd love to hear from you."

General Purpose and Scope of Position:

The Director, PMO is an enterprise leader responsible for the strategic direction, governance, and performance of the Project Management Office, reporting to the CFO. This role drives organizational transformation through project portfolio leadership, cross-functional alignment, and executive-level stakeholder engagement. The Director ensures that all strategic projects deliver maximum value, support business objectives, and foster a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.

Specific Responsibilities and Key Deliverables Include:

• PMO Vision & Strategy
  • Define and execute the long-term vision for the PMO, ensuring alignment with enterprise strategy and business priorities.
  • Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership, providing insights and recommendations on project portfolio optimization and organizational change initiatives.
  • Lead the development and implementation of advanced PMO methodologies, governance frameworks, and performance metrics.
• Enterprise Project Portfolio Leadership
  • Oversee the entire project portfolio, ensuring prioritization and resource allocation align with organizational goals.
  • Drive enterprise-wide project selection, benefit realization, and value management.
  • Lead regular portfolio reviews with executive stakeholders, providing strategic recommendations and risk assessments.
• Operational Excellence & Problem Solving
  • Build a deep, end-to-end understanding of how Wilbur-Ellis operates within and across functions, as well as how we interact with customers, suppliers, and our industry
  • Provide analytical and operational support to key functions when required (e.g., troubleshooting operational challenges, standing up new capabilities, driving performance improvements)
  • Perform independent analyses for the CFO and other key Executives on critical business questions
  • Lead and operationalize strategic cross-functional initiatives (e.g., profitability optimization, organizational design)
• Executive Stakeholder Engagement
  • Build and maintain trusted relationships with C-suite and senior leaders, acting as the primary liaison for all PMO-related matters.
  • Present complex project status, risks, and outcomes to executive audiences, translating technical details into strategic business impact.
  • Facilitate cross-functional collaboration and alignment across business units.
• Organizational Change & Process Excellence
  • Champion organizational change initiatives, leveraging project management best practices to drive transformation and continuous improvement.
  • Lead the adoption of innovative project management tools, technologies, and methodologies.
  • Establish and monitor enterprise-wide standards for project delivery, governance, and reporting.
• Risk, Issue, and Compliance Management
  • Oversee enterprise risk management for all strategic projects, ensuring proactive mitigation and compliance with regulatory requirements.
  • Lead escalation and resolution of critical project issues, engaging executive sponsors as needed.
• People Leadership & Talent Development
  • Build, lead, and inspire a high-performing PMO team, including senior project managers and program leaders.
  • Develop succession plans and talent strategies to ensure organizational capability and growth.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, diversity, and professional development.
• Financial Stewardship
  • Own the PMO budget, ensuring efficient resource utilization and cost management across all projects.
  • Partner with finance and business leaders to forecast, track, and report on project investments and returns.

Key Skills and Abilities Include:

• Master's degree in business administration or related field (or equivalent executive experience)
• PMP or equivalent advanced project management certification
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide project portfolios and transformation initiatives
• Exceptional strategic thinking, executive communication, and influence skills
• Proven ability to drive change, manage complexity, and deliver results in a matrixed organization
• Advanced knowledge of project management methodologies, governance, and tools
• Experience with organizational design, change management, and talent development
• Up to 30% travel required

Key Personal Attributes Include:

• Embodies core values: Integrity, Diversity, Effort, Accountability, Service
• Courageous, decisive, and proactive in addressing challenges and driving results
• Highly collaborative, diplomatic, and skilled at building consensus across diverse stakeholder groups
• Self-directed, energetic, and resilient, with a passion for developing others and leading change

Please note that salary ranges provided for this role on external job boards are salary estimates made by outside parties and may not be accurate.

Our Commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

Diversity of people, cultures, opinions, and ideas makes us all stronger. From leadership commitment to employee buy-in, we know that creating an inclusive environment and providing opportunities for all employees to reach their full potential is a shared responsibility.

Wilbur-Ellis is a company you can be proud to call your employer

Wilbur-Ellis markets and distributes agricultural products, animal feed specialty chemicals, and food ingredients. A privately held and consistently profitable company, we employ more than 4,000 people throughout North America and Asia-Pacific.

Wilbur-Ellis is for and about people

Wilbur-Ellis has enjoyed over 100 years of success and growth, all thanks to our people. Our employees are both leaders and team players who thrive on creativity, entrepreneurial spirit, and a dedication to quality work, our customers, and each other.

Wilbur-Ellis invests in the industry's best workforce

Wilbur-Ellis invests heavily in our employees by offering skill development and training, competitive compensation and benefits, and a tradition of promoting from within for a broad range of career opportunities. And we foster a supportive, people-first work environment.

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