Desired expectations of the role:

• Acts as a partner to functional teams and change agent to break through roadblocks and drive the most challenging strategic initiatives
• Identifies, organizes, prioritizes and drives critical workstreams/projects tied to the most critical strategic initiatives.
• Develops and communicates plans and progress to executive leadership and sponsors.
• High level of leadership, communication, and fit for purpose risk management.
• Manage ambiguity, drive results, effective communication
• High level of autonomy with senior leaders across the business to manage and drive strategic initiatives
• Results oriented

Reporting to the Chief Strategy & Development Officer, we are seeking an experienced Director to both manage and co-lead a portfolio of fast-paced transformation projects at a growing private equity-backed manufacturing company. While the strategy is largely defined, the portfolio of projects and strategic initiatives will continue to evolve to meet the needs of the employees, customers, suppliers, and ownership -- the business transformation is significant and critical to reaching our operational and Value Creation goals.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in project and program management, with expertise in driving large-scale, cross-functional initiatives aimed at enhancing processes, systems, and operations within the manufacturing space.

This position can be performed remotely, from any U.S. location and requires 10-25% travel.

Key Responsibilities:

Maintain strategic alignment

• Program Leadership: Oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of a portfolio of strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with company objectives and industry-specific needs
• Alignment with Project Strategy & Roadmap: With the CSDO and other senior leaders, maintain and update the roadmap for critical strategic initiatives, ensuring that each initiative aligns with long-term business goals and transformation efforts pursued in other areas of the business
• Support Budget & Resource Management: Collaborate with Finance to create business cases (when needed), track to budget and Value Creation Plan

Manage strategic initiatives to roll out changes and impact results

• Program and Project Management: Establish and drive individual strategic initiatives, defining and tracking milestone progress on a regular basis (e.g., weekly or bi-weekly) with project leaders
• RAID Management: With project leaders, proactively identify and manage risks and issues within the strategic initiatives; ensure assumptions are documented and impacts are understood and revisited throughout development and execution; support proper framing, prioritization, and escalation of decisions
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with key stakeholders across departments (Commercial, Ops, Finance, IT, and Safety) to build and maintain effective coordination, working practices, resource allocation, and timely delivery of strategic initiatives
• Performance Tracking & Reporting: Own, evolve, and maintain Board, Executive and project-level reporting; execute reports on a regular and consistent cadence. Interface with Transformation Office to align on metrics and processes as well as collaborate on implementation methodologies.

Support the desired behavioral changes through thoughtful change leadership

• Change Management: Lead and support the adoption of new roles, processes, and technologies, building and executing effective and fit-for-purpose change management tactics to facilitate smooth transitions and maximize change adoption
• Culture of Learning: Teach while doing; bring an attitude of player-coaching and partnership to every interaction; identify opportunities to teach and learn new knowledge, skills, and behaviors, specifically related to strategic initiatives and change management

Qualifications:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field
• Experience: Minimum of 7-10 years of experience managing large-scale, cross-functional programs in an industrial sector, building products, or relevant labor-intensive industry. Previous consulting experience.
• Proven track record of successfully managing strategic initiatives, ideally involving process optimization, digital transformation, and operational efficiency improvements
• Expertise in core Microsoft programs such as Word, PowerPoint, Excel as well as industry standard project management tools
• Experience with program and project management methodologies, such as Agile, Waterfall, or Hybrid approaches
• Strong leadership skills, with the ability to lead, motivate, and inspire cross-functional teams and stakeholders
• Experience in managing budgets, resources, and timelines, with a results-driven approach
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to navigate complex challenges and ambiguity
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively influence and engage stakeholders at all levels