Torchora
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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Head Project Manager

💰 $150,000 - $220,000

Project ManagementLeadershipManagementTechnologyOperations

🎯 Role Definition

Are you a strategic leader with a passion for execution excellence and a talent for building high-performing teams? We are searching for an experienced and dynamic Head Project Manager to take the helm of our Project Management function.

In this pivotal leadership role, you will be the architect of our project delivery framework, responsible for the overall direction, coordination, and successful completion of our most critical business initiatives. You will oversee the entire project portfolio, from strategic alignment and prioritization to flawless execution and benefits realization. This position is ideal for a seasoned professional who thrives on translating company vision into tangible results and mentoring the next generation of project leaders.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Senior Project Manager
  • Program Manager
  • Senior Agile Coach / Transformation Lead

Advancement To:

  • Director of PMO (Project Management Office)
  • Vice President (VP) of Operations
  • Head of Strategy & Operations

Lateral Moves:

  • Director of Product Management
  • Head of Business Operations

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of project and program managers, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Establish and govern the enterprise-wide project management methodology, standards, and tools, ensuring the adoption of best practices (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid).
  • Oversee the entire lifecycle of a diverse portfolio of strategic projects, from initiation and planning through to execution, monitoring, control, and closure.
  • Direct the development and management of comprehensive project plans, including scope, schedules, budgets, and resource allocation for all key initiatives.
  • Act as the primary escalation point for project-related issues, providing decisive leadership to resolve conflicts, remove roadblocks, and mitigate critical risks.
  • Collaborate with C-level executives and senior leadership to align the project portfolio with the company's strategic objectives and long-term vision.
  • Develop and manage the overall PMO budget, ensuring financial oversight and cost-effectiveness across all projects.
  • Implement and maintain robust project portfolio management (PPM) processes to prioritize initiatives based on business value, resource capacity, and strategic alignment.
  • Chair regular steering committee and portfolio review meetings, providing transparent and insightful reporting on project status, health, financials, and risks to stakeholders.
  • Drive the strategic planning and resource forecasting for the project management function, ensuring the right talent is in place to meet future business demands.
  • Champion a culture of data-driven decision-making by implementing and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) for project and portfolio performance.
  • Manage complex dependencies and interfaces between different projects, programs, and functional departments to ensure seamless execution.
  • Conduct regular post-mortems and lessons-learned sessions to drive continuous improvement in our project delivery processes and execution capabilities.
  • Serve as a key advisor to the business on matters of project execution, feasibility, and risk, helping to shape new initiatives from their inception.
  • Own and refine the intake and greenlighting process for new project requests, ensuring a clear and consistent evaluation framework is applied.
  • Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with cross-functional leaders across Technology, Product, Marketing, Sales, and Operations.
  • Oversee vendor and third-party relationships as they pertain to project delivery, including contract negotiation and performance management.
  • Ensure all projects are delivered in compliance with relevant industry regulations and internal governance policies.
  • Lead organizational change management efforts associated with major project implementations to ensure smooth adoption and realization of business benefits.
  • Develop and deliver training programs for project managers and the wider organization on project management principles and best practices.
  • Synthesize complex project information into clear, concise, and compelling presentations for executive and board-level audiences.
  • Proactively identify opportunities for process automation and efficiency gains within the project management lifecycle.

Secondary Functions

  • Champion and facilitate Agile ceremonies and mindset shifts where applicable across the organization.
  • Evaluate and recommend new project management tools and technologies to enhance productivity and visibility.
  • Support ad-hoc strategic analysis and business case development for potential new ventures.
  • Contribute to the organization's long-term operational and strategic roadmap.
  • Participate in annual budget planning and resource allocation cycles for the entire company.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Expert proficiency in project and portfolio management software (e.g., Jira, Asana, MS Project, Smartsheet, PPM tools).
  • Deep, hands-on knowledge of various project management methodologies, including Agile (Scrum, Kanban), Waterfall, and Hybrid approaches.
  • Strong financial acumen with proven experience in budget management, forecasting, and financial reporting for large-scale projects or portfolios.
  • Advanced skills in risk management frameworks, including risk identification, assessment, and mitigation strategies.
  • Mastery of resource management and capacity planning tools and techniques to optimize team allocation.
  • Experience in establishing and running a formal Project Management Office (PMO) or similar governance function.

Soft Skills

  • Exceptional leadership and team-building skills with a demonstrated ability to mentor, motivate, and elevate a team of project professionals.
  • Executive-level communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and align stakeholders from the team level to the C-suite.
  • Superior strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities, capable of navigating ambiguity, complexity, and competing priorities.
  • World-class stakeholder management capabilities, with a natural talent for building rapport, consensus, and trust across all levels of the organization.
  • Excellent negotiation and conflict resolution skills, adept at managing difficult conversations and driving towards positive outcomes.
  • A strong sense of ownership and a results-oriented mindset, with a relentless focus on delivery and value creation.
  • Change leadership expertise, with the ability to guide teams and the organization through significant transformations.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor's Degree

Preferred Education:

  • Master of Business Administration (MBA) or a related advanced degree.
  • PMP, PRINCE2, or Agile (e.g., CSM, SAFe) certification is highly desirable.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Business Administration
  • Computer Science / Information Technology
  • Engineering
  • Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 10-15+ years of progressive experience in project and program management.

Preferred: A minimum of 5-7 years of experience in a formal leadership role, directly managing a team of project managers and overseeing a complex portfolio of cross-functional, enterprise-level projects. Experience building a PMO from the ground up is a significant plus.

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