Director, Strategic Initiatives

Chicago, IL, US;
Downers Grove, IL, US;
St. Louis, MO, US

About You:

We are seeking a strategic and results-driven Director, Strategic Initiatives to lead enterprise portfolio execution and drive strategic initiatives that deliver measurable business outcomes. This leader will establish and advance PMO governance, portfolio management, and execution standards while partnering with senior leadership to translate strategy into actionable priorities.

As a key member of the leadership team, this role will oversee Project and Program Managers, prioritize enterprise initiatives, optimize resources, and serve as a strategic partner to leaders across the organization. The ideal candidate brings strong business and financial acumen, executive presence, and a demonstrated ability to lead complex transformation and change in a fast-paced environment.

A Day in the Life:

• Lead, mentor, and develop Project and Program Managers, fostering accountability, strategic thinking, and continuous improvement.
• Establish and mature PMO governance, standards, tools, methodologies, and operating rhythms that drive execution excellence.
• Own the demand‑to‑project lifecycle, including intake, qualification, prioritization, capacity planning, and resource allocation.
• Partner with executive leadership to translate strategic priorities into a focused portfolio of initiatives with clear owners, milestones, KPIs, and expected outcomes.
• Oversee complex, cross‑functional programs from ideation through implementation, adoption, and value realization.
• Develop portfolio reporting, KPIs, financial tracking, and health metrics to provide leadership with visibility into progress, risks, resources, and outcomes.
• Lead strategic transformation initiatives focused on growth, productivity, operational efficiency, organizational effectiveness, and other enterprise priorities.
• Develop business cases and investment recommendations and partner with Finance to establish benefit targets and track realized impact.
• Identify and mitigate portfolio risks, remove barriers to execution, and establish accountability for milestones and outcomes.
• Partner with business and technology leaders to evaluate AI, automation, data, and emerging technology opportunities.
• Champion change management and adoption strategies to ensure new systems, processes, and operating models deliver sustainable results.
• Continuously improve PMO and transformation practices using data, performance insights, and industry best practices.

Necessary

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Technology, Engineering, Finance, or a related field required; MBA preferred. PMP, PgMP, or equivalent certification preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in program management, PMO leadership, strategy, business transformation, operations, or related disciplines, including significant leadership experience.
• Proven experience building, transforming, or leading an enterprise PMO or strategic portfolio function.
• Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into executable priorities, measurable outcomes, and sustainable business results.
• Experience leading complex, cross‑functional transformation and change initiatives.
• Strong business and financial acumen, including experience with business cases, budgets, investment prioritization, and measuring financial or operational impact.
• Exceptional analytical, strategic thinking, problem‑solving, and decision‑making skills.
• Strong executive presence and ability to influence and align senior leaders and cross‑functional stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex portfolios, resources, budgets, and external partners.
• Excellent communication, facilitation, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Experience with project and portfolio…