Director Portfolio & Pmo

Please note: Significant FMCG/CPG or Consumer Healthcare experience is essential for this role, particularly across consumer product portfolios and product launches. This is not an IT or Finance-focused PMO position

Provide strategic leadership for the category/s portfolio, shaping decision‑making, orchestrating cross‑functional alignment, and ensuring resource investments maximise business value. Act as the strategic integrator between Category Leadership, functional teams, and project delivery, fostering a disciplined Stage Gate culture and driving the long‑term success of the innovation pipeline.
Direct Reports: 12 Global Project Managers

• Plan the portfolio to deliver the category/s objectives and targets by providing clear, insight‑driven recommendations to the Category Leadership Team.
• Deliver executive‑ready portfolio insights that enable informed decision‑making in Category Round Table Meetings, including trade‑off scenarios, resource implications, and risks.
• Strengthen portfolio operating rhythms by championing best‑practice behaviours, decision discipline, and data integrity.

• Guide the allocation and optimisation of resources supporting the category/s portfolio, anticipating future capability and capacity needs.
• Facilitate annual cross‑functional resource budgeting and ensure alignment to category/s objectives and strategic priorities.
• Ensure priority projects are staffed with project managers who possess the required expertise and leadership to execute effectively.

• Lead, coach, and develop the Stage Gate Project Management team for assigned category/s, building a strong talent pipeline and ensuring robust succession planning.
• Promote and embed a high‑maturity Stage Gate mindset across teams, ensuring consistent adherence to governance processes, tools, and standards.
• Act as a senior project leader when required, applying advanced project management expertise to high‑value or high‑complexity initiatives.

• Partner with Category Leadership and functional heads to shape a coherent, strategically aligned portfolio.
• Influence senior stakeholders by framing insights, risks, and opportunities in a strategic, solutions‑oriented way.
• Drive cross‑functional alignment, ensuring teams converge on shared priorities and resource commitments.
• Clear direction on category priorities and strategic ambitions.
• Timely access to data and functional insights enabling informed portfolio recommendations.
• Collaborative engagement across functions to support governance and resource planning.

• Delivery of category/s portfolio objectives and financial targets (Incremental NS, Margin) delivered through optimised resource allocation.
• High‑quality, timely portfolio recommendations that materially influence Category Leadership decisions.
• Category Portfolio projects are executed on‑time, on‑budget and deliver expected business value.
• Strong project management talent pipeline, supported by robust development and coaching.

• Deep understanding of consumers, category dynamics, competitive landscape, and commercial levers, informing portfolio recommendations.
• Strategic Project Management Expertise:
  Advanced PM skills (PMP/Prince2)
• Advanced Financial Acumen:
  Ability to interpret financial metrics and model scenarios; advise leadership on portfolio value and trade‑offs.
• Executive communication and influence, shaping discussions with senior leadership through clarity and strategic framing.
• Deep governance and Stage Gate expertise, enabling rigorous decision‑making and high‑quality execution.
• Le…