Director Enterprise Project Management Office - Business Transformation - Akron FirstEnergy Headquarters

FirstEnergy•Akron, OH

8d•$211,000 - $211,000•Onsite

About The Position

The Director, Enterprise Project Management Office leads delivery of FirstEnergy’s Business Transformation portfolio and reports to the VP of Business Transformation. The Director leads a team of Project Specialists and is accountable for the portfolio’s project management methodology, stage-gate governance, delivery health reporting, and resource scheduling across concurrent initiatives. The role builds project management capability across Business Transformation and the wider enterprise, and advises leaders when delivery performance indicates work should be rescoped, resequenced, or stopped. The focus is on strengthening delivery discipline across the portfolio rather than managing individual initiatives. This is a full-time position with four days per week on site at an office within FirstEnergy’s service territory in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland, or Washington, DC. Travel to territory work locations is required as needed. Participation in storm restoration or emergency response duties may be required. Candidates must be legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship. The role contributes to Business Transformation strategy, portfolio governance, and capability planning as a member of the leadership team. FirstEnergy describes its culture as dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability, and operational excellence, and emphasizes a safety-first approach to transformation work.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, information systems, or a related discipline.
At least 10 years of relevant work experience, including leading project or program delivery across multiple concurrent initiatives.
PMP, PfMP, or equivalent portfolio or program management certification.
Demonstrated experience establishing project delivery methodology, standards, or governance that others apply consistently.
Experience leading and developing a team of project or program managers.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to influence senior leaders’ decision-making.
Ability to manage a portfolio of concurrent initiatives across multiple business units and deliver accurate work within established deadlines.
Legally authorized to work in the United States without sponsorship.
Ability to travel to work locations across the territory as needed; storm restoration or emergency response participation may be required.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or MBA.
Experience establishing or scaling an enterprise project management office.
Prior experience in the electric utility industry or another regulated operating environment.
PgMP, PMI-ACP, SAFe, or equivalent program or agile delivery certification.
Experience delivering using both traditional stage-gate and iterative or agile approaches, with judgment about when each applies.
Experience selecting and deploying enterprise project portfolio management (PPM) tooling.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a team of Project Managers and build project management as a core Business Transformation capability.
Own the project delivery methodology and governance framework used across initiatives, including stage gates, reporting cadence, risk and issue management, and handover requirements.
Own portfolio delivery health and report performance and forecasts to executive leadership through a predictable review rhythm.
Advise leaders when delivery performance indicates that work should be rescoped, resequenced, or stopped, and uphold delivery standards at stage gates.
Own resource scheduling and capacity management across concurrent initiatives for direct Project Manager reports, coordinating with peer discipline Directors and Portfolio Managers and surfacing conflicts early.
Identify systemic causes of delivery failures across the portfolio and improve methodology, capacity, or governance to address them.
Select and/or develop, implement, and continuously improve project management tools and templates.
Build project management capability across the enterprise through standards, training, and coaching.
Manage third-party delivery resources and contractor capacity, including onboarding, standards adherence, and performance.
Contribute to Business Transformation strategy, portfolio governance, and capability planning as a leadership team member.
Champion FirstEnergy’s safety culture and ensure transformation work does not compromise safe operations.
Travel to work locations across the territory as needed and participate in storm restoration or emergency response duties if assigned.