Governance Lead - Digital Grid Management

Aspen Technology•Medina, MN

4d•$136,000 - $170,000•Hybrid

About The Position

AspenTech is a global software leader whose Digital Grid Management software supports power and utilities companies in controlling, optimizing, and managing complex energy networks. The Governance Lead drives governance, operational discipline, and delivery excellence across the Professional Services organization. The role partners with project managers, delivery leaders, finance, and executives to establish governance standards, monitor portfolio performance, identify risks, and promote consistent and effective project execution. The Governance Lead advises leadership by providing visibility into organizational performance, driving accountability, and supporting informed business decisions. The role requires sound judgment in challenging project assumptions, evaluating competing priorities, and recommending timely executive intervention for complex or strategically critical engagements. The position establishes and improves portfolio governance, leads reviews and forums, monitors project health and performance, oversees risk and controls, and develops executive reporting and actionable business insights. It also supports stakeholder alignment, process improvement, adoption of best practices, and coaching in disciplined governance. The role is based in Medina, Minnesota, under AspenTech's hybrid schedule of four days in the office and one day remote per week, unless an approved exception or reasonable accommodation applies.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Project Management, Finance, or a related field.
At least 7 years of experience in project governance, PMO, portfolio management, program management, or related operational leadership roles.
Experience supporting complex technical project portfolios and cross-functional teams.
Strong analytical skills, including the ability to interpret and communicate business performance.
Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders without direct authority.
Excellent communication, facilitation, and presentation skills.
Proficiency with project management, reporting, and portfolio management tools.
Demonstrated responsibility for governance or leadership of high-complexity, multi-year, multi-stakeholder technical programs involving material financial, contractual, schedule, and delivery risk.
Working mastery of integrated project controls, including requirements and change control, critical-path scheduling, cost and margin forecasting, risk quantification, and contractual or commercial escalation.
Evidence of executive-level decision support, constructive challenge, negotiation, conflict resolution, and successful intervention in distressed or strategically critical projects.
Ability to assess portfolio strategic alignment, prioritization, interdependencies, benefits realization, and organizational capacity, beyond individual project compliance.
Must be legally authorized to work in the United States; AspenTech does not provide sponsorship for this position.

Nice To Haves

Experience in the utility, energy, engineering, or technology services industry.
PgMP, PfMP, or PMI-PMOCP certification, or demonstrated equivalent portfolio-management capability covering strategic alignment, governance, performance, risk, and communications management.
Experience with financial forecasting, project controls, and resource planning.
Knowledge of governance frameworks, risk management, and operational excellence methodologies.
Master's degree, MBA, or related field.

Responsibilities

Establish, maintain, and continuously improve governance frameworks, standards, and processes across the project portfolio.
Lead portfolio governance reviews and assess alignment with organizational priorities and strategic objectives.
Monitor project health, resource utilization, financial performance, risks, and delivery metrics.
Promote consistent project execution, documentation, reporting, and escalation processes.
Facilitate governance forums, operating reviews, and executive steering committee meetings.
Apply risk- and complexity-based governance, including differentiated oversight and escalation thresholds for complex, high-visibility, or contractually sensitive projects.
Evaluate portfolio prioritization, capacity, dependencies, and trade-offs; recommend corrective actions and resource reallocation.
Identify, assess, and track project, operational, and business risks, and drive mitigation plans with leaders.
Ensure adherence to internal controls, policies, and governance requirements; support audit readiness, compliance initiatives, and continuous improvement.
Challenge project baselines and controls, including requirements and scope, critical-path schedule, cost-to-complete, contingencies, technical performance, and contractual milestones.
Oversee governance of material changes, claims, customer commitments, and regulatory or cybersecurity-related delivery obligations, involving appropriate experts in a timely manner.
Develop and maintain executive dashboards, KPIs, performance metrics, governance reports, and presentations.
Analyze portfolio trends and performance measures, providing actionable recommendations and data-driven insights for strategic decisions.
Partner with delivery leaders, project managers, engineering leaders, and business stakeholders to drive accountability and execution.
Support leadership in communicating governance expectations and organizational priorities; facilitate cross-functional alignment and help resolve conflicts or escalations.
Act as a trusted advisor to the Sr. Director, Governance Practice.
Engage with senior customer sponsors and internal executives on delivery recovery, commercial exposure, strategic trade-offs, and decisions requiring cross-functional commitment.
Identify and drive improvements in operational efficiency, project controls, governance effectiveness, tools, and standardized methodologies.
Support organizational change initiatives and foster accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
Coach delivery leaders and project managers on governance maturity, evidence-based decision-making, and disciplined management of complex programs.