Principal Portfolio Project Manager

Avantor•Cambridge, MA

2d•$122,000 - $196,075

About The Position

Avantor is seeking a highly experienced Principal Portfolio Project Manager to lead a portfolio of complex global programs and capital investments within its Life Sciences business. The role combines portfolio management with project execution, ensuring strategic initiatives are prioritized, funded, governed, and delivered to achieve business objectives. The position oversees concurrent large-scale CAPEX and business transformation initiatives across functions including manufacturing, engineering, operations, EHS, PSM, IT, real estate, supply chain, and commercial. Working in a matrixed global organization, the role coordinates cross-functional teams and external partners to deliver projects against approved business case objectives. Projects may reach $100 million, requiring executive communication, strategic leadership, disciplined governance, and a record of measurable business outcomes. The role manages investment priorities, resources, risks, and capital allocation across a portfolio. It leads programs from concept through commissioning, qualification, startup, and operational handover, and supports portfolio roadmaps, governance reviews, investment decisions, and executive reporting. The position also develops and validates business cases, manages budgets and schedules, tracks benefits, leads stakeholder and vendor relationships, and supports change management and operational readiness. It provides thought leadership and coaching in portfolio management, capital program execution, project governance, and PMO practices. Avantor describes itself as a global team of more than 14,000 associates advancing life-changing science. The company states that it supports employee career growth through a diverse, equitable, and inclusive culture and learning experiences. The expected pre-tax pay range is $122,000 to $196,075; actual pay may vary based on relevant factors such as experience and geographic location.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Operations, Manufacturing, Business, or a related discipline.
Minimum of 12 years of progressive project, program, and portfolio management experience, including leadership of global CAPEX projects and strategic business initiatives.
Demonstrated success managing large-scale capital projects and cross-functional business programs.
PMP certification from the Project Management Institute, or willingness to obtain it within a defined timeframe.
Proven experience managing scope, schedule, budget, resources, and risk across global programs.
Strong understanding of portfolio governance, prioritization methodologies, capital planning, and resource optimization.
Ability to balance competing priorities and recommend investments that maximize organizational value.
Strong understanding of business strategy, operations, financial planning, and organizational goals; ability to translate complex challenges into executable solutions and evaluate long-term investment implications.
Extensive knowledge of project management principles and lifecycle methodologies, with a strong record of delivering large-scale, multi-site CAPEX initiatives.
Ability to lead multiple projects and programs simultaneously and influence leaders and teams without direct authority.
Exceptional verbal and written communication, presentation, and facilitation skills, including the ability to communicate with executives, business leaders, and technical teams.
Strong negotiation and relationship management skills and experience working with contractors, vendors, engineering firms, regulators, and municipalities.
Ability to develop productive partnerships across diverse stakeholder groups.
High degree of autonomy, accountability, strategic thinking, and sound judgment in complex operational, financial, technical, and organizational situations.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration (MBA), Project Management, or a related discipline.
Experience in Life Sciences, pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, specialty chemicals, or similarly regulated industries.
Experience providing executive portfolio reporting and facilitating investment decisions.

Responsibilities

Manage and prioritize a portfolio of strategic initiatives and capital investments across Engineering, Operations, EHS, PSM, Real Estate, IT, Supply Chain, and Commercial functions.
Evaluate and balance investments based on strategic alignment, business value, risk, resource availability, and organizational capacity.
Partner with business leaders to develop and maintain multi-year portfolio roadmaps.
Facilitate portfolio governance reviews, investment decisions, funding approvals, and executive prioritization discussions.
Identify portfolio-level risks, dependencies, constraints, and opportunities to optimize value delivery.
Develop executive portfolio dashboards and reporting on capital deployment, resource utilization, project performance, and business outcomes.
Ensure portfolio investments align with approved business cases, operational priorities, and enterprise strategy.
Lead multiple concurrent global programs and CAPEX projects across manufacturing and operational domains.
Manage end-to-end project execution from concept through commissioning, qualification, startup, and operational handover.
Lead global cross-functional teams without direct reporting authority.
Manage projects involving process equipment, assembly systems, manufacturing technologies, automation, and facility infrastructure across global locations.
Lead facility expansions, process improvements, equipment installations, operational efficiency projects, and capital investment programs.
Support projects focused on EHS, PSM, IT, Commercial, Supply Chain, and Real Estate initiatives.
Ensure technical solutions meet quality, compliance, safety, operational, and business requirements.
Drive projects through a structured stage-gate process, ensuring documentation, stakeholder engagement, approvals, and governance at each phase.
Prepare and present business cases, project charters, gate reviews, and investment recommendations to senior leadership.
Lead executive reviews and recommend project continuation, acceleration, modification, or termination.
Control project budgets, forecasts, schedules, risks, and financial performance.
Manage portfolio-level capital planning, forecasting, cash flow projections, and benefit realization tracking.
Ensure projects achieve approved business case objectives and KPI targets; develop integrated schedules and mitigate risks to cost and timing.
Optimize allocation of capital and resources across competing initiatives.
Develop, validate, and maintain project business cases and investment justifications.
Establish measurable KPIs and benefit realization targets and track actual performance after implementation.
Ensure projects deliver expected productivity, capacity, quality, compliance, cost reduction, and revenue objectives.
Collaborate with stakeholders across Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Commercial, EHS, and IT.
Manage relationships with contractors, equipment suppliers, engineering firms, consultants, regulatory agencies, and municipalities.
Support procurement, vendor selection, contract negotiations, and supplier performance management.
Provide direct and indirect leadership to project teams across multiple regions and business functions; foster collaboration, accountability, transparency, and execution excellence.
Mentor and coach project managers and team members on project management best practices.
Communicate portfolio and project performance to executives through concise, data-driven reporting on portfolio health, capital deployment, status, risks, and outcomes.
Drive stakeholder engagement, communication planning, organizational readiness, and adoption activities.
Prepare business operations to transition to new processes, systems, and facility capabilities, supporting sustainable implementation and benefit realization.
Operate autonomously, address complex issues and deviations, analyze ambiguous situations, and make significant recommendations on investment priorities, resource allocation, and execution strategies.
Serve as a subject matter expert in portfolio management, capital program execution, project governance, and PMO best practices.
Contribute to improving project management methodologies, stage-gate processes, governance frameworks, and portfolio management practices; provide coaching, mentoring, and informal training across the PMO.

Benefits

Medical coverage
Dental coverage
Vision coverage
Wellness programs
Health savings account
Flexible spending account
401(k) plan with company match
Employee stock purchase program
11 paid holidays
Accrual of 18 PTO days annually
Volunteer time off
Six weeks of 100% paid parental leave, except in states that offer paid family leave
Learning experiences to support career growth and success