Senior Manager, Project Management Office

gategroup•Reston, VA

2d•Onsite

About The Position

The Manager, Project Management Office (PMO) is responsible for defining, managing, and driving the execution of Project Management Office activities across North America. Reporting to the PMO Director, this position serves as the critical bridge between strategic intent and operational execution, translating organizational priorities into disciplined, well-governed project delivery. This role partners cross-functionally with culinary operations, supply chain, IT, finance, quality assurance, and airline account management to ensure initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and to the highest standards of quality and safety. The Manager will lead monthly operational reporting, manage the PMO portfolio, and drive continuous improvement across U.S. operating units.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required; preference for Engineering, Operations Management, Data Science, Economics, Finance, or Accounting.
Minimum 16 years of progressive experience in project management, consulting, finance, or operations planning.
Proven track record of delivering complex, multi-stakeholder projects from initiation through close in aviation, airline catering, or manufacturing environments.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority at all levels of the organization.
Expert proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint; experience with operations simulation or linear programming is a plus.
Proficiency in project management tools such as MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, or Monday.com.
PMO, PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification required.
Strong financial and analytical acumen including statistics, financial modeling, and performance reporting.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt a plus; HACCP and food safety management system experience a plus.
Deep understanding of operations efficiency metrics and continuous improvement frameworks.
Strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into executable plans.
Excellent communicator — able to present complex information clearly to audiences at all levels.
Results-driven, hands-on approach with a high sense of urgency and accountability.
Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple workstreams simultaneously.
Proficient in English; additional languages are an asset.

Nice To Haves

MBA or Master's degree with a concentration in Finance or Operations Management is a strong plus.
Experience with operations simulation or linear programming is a plus.
Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt a plus; HACCP and food safety management system experience a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end delivery of strategic initiatives — from initiation and planning through execution and closeout — ensuring alignment with cost, timing, and quality targets.
Apply recognized methodologies (PMI, PRINCE2, Agile) to structure project charters, work breakdown structures, resource plans, RACI matrices, and communications plans.
Manage and resolve project/resource interdependencies; escalate and mitigate risks proactively.
Develop and enforce PMO standards, tools, templates, and governance processes across the organization.
Maintain a consolidated PMO portfolio view, prioritizing resources and managing interdependencies across concurrent initiatives.
Conduct post-project reviews and capture lessons learned to continuously improve delivery timelines and outcomes.
Own the monthly operational reporting cycle, including Monthly Business Reviews (MBRs) for U.S. leadership.
Present critical business risk/reward analyses to support complex executive decision-making.
Develop and maintain operational performance dashboards and KPI frameworks providing visibility at both station and network levels.
Liaise with functional teams to meet project reporting requirements; develop common tools and templates to streamline information flow.
Communicate project status, issues, and risks to key stakeholders and leadership on a timely basis.
Identify and prioritize operational inefficiencies across production, logistics, inventory, quality, and safety through data-driven analysis.
Design and lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent methodologies to reduce waste, improve yields, and drive cost efficiency.
Support the Key Event Schedule (KES) and compliance for the operations standardization journey across U.S. units.
Manage all elements of project expansion initiatives (e.g., Kronos implementation) through to steady-state integration.
Build and lead cross-functional project teams; drive accountability and timely closure on action items and deliverables.
Establish project objectives and translate them into detailed requirements supporting financial, compliance, and customer satisfaction goals.
Develop written proposals for new initiatives to secure executive sponsorship and approval.
Integrate global operational standards across U.S. operating units in coordination with regional leadership.