Head of Program Management (PMO)

Location: US- Remote

Reports To: VP of Design Engineering

Position Summary:

The Head of Program Management (PMO) will lead and build a high-performing team of Program Managers responsible for driving the successful execution of strategic initiatives and customer programs across the organization. This role is critical to a switchgear/switchboard manufacturer with e-house and skid-mounted solutions, requiring deep partnership with R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Safety, and Supply Chain to deliver complex, multi-disciplinary programs on time, on budget, and to specification.

This leader will be accountable for the end-to-end success of strategic programs — from customer requirements and design through manufacturing, quality release, and delivery — while also serving as a confident, credible face of the organization in front of customers. The ideal candidate combines deep technical and manufacturing knowledge of switchgear/switchboard products with proven program leadership and executive-level communication skills.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Leadership

Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Program Managers, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Define team structure, roles, and career development paths as the PMO scales to support growing program complexity and volume.

Establish and standardize program management methodologies, tools, and governance across the organization.

Program & Portfolio Execution

Own the successful execution of strategic initiatives and customer programs, ensuring alignment with scope, schedule, cost, and quality commitments.

Establish and maintain a portfolio-level view of all active strategic programs, proactively identifying risks, resource constraints, and interdependencies.

Drive program governance including stage-gate reviews, milestone tracking, risk management, and executive reporting.

Ensure robust change management processes are in place for scope, schedule, and cost deviations.

Cross-Functional Partnership

Serve as the primary integration point between R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Safety, and Supply Chain to ensure programs move seamlessly from design through production and delivery.

Partner with Engineering/R&D on new product introduction (NPI) and custom engineered-to-order programs for switchgear, switchboards, e-houses, and skidded packages.

Work with Manufacturing and Supply Chain to align program timelines with production capacity, material lead times, and logistics constraints.

Partner with Quality and Safety to ensure programs meet all regulatory, code, and customer specification requirements throughout execution.

Customer Engagement

Act as a senior, customer-facing representative of the program management function, building trust and confidence with key accounts.

Lead or support customer program reviews, kickoff meetings, and escalation discussions, translating technical and operational detail into clear commercial communication.

Partner with Sales and Business Development to support proposal efforts, program scoping, and contract execution for strategic accounts.

Strategic Initiatives

Stand up new customer programs and strategic initiatives from the ground up, including defining program structure, success metrics, and governance cadence.

Identify and lead process improvement initiatives to increase program predictability, delivery performance, and customer satisfaction.

Provide regular reporting to executive leadership on program health, risks, and strategic outcomes.

Competencies:

Strategic thinking with strong operational execution

Executive-level communication and stakeholder management

Risk management and proactive problem-solving

Cross-functional influence without direct authority

Customer relationship management

Team building and talent development

Qualifications:

15+ years of experience in the manufacturing of switchgear, switchboards, or related electrical power distribution equipment.

Proven experience leading and building high-impact teams that have stood up and executed strategic, high-visibility customer programs.

Demonstrated success managing complex, cross-functional programs involving R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Safety, and Supply Chain.

Strong track record of customer-facing engagement, including presenting to and negotiating with external stakeholders at various levels.

Deep understanding of manufacturing processes, engineered-to-order product development, and production scheduling in an industrial equipment environment.

Excellent leadership, coaching, and people-management skills, with experience developing program management talent.

Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate clearly and confidently with senior leadership, customers, and cross-functional teams.

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field (or equivalent professional experience).

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with e-house, skid-mounted equipment, or modular power packages in addition to traditional switchgear/switchboards.

PMP, PgMP, or equivalent program/project management certification.

Experience implementing or scaling a formal PMO function within a manufacturing organization.

Familiarity with relevant industry standards and codes (e.g., UL, IEEE, NEMA, NEC) applicable to switchgear and switchboard manufacturing.

Experience with ERP/PLM systems and program management software (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, or similar).

Work Environment:

This is a remote position with regular virtual collaboration across R&D, Manufacturing, Quality, Safety, and Supply Chain teams.

Travel required (estimate: 25%) for customer visits, site meetings, and cross-site program reviews.