Director, IT PMO at Nordson Corporation in Amherst, Ohio

Job Description:

Collaboration drives Nordson's success as a market leader in Industrial Precision Solutions and Advanced Technology. Our employees thrive in an environment where we help each other reach our personal best and enable our company to continuously improve and grow, and our customers to succeed. You will find Nordson employees sharing our success by giving back in the communities around the world where we live and work.


Nordson is seeking a highly skilled PMO (Project Management Office) Director to lead our Project Management Office. At Nordson, the Director of IT Project Management Office (PMO) will oversee all aspects of project management, including project portfolio management, process standardization, resource allocation, and continuous improvement initiatives. Collaborating closely with Nordson's executive team, as well as senior and mid-level leaders, this role will shape the strategic direction of the PMO to effectively manage programs and projects, support mergers & acquisition activities, and drive them towards specific business objectives.


As the leader of the PMO team, you are ultimately accountable for successful delivery of the project portfolios. You will be required to influence and negotiate with senior and executive business leaders across the organization to ensure business needs are met and project portfolio is successful. You will be directly instrumental in cultivating a culture of excellence in program and project management, leveraging industry best practices and toolkits to achieve outstanding results. Key responsibilities include enhancing the overall waterfall methodology, refining the PPM (Project Portfolio Management) process, and implementing agile methodologies to adapt to evolving project needs and industry trends.


This role offers a unique opportunity to lead and mentor a talented team while driving transformative change across the organization. If you're a visionary leader with a passion for project management excellence and a proven track record of success, we encourage you to apply and join us on our journey towards innovation and growth.


The role is also expected to accomplish other responsibilities as defined.



Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities




Leadership and Strategy:

• Develop and implement the strategic vision, processes, and direction for the PMO in alignment with organizational goals and objectives.


• Facilitates consensus around the PMO mission and vision to cultivate an agile oriented mindset while building product and project-oriented capabilities aligned with value delivery.


• Provide leadership and guidance to the project managers team and senior-level business community, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation.


• Contributes to the development of operational strategy and annual business plans


• Manage executive stakeholder engagement, negotiations, escalation and execution needs.


• Influence and negotiate with senior and executive business leaders across the organization to ensure alignment on PMO practice, collaborate on resolving project challenges and needs across project portfolio.

Project Portfolio Management:

• Oversee the end-to-end management of the program/project portfolio, including prioritization, risk management and business value realization.


• Enhance solution delivery methodology and increase adoption across IT and business organizations


• Ensure effective project governance, from initiation and planning to execution, monitoring, and closure.


• Define and refine project management standards, methodologies, and tools, streamlining processes and improving project delivery practices.


• Ensure the effective utilization of waterfall, iterative, and agile delivery models to meet evolving business needs.


• Accountable for resolution of highly complex business and IT solution deliver issues, ensuring a

Agile Methodology:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive strategy for establishing Agile practices tailored to Nordson's organizational needs and goals.


• Lead the design and execution of Agile training programs for employees at all levels, ensuring widespread adoption and understanding of Agile principles and methodologies.


• Provide coaching and mentorship to teams and individuals on Agile frameworks, including Scrum, Kanban, and Lean, to optimize their understanding, performance and productivity.


• Leverage industry knowledge of solution delivery methodologies including Agile, DevOps, CI/CD to support business performance goals

Talent Management:

• Attract, develop, and lead a world-class IT organization, establishing a team culture of innovation and collaboration.

• Enhance resource capacity and utilization to ensure optimal resource productivity.


• Foster a collaborative and inclusive environment where experimentation, learning, and adaptation are encouraged.


• Set clear goals and objectives for the team and provide guidance towards their professional development.

Stakeholder Engagement and Performance Measurement:

• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to measure project performance and PMO effectiveness in alignment division and segment business objectives.


• Prepare and present regular status reports and dashboards to executive leadership, providing insights into project status, risks & issues, trends, and identified opportunities for improvement.


• Collaborate with key stakeholders to understand business needs, priorities, and expectations. Support development of business cases and project charters.


• Ensure strategic alignment through prioritization, resource capacity management, key result tracking and program management to achieve strategic vision.

Education and Experience Requirements




REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS, SKILLS, AND EXPERIENCE:

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, information technology, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.


• 10+ years of experience in program and project management, with at least 5 years in a leadership role within a PMO.


• Proven track record of successfully establishing and scaling Agile practices in complex organizational environments.


• PMP (Project Management Professional), Agile certification or equivalent project management certification required.


• Demonstrated leadership and strategic thinking abilities, with the ability to drive organizational change and alignment.


• Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and inspire change at all levels of the organization.


• Demonstrated ability to drive process standardization, innovation, and continuous improvement initiatives.


• Financial fluency and ability to manage budgets and articulate and demonstrate return on investment for IT.

PREFERRED COMPETENCIES AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• Master's degree in project management, management information systems, business administration, or related field.


• Prior experience with SAP or similar ERP implementation.


• Experience with leading mergers and acquisition.


• Change Management certification (e.g., PROSCI).

Skills and Abilities

• Act as an organizational change agent for improving PPM maturity and practices, in support of business/division goals and strategy.


• Utilize effective frameworks, best practices, and methodologies.


• Establish trust and motivate actions among executive stakeholders and leadership team members.


• Effectively communicate ideas and influence across the various business divisions, segments, and corporate organization.


• Stay informed on business priorities, solution delivery trends, and emerging technologies.


• Establish and communicate project value propositions to executive business stakeholders and IT leadership.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands



To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability needed. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.



Travel Required



None


Minimal


Estimated 25%


Nordson Corporation gives equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees. No person is to be discriminated against in any aspect of the employment relationship due to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.


All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of our pre-employment drug screening and background/criminal check, consistent with applicable laws.
Nordson Corporation provides equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees. No person is to be discriminated against in any aspect of the employment relationship due to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, citizenship status, marital status, pregnancy, veteran status or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. All employment offers are contingent upon successful completion of our pre-employment drug screening and background/criminal check, consistent with applicable laws.Third party recruiters and agencies should not contact employees of Nordson or its subsidiaries directly. Any resumes sent to a hiring manager or submitted to Nordson employees are considered unsolicited and property of Nordson. Nordson will not pay a placement fee unless the agency or recruiter has a signed contract with Nordson's Human Resources department in advance of submitting a candidate for consideration. Verbal and written approvals will not be considered a valid contract for service. Apply Now