Senior Programme Lead - Portfolio and Value Management

Mars; Warszawa; On-site; PLN 260,000 - 380,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars is seeking a Senior Lead – Portfolio and Value Management to drive enterprise-wide portfolio strategy and ensure investments deliver measurable business value aligned with objectives. You will govern portfolios, influence senior leadership decisions, and own outcomes related to prioritisation, resource optimisation and benefits realisation.

As a senior leader, you will partner with Product Owners, Digital Platform Owners and Technology Leads to ensure cohesive execution, manage intake,

Qualifications

• Extensive years of experience in portfolio and program management within large, complex enterprises.
• Proven ability to establish intake and prioritisation frameworks.
• Driving strategic alignment and value realisation.
• Leading cross-functional programs and initiatives.
• Resource capacity planning and optimisation.
• Experience working with senior leadership and governance bodies to influence strategic decisions.
• Exceptional communication, executive presence, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Familiarity with portfolio management tools (e.g., Jira, Smartsheet).
• Strong understanding of budgeting, cost tracking, and benefit realisation.

Responsibilities

• Define Outcome-Oriented Portfolio Roadmap: Develop and maintain a strategic portfolio roadmap aligned with business objectives.
• Prioritise Portfolio Demand: Streamline intake and prioritise initiatives based on value and impact.
• Optimise Portfolio Performance: Drive throughput, resource utilisation, and delivery efficiency.
• Oversee Benefits Realisation: Define, monitor, and report KPIs, OKRs, and value metrics.
• Orchestrate Resource Capacity Planning: Forecast and allocate resources to meet demand and timelines.
• Manage and Communicate Value, Risk, and Cost: Track performance, risks, and costs transparency.
• Oversee Strategic Programs: Lead complex, cross-functional initiatives with adaptive delivery models.
• Influence Stakeholders Across the Enterprise: Align with strategic objectives; lead Product Owners and Tech Leads.
• Establish and Manage Intake Process: Design standardised intake criteria aligned with goals.
• Prioritise Portfolio Demand: Apply models; facilitate decision forums to align with strategy.
• Define and Maintain Outcome-Oriented Portfolio Roadmap: Ensure visibility from intake to delivery.
• Optimize Portfolio Performance: Identify bottlenecks and improve flow and value.
• Oversee Benefits Realisation: Define KPIs and report on benefits achievement.
• Manage Portfolio Value, Risk, and Cost: Maintain transparency and mitigation strategies.
• Lead Strategic Programs: Ensure alignment with priorities and outcomes.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Communication: Maintain transparent updates across business and technology.
• Risk and Dependency Management: Identify cross-portfolio risks and dependencies; coordinate mitigation.

Skills

Portfolio management

Program management

Stakeholder engagement

Executive communication

Strategic alignment

Resource capacity planning

Benefits realisation

Cross-functional leadership

Governance

Risk and cost management

Tools

Jira

Smartsheet

Job description

The Senior Lead – Portfolio and Value Management is accountable for driving enterprise-wide portfolio strategy, ensuring investments deliver measurable business value and align with business objectives. This role leads portfolio governance, influences senior leadership decisions, and owns outcomes related to strategic prioritisation, resource optimisation, and benefits realisation.

What are we looking for?

• Extensive years of experience in portfolio and program management within large, complex enterprises.
• Proven ability in:
• Establishing and managing intake and prioritisation frameworks
• Driving strategic alignment and value realisation
• Leading cross-functional programs and initiatives
• Resource capacity planning and optimisation
• Experience working with senior leadership and governance bodies to influence strategic decisions.
• Exceptional communication, executive presence, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Familiarity with portfolio management tools (e.g., Jira, Smartsheet).
• Strong understanding of financial management, including budgeting, cost tracking, and benefit realisation.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Define Outcome-Oriented Portfolio Roadmap: Develop and maintain a strategic portfolio roadmap aligned with business, segment objectives and adaptable to change.
• Prioritise Portfolio Demand: Streamline intake and prioritise initiatives based on business value and strategic impact.
• Optimise Portfolio Performance: Drive continuous improvement in throughput, resource utilisation, and delivery efficiency.
• Oversee Benefits Realisation: Define, monitor, and report on KPIs, OKRs, and value metrics to ensure strategic outcomes are achieved.
• Orchestrate Resource Capacity Planning: Forecast, allocate, and adjust resources to meet portfolio demand and delivery timelines.
• Manage and Communicate Value, Risk, and Cost: Track portfolio performance, risks, and costs to ensure transparency and value realisation.
• Oversee Strategic Programs: Lead complex, cross-functional initiatives using up-to-date and adaptive delivery models.
• Influence Stakeholders Across the Enterprise: Influence senior leaderships and initiatives owners to align with organisation strategic objectives. Lead Product Owners, Digital Platform Owners, and Technology Leads to ensure cohesive execution.
• Establish and Manage Intake Process: Design and implement a standardised intake framework for portfolio initiatives. Ensure intake criteria align with strategic goals, business value, and feasibility.
• Prioritise Portfolio Demand: Apply prioritisation models to assess initiatives. Facilitate and influence decision-making forums to align prioritisation with enterprise strategy.
• Define and Maintain Outcome-Oriented Portfolio Roadmap: Develop a dynamic roadmap that reflects strategic objectives and adapts to change. Ensure visibility and traceability of initiatives from intake to delivery.
• Optimize Portfolio Performance: Monitor throughput, resource utilisation, and delivery efficiency. Identify and remove bottlenecks to improve flow and value realisation.
• Oversee Benefits Realisation: Influence definition of KPIs, OKRs, and value metrics for initiatives. Track and report on benefits realisation to ensure strategic outcomes are achieved.
• Manage Portfolio Value, Risk, and Cost: Maintain transparency of portfolio performance, risks, and financials. Escalate risks and recommend mitigation strategies.
• Lead Strategic Programs: Oversee complex, cross-functional programs using traditional and adaptive delivery models. Ensure alignment with portfolio priorities and strategic outcomes.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Communication: Maintain regular communication with stakeholders across business and technology. Ensure transparency of portfolio decisions, progress, and outcomes.
• Risk and Dependency Management: Identify and manage cross-portfolio risks and dependencies : Coordinate mitigation plans and contingency strategies. Training, support and consultation for partners, federated users, and key stakeholders

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.
• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.
• A strong focus on learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.
• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

Disclaimer: Mars is an equal opportunity employer and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process because of a disability, it is available upon request. The company is pleased to provide such assistance, and no applicant will be penalised as a result of such a request.