Director, Accelerator Program & Portfolio Management Lead

Mars UK; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 153,600 - 211,200; Full time

Job summary

Mars in Chicago seeks a Director, PMO for the Accelerator to lead enterprise portfolio management across multiple brands including KIND, Tru Fru, Nature’s Bakery, and Kellanova. You will establish scalable operating models, governance, and tools (Monday.com) to support growth and future acquisitions.

The role drives alignment, delivery predictability, and portfolio transparency, translating strategy into executable roadmaps, prioritizing investments, and coaching teams toward Agile ways of

Qualifications

• 10+ years leading enterprise PMOs, technology portfolios, or large-scale program management within complex environments.
• Proven track record establishing and scaling PMO operating models, demand management, and portfolio governance.
• Strong understanding of Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid delivery, with experience coaching teams through Agile adoption and change.
• Deep expertise in portfolio budgeting, capital planning, financial forecasting, and resource capacity management.
• Strong ability to build trusted partnerships and influence across functions without direct authority.
• Hands-on experience with enterprise work management platforms like Monday.com or ServiceNow.
• Nice-to-haves: PMP, CSM, PMI-ACP, or SAFe certifications; experience scaling Monday.com Enterprise; or background in Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)/Supply Chain.
• Entrepreneurial spirit, ownership mindset, and a genuine commitment to spreading kindness.

Responsibilities

• Own enterprise demand management, portfolio prioritization, and quarterly planning aligned with business capacity.
• Facilitate executive committees and portfolio reviews, developing dashboards and KPIs to enable data-driven decisions.
• Oversee key transformation initiatives (ERP, Supply Chain, Commercial, Data) to ensure outcomes are met on time and on budget.
• Lead the PMO’s shift toward Agile and product-oriented ways of working, driving operational excellence and tool adoption.
• Partner with leaders across Supply Chain, Finance, Sales, and IT to build executable, integrated technology roadmaps.
• Support annual capital planning, monitor portfolio financial performance, and manage vendor/resource capacity.

Skills

PMO Leadership

Operating Model

Agile Delivery

Financial Forecasting

Stakeholder Influence

Platform Tooling

Certifications

Kindness Values

Tools

Monday.com

ServiceNow

Job description

Job Description:

Are you a strategic leader who thrives on building order out of complexity and scaling multi-brand portfolios? As our Director, PMO for the Accelerator business, you will lead the PMO supporting a powerhouse of brands including KIND, Tru Fru, Nature’s Bakery, and Kellanova. Reporting directly to the Chief Digital Information Officer, you will oversee enterprise portfolio management, demand management, governance, and financial strategy—establishing the scalable operating model, governance frameworks, and tools (like Monday.com) needed to support future acquisitions and organizational growth.

Success in this highly visible role means driving organizational alignment, delivery predictability, and absolute portfolio transparency. You will partner with business and digital leaders to translate strategy into executable roadmaps, ensuring investments are prioritized, funded, and resource-allocated. Beyond traditional governance, you will actively coach teams and evolve the PMO toward modern, Agile ways of working to build organizational speed and delivery quality.

What are we looking for?

• PMO Leadership: 10+ years leading enterprise PMOs, technology portfolios, or large-scale program management within complex environments.
• Operating Model Design: Proven track record establishing and scaling PMO operating models, demand management, and portfolio governance.
• Agile & Hybrid Delivery: Strong understanding of Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid delivery, with experience coaching teams through Agile adoption and change.
• Financial & Capacity Acumen: Deep expertise in portfolio budgeting, capital planning, financial forecasting, and resource capacity management.
• Stakeholder Influence: Strong ability to build trusted partnerships and influence across functions without direct authority.
• Platform Tooling: Hands-on experience with enterprise work management platforms like Monday.com or ServiceNow.
• Nice-to-Haves: PMP, CSM, PMI-ACP, or SAFe certifications; experience scaling Monday.com Enterprise; or background in Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG)/Supply Chain.
• Hungry & Kind Values: Entrepreneurial spirit, ownership mindset, and a genuine commitment to spreading kindness.

What will be your key responsibilities?

• Strategic Portfolio Strategy: Own enterprise demand management, portfolio prioritization, and quarterly planning aligned with business capacity.
• Executive Governance: Facilitate executive committees and portfolio reviews, developing dashboards and KPIs to enable data-driven decisions.
• Strategic Program Delivery: Oversee key transformation initiatives (ERP, Supply Chain, Commercial, Data) to ensure outcomes are met on time and on budget.
• PMO Operating Model Evolution: Lead the PMO’s shift toward Agile and product-oriented ways of working, driving operational excellence and tool adoption.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner with leaders across Supply Chain, Finance, Sales, and IT to build executable, integrated technology roadmaps.
• Financial & Resource Management: Support annual capital planning, monitor portfolio financial performance, and manage vendor/resource capacity.

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.
• Best-in-class 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.

The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.

The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting:USD 153,600.00 - USD 211,200.00