Director IT - PMO

Penumbra, Inc.; Alameda (CA); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a Director of PMO & Business Process Improvement to lead transformative initiatives that enhance operational efficiency and optimize business processes. This pivotal role involves overseeing the Project Management Office, driving continuous improvement, and fostering a high-performance culture aligned with strategic goals. The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership and analytical skills, with a proven track record in managing projects and implementing best practices like Lean and Six Sigma. Join a collaborative environment where your contributions will play a vital role in revolutionizing healthcare solutions and improving patient outcomes.

Benefits

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) with employer match

Employee stock purchase plan

Paid parental leave

Paid sick time

Generous vacation policy

Paid company holidays

Collaborative work environment

Qualifications

• 10+ years in business process improvement and project management.
• Leadership experience managing PMO functions or large-scale initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Lead the IT PMO and ensure delivery excellence across projects.
• Drive enterprise-wide business process improvement initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical Thinking

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Problem-Solving

Change Management

Stakeholder Management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Information Technology

Master’s degree or MBA

Tools

MS Project

Smartsheet

JIRA

Visio

Signavio

Blueworks

Job description

The Director of PMO & Business Process Improvement will lead enterprise-wide initiatives to enhance operational efficiency, optimize business processes, and oversee the Project Management Office (PMO) within the IT function. This role is pivotal in driving continuous improvement, standardizing business operations, and ensuring strategic project execution across the organization. The ideal candidate will combine strong leadership, analytical thinking, and cross-functional collaboration skills to build a high-performance, process-driven culture aligned with organizational goals.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities

PMO Leadership

1. Direct the IT Project Management Office (PMO) and ensure delivery excellence across all projects and programs.
2. Establish and enforce standardized project management methodologies, tools, and governance practices.
3. Oversee project portfolio management, ensuring alignment of project objectives with business priorities and strategic goals.
4. Manage project lifecycle execution from initiation to closure—ensuring scope, timeline, budget, risk, and quality standards are met.
5. Develop and maintain project dashboards and reporting mechanisms to provide visibility to executive leadership.
6. Guide resource allocation, project prioritization, and capacity planning to optimize value delivery.
7. Implement project performance tracking and continuous improvement practices for project execution maturity.
8. Coach and mentor project managers and business analysts to enhance team capability and performance.

Business Process Improvement

1. Lead enterprise-wide business process improvement initiatives to streamline operations, eliminate inefficiencies, and enhance productivity.
2. Develop and implement a business process improvement framework that aligns with organizational strategy and operational goals.
3. Collaborate with business units to identify opportunities for process standardization, automation, and performance optimization.
4. Facilitate process mapping, gap analysis, and root cause analysis to drive data-informed decision-making.
5. Champion a continuous improvement culture by applying Lean, Six Sigma, or other best-practice methodologies.
6. Drive adoption of process improvements through effective change management strategies and stakeholder engagement.
7. Measure and track process performance using KPIs, benchmarks, and metrics to ensure continuous value delivery.
8. Partner with IT to evaluate, select, and implement enabling technologies and tools that support optimized workflows.

Qualifications & Experience

1. Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field; Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
2. 10+ years of progressive experience in business process improvement, operational excellence, and project/program management.
3. 5+ years of leadership experience managing PMO functions or large-scale process transformation initiatives.
4. Proven experience applying Lean, Six Sigma, or other process improvement methodologies (certification preferred: Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt).
5. Strong knowledge of project management standards and methodologies (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, Agile/Scrum certifications a plus).
6. Demonstrated success in leading cross-functional initiatives and managing enterprise-level project portfolios.
7. Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
8. Ability to analyze complex problems, influence at all levels, and deliver impactful outcomes.
9. Familiarity with project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, JIRA) and process modeling tools (e.g., Visio, Signavio, Blueworks).
10. Experience in regulated industries (e.g., healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing) is a plus.

Soft Skills and Leadership Capabilities

1. Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to align business and IT priorities.
2. Excellent problem-solving, analytical, and decision-making abilities.
3. Experience in change management and business process improvement.
4. High ethical standards and a commitment to business integrity and operational excellence.

Working Conditions:

General office environment. Willingness and ability to work on site. Must be able to move between buildings and floors. Must be able to remain stationary and use a computer or other standard office equipment, such as a printer or copy machine, for an extensive period of time each day. Must be able to read, prepare emails, and produce documents and spreadsheets. Must be able to move within the office and access file cabinets or supplies, as needed. Must be able to communicate and exchange accurate information with employees at all levels on a daily basis.

Annual Base Salary Range: $200,000 - $250,000 / year

We offer a competitive compensation package plus a benefits and equity program, when applicable. Individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location.

What We Offer

1. A collaborative teamwork environment where learning is constant, and performance is rewarded.
2. The opportunity to be part of the team that is revolutionizing the treatment of some of the world's most devastating diseases.
3. A generous benefits package for eligible employees that includes medical, dental, vision, life, AD&D, short and long-term disability insurance, 401(k) with employer match, an employee stock purchase plan, paid parental leave, eleven paid company holidays per year, a minimum of fifteen days of accrued vacation per year, which increases with tenure, and paid sick time in compliance with applicable law(s).

Penumbra, Inc., headquartered in Alameda, California, is a global healthcare company focused on innovative therapies. Penumbra designs, develops, manufactures, and markets novel products and has a broad portfolio that addresses challenging medical conditions in markets with significant unmet need. Penumbra sells its products to hospitals and healthcare providers primarily through its direct sales organization in the United States, most of Europe, Canada, and Australia, and through distributors in select international markets. The Penumbra logo is a trademark of Penumbra, Inc.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

If you reside in the State of California, please also refer to Penumbra's Privacy Notice for California Residents.

For additional information on Penumbra’s commitment to being an equal opportunity employer, please see Penumbra's AAP Policy Statement.