Director, Strategic Initiatives

ARCO; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Industry bonus program

ESOP

401k

Tuition reimbursement

Scholarship for associates' children

Sabbatical after five years + travel

Volunteer leave

Charitable match

Job summary

ARCO is seeking a strategic, results-driven Director, Strategic Initiatives to lead enterprise portfolio execution and advance PMO governance, portfolio management, and execution standards. The role partners with senior leadership to translate strategy into actionable priorities and value-driven initiatives.

The ideal candidate brings strong business and financial acumen, executive presence, and a proven ability to guide complex transformation in a fast-paced environment across cross-functional

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field; MBA preferred.
• 10+ years in program management, PMO leadership or transformation.
• Experience building or leading an enterprise PMO or strategic portfolio.
• Ability to translate strategy into executable priorities with measurable outcomes.
• Proven track record of cross-functional transformation and change.
• Strong financial acumen with budgets and investment prioritization.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder engagement, and leadership presence.

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise portfolio execution and drive strategic initiatives.
• Establish PMO governance, standards, tools, and operating rhythms.
• Own the demand-to-project lifecycle: intake, prioritization, capacity planning.
• Partner with executives to define portfolio milestones, KPIs, and outcomes.
• Oversee complex programs from ideation to value realization.
• Develop portfolio reporting, KPIs, financial tracking, and health metrics.
• Drive strategic transformation focused on growth, efficiency, and effectiveness.
• Develop business cases and partner with Finance on benefits tracking.
• Identify and mitigate portfolio risks and remove barriers to execution.
• Collaborate with business and technology leaders on AI/automation opportunities.
• Champion change management and adoption strategies.

Skills

PMO leadership

Portfolio management

Strategic planning

Executive communication

Change management

Education

Bachelor's in Business/IT/Engineering

MBA preferred

Tools

PMO tools

Reporting platforms

AI/Automation evaluation

Job description

About You:

We are seeking a strategic and results-driven Director, Strategic Initiatives to lead enterprise portfolio execution and drive strategic initiatives that deliver measurable business outcomes. This leader will establish and advance PMO governance, portfolio management, and execution standards while partnering with senior leadership to translate strategy into actionable priorities.

As a key member of the leadership team, this role will oversee Project and Program Managers, prioritize enterprise initiatives, optimize resources, and serve as a strategic partner to leaders across the organization. The ideal candidate brings strong business and financial acumen, executive presence, and a demonstrated ability to lead complex transformation and change in a fast-paced environment.

A Day in the Life:

• Lead, mentor, and develop Project and Program Managers, fostering accountability, strategic thinking, and continuous improvement.

• Establish and mature PMO governance, standards, tools, methodologies, and operating rhythms that drive execution excellence.

• Own the demand-to-project lifecycle, including intake, qualification, prioritization, capacity planning, and resource allocation.

• Partner with executive leadership to translate strategic priorities into a focused portfolio of initiatives with clear owners, milestones, KPIs, and expected outcomes.

• Oversee complex, cross-functional programs from ideation through implementation, adoption, and value realization.

• Develop portfolio reporting, KPIs, financial tracking, and health metrics to provide leadership with visibility into progress, risks, resources, and outcomes.

• Lead strategic transformation initiatives focused on growth, productivity, operational efficiency, organizational effectiveness, and other enterprise priorities.

• Develop business cases and investment recommendations and partner with Finance to establish benefit targets and track realized impact.

• Identify and mitigate portfolio risks, remove barriers to execution, and establish accountability for milestones and outcomes.

• Partner with business and technology leaders to evaluate AI, automation, data, and emerging technology opportunities.

• Champion change management and adoption strategies to ensure new systems, processes, and operating models deliver sustainable results.

• Continuously improve PMO and transformation practices using data, performance insights, and industry best practices.

Necessary Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Information Technology, Engineering, Finance, or a related field required; MBA preferred. PMP, PgMP, or equivalent certification preferred.

• 10+ years of progressive experience in program management, PMO leadership, strategy, business transformation, operations, or related disciplines, including significant leadership experience.

• Proven experience building, transforming, or leading an enterprise PMO or strategic portfolio function.

• Demonstrated ability to translate strategy into executable priorities, measurable outcomes, and sustainable business results.

• Experience leading complex, cross-functional transformation and change initiatives.

• Strong business and financial acumen, including experience with business cases, budgets, investment prioritization, and measuring financial or operational impact.

• Exceptional analytical, strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

• Strong executive presence and ability to influence and align senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.

• Demonstrated experience managing complex portfolios, resources, budgets, and external partners.

• Excellent communication, facilitation, presentation, and stakeholder engagement skills.

• Experience with project and portfolio management tools and reporting platforms.

• Experience with organizational change management and adoption strategies.

• Experience evaluating or implementing AI, automation, data, or emerging technology solutions preferred.

• Familiarity with Agile, Waterfall, or hybrid project methodologies preferred.

What We Can Offer You:

We are dedicated to the well-being of our associates and are proud to be consistently recognized as a Best Place to Work. Our compensation and benefits package not only supports our associates and their families but benefits local communities and communities around the world.

• Industry-leading performance-based bonus program

• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

• Traditional and Roth 401k

• Tuition reimbursement for associates

• Scholarship for associates' children up to $28,000 per child

• 1-month paid sabbatical after every five years of employment, plus $5,000 for travel

• 1-week paid volunteer leave each year

• 100% charitable match