Project Manager

gategroup; Reston (VA); On-site; USD 125,000 - 135,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid time off

401k with company match

Company sponsored life insurance

Voluntary disability insurance

Voluntary life & accident insurance

Hospital coverage

Employee Assistance Program

Employee discounts

Job summary

Gate Gourmet, a gategroup company, seeks a Manager, PMO to lead North American project governance and delivery. You will bridge strategy and execution, coordinating culinary ops, supply chain, IT, finance, and quality assurance to ensure timely, scoped, high-quality outcomes.

The role emphasizes monthly reporting, portfolio management, and continuous improvement across U.S. units, with a focus on cost, time, and quality targets.

Qualifications

• Minimum bachelor’s degree required; MBA or related master’s degree is a strong plus.
• Demonstrated experience leading multi-stakeholder projects in aviation or manufacturing.
• Proven ability to translate strategy into disciplined program execution.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end delivery of strategic initiatives from initiation to closeout.
• Apply PMI, PRINCE2, and Agile methodologies to charters, WBS, and governance.
• Manage interdependencies, mitigate risks, and enforce PMO standards.
• Maintain consolidated PMO portfolio view and drive continuous improvement.
• Produce monthly operational reports and management-level dashboards.

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA or Master's in Finance/Operations

Tools

MS Project

Smartsheet

Jira

Monday.com

Job description

Gate Gourmet, a gategroup company, is the world's largest independent provider of catering and provisioning services for the airline industry. For the past 70 years, we have served over 250 carriers in more than 30 countries. Gate Gourmet combines culinary expertise with the highest standards of food safety and production to deliver delicious, healthy, and affordable meals to over 270 million travelers around the globe.

Job Summary

The Manager, Project Management Office (PMO) is responsible for defining, managing, and driving the execution of Project Management Office activities across North America. Reporting to the PMO Director, this position serves as the critical bridge between strategic intent and operational execution, translating organizational priorities into disciplined, well-governed project delivery.

This role partners cross-functionally with culinary operations, supply chain, IT, finance, quality assurance, and airline account management to ensure initiatives are delivered on time, within scope, and to the highest standards of quality and safety. The Manager will lead monthly operational reporting, manage the PMO portfolio, and drive continuous improvement across U.S. operating units.

Annual Hiring Range

• $125,000 - $135,000 Per Year
• Paid time off
• 401k, with company match
• Company sponsored life insurance
• Voluntary short-term/long-term disability insurance
• Voluntary life, accident, and hospital plans
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employee Discounts

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Project Delivery & Governance

• Lead end-to-end delivery of strategic initiatives — from initiation and planning through execution and closeout — ensuring alignment with cost, timing, and quality targets.
• Apply recognized methodologies (PMI, PRINCE2, Agile) to structure project charters, work breakdown structures, resource plans, RACI matrices, and communications plans.
• Manage and resolve project/resource interdependencies; elevate and mitigate risks proactively.
• Develop and enforce PMO standards, tools, templates, and governance processes across the organization.
• Maintain a consolidated PMO portfolio view, prioritizing resources and managing interdependencies across concurrent initiatives.
• Conduct post-project reviews and capture lessons learned to continuously improve delivery timelines and outcomes.

Stakeholder Communication & Reporting

• Own the monthly operational reporting cycle, including Monthly Business Reviews (MBRs) for U.S. leadership.
• Present critical business risk/reward analyses to support complex executive decision-making.
• Develop and maintain operational performance dashboards and KPI frameworks providing visibility at both station and network levels.
• Liaise with functional teams to meet project reporting requirements; develop common tools and templates to streamline information flow.
• Communicate project status, issues, and risks to key stakeholders and leadership on a timely basis.

Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement

• Identify and prioritize operational inefficiencies across production, logistics, inventory, quality, and safety through data-driven analysis.
• Design and lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent methodologies to reduce waste, improve yields, and drive cost efficiency.
• Support the Key Event Schedule (KES) and compliance for the operations standardization journey across U.S. units.
• Manage all elements of project expansion initiatives (e.g., Kronos implementation) through to steady-state integration.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Build and lead cross-functional project teams; drive accountability and timely closure on action items and deliverables.
• Establish project objectives and translate them into detailed requirements supporting financial, compliance, and customer satisfaction goals.
• Develop written proposals for new initiatives to secure executive sponsorship and approval.
• Integrate global operational standards across U.S. operating units in coordination with regional leadership.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor's degree required; preference for Engineering, Operations Management, Data Science, Economics, Finance, or Accounting.
• MBA or Master's degree with a concentration in Finance or Operations Management is a strong plus.

Experience

• Minimum 16 years of progressive experience in project management, consulting, finance, or operations planning.
• Proven track record of delivering complex, multi-stakeholder projects from initiation through close in aviation, airline catering, or manufacturing environments.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence without direct authority at all levels of the organization.

Technical Skills

• Expert proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint; experience with operations simulation or linear programming is a plus.
• Proficiency in project management tools such as MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, or Monday.com.
• PMO, PMP, PRINCE2, or equivalent project management certification required.
• Strong financial and analytical acumen including statistics, financial modeling, and performance reporting.
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt a plus; HACCP and food safety management system experience a plus.
• Deep understanding of operations efficiency metrics and continuous improvement frameworks.

Core Competencies

• Strategic thinking with the ability to translate vision into executable plans.
• Excellent communicator — able to present complex information clearly to audiences at all levels.
• Results-driven, hands-on approach with a high sense of urgency and accountability.
• Ability to manage competing priorities and multiple workstreams simultaneously.
• Proficient in English; additional languages are an asset.

Job Dimensions

Geographic Responsibility: NA

Type of Employment: Full-time

Travel %: up to 30%

Exemption Classification: Exempt

Internal Relationships: all internal departments

External Relationships:Suppliers and external customers

Work Environment / Requirements of the Job:Regular Office Environment, may spend some time working in food storerooms

Budget / Revenue Responsibility: NA

Gategroup Competencies Required to be Successful in the Job

• Thinking – Information Search and analysis & problem resolution skills
• Engaging – Understanding others, Team Leadership and Developing People
• Inspiring – Influencing and building relationships, Motivating and Inspiring, Communicating effectively
• Achieving – Delivering business results under pressure, Championing Performance Improvement and Customer Focus

Demonstrated Values to be Successful in the Position

Employees at gategroup are expected to live our Values of Excellence, Integrity, Passion and Accountability. To demonstrate these Values, we expect to observe the following from everyone:

• We treat each other with respect and we act with integrity
• We communicate and keep each other informed
• We put our heads together to problem solve and deliver excellence as a team
• We have passion for our work and we pay attention to the little details
• We foster an environment of accountability, take responsibility for our actions and learn from our mistakes
• We do what we say we will do, when we say we are going to do it
• We care about our coworkers, always taking an opportunity to make someone’s day better

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by the individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, and skills required. Management reserves the right to modify, add, or remove duties and to assign other duties as necessary. In addition, reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

gategroup is an equal opportunity employer committed to workforce diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran status, disability status or other category under applicable law.