Senior Director - Governance PMO Business Performance

CBRE; Campbell (CA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Dental insurance

Health insurance

Life insurance

Vision insurance

Job summary

CBRE Government & Defense Services seeks a Senior Director, Governance, PMO & Business Performance to lead enterprise governance, portfolio performance management, and strategic execution across federal contracting. This role partners with executive leadership to drive accountability, compliance, and growth while ensuring operational discipline and risk management.

The Senior Director will oversee the PMO, performance reporting, and strategic initiatives, shaping governance processes and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Proven leadership experience in government contracting or regulated industry.
• PMP certification preferred.
• Experience leading PMOs, governance, or enterprise performance programs.
• Strong communication, executive engagement, and analytical capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead governance framework with executive reviews, performance reviews, risk councils, and strategic planning forums.
• Design governance processes providing visibility into operational performance, contract execution, financial performance, compliance posture, and risks.
• Develop executive dashboards, scorecards, and reporting packages for informed decision-making.
• Advise executive leadership on performance, operations, and risk mitigation.
• Align strategic priorities with operational initiatives and customer commitments.
• Lead the PMO and establish standards and practices for program execution across the portfolio.
• Drive portfolio management processes for schedule, cost, resource allocation, and risk oversight.
• Support program managers in executing contractual requirements and addressing performance gaps.
• Oversee strategic initiatives and business transformation for scalability and outcomes.
• Promote continuous improvement and operational excellence.
• Design and maintain the business performance framework with KPIs and metrics.
• Monitor revenue, profitability, backlog, labor utilization, and portfolio health.
• Analyze performance trends and recommend efficiency improvements.
• Facilitate quarterly business reviews and leadership forums.
• Develop forward-looking indicators for proactive management.
• Partner with Contracts, Legal, Compliance, Procurement, Internal Audit, Finance to maintain governance.
• Ensure compliance with FAR, DFARS, agency directives, and customer obligations.
• Establish and maintain portfolio-level risk management processes.
• Monitor risks related to contract performance, labor charging, subcontractors, cybersecurity, clearances, funding.
• Escalate and track significant risks to resolution.
• Foster a culture of ethics and accountability across GDS.
• Translate strategic objectives into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
• Support annual planning, budgeting, forecasting, and long-range growth.
• Monitor progress and drive improvements in execution.
• Collaborate with BD and Operations to support growth and readiness.
• Lead, develop, and mentor governance and PMO teams.
• Foster collaboration across functions and levels.
• Build scalable processes and governance capabilities for growth.
• Encourage innovation and knowledge sharing.
• Model CBRE RISE values through leadership and integrity.

Skills

Leadership

Executive engagement

Communication

Analytical thinking

Governance frameworks

Reporting

MS Office

BI platforms

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Tools

PMP certification

Microsoft Office

Job description

About The Role

CBRE Government & Defense Services (GDS) is seeking a Senior Director, Governance, PMO & Business Performance to lead enterprise governance, portfolio performance management, and strategic execution across our federal government contracting business. This role serves as a key leader within our GDS executive leadership team and is responsible for establishing the operational governance framework that drives accountability, regulatory compliance, execution excellence, and business performance across a diverse portfolio of government customers and contract vehicles. The Senior Director will oversee the Program Management Office (PMO), business performance reporting, strategic initiative execution, and enterprise risk management activities while helping ensure compliance with Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS), agency-specific contracting requirements, and CBRE policies. As a senior leader within Government & Defense Services, this individual will partner closely with Program Operations, Contracts, Finance, Compliance, Security, People Business Partners, Business Development, and Corporate Functions to provide executive visibility into portfolio performance, contractual obligations, compliance risks, and strategic priorities. The role requires a leader who can translate complex operational and regulatory requirements into scalable governance processes that support growth while protecting the integrity of the business. The successful candidate will foster a culture of accountability, operational discipline, continuous improvement, and customer focus while helping advance CBRE’s mission of delivering exceptional outcomes for federal customers and supporting critical government missions. Reporting to the President of Government & Defense Services, this role offers the opportunity to shape the governance and operating model of a growing federal business while influencing enterprise-level decision-making and long-term strategic success.

What You'll Do

Governance & Executive Oversight

• Establish and lead the governance framework for the CBRE Government & Defense Services business, including executive operating reviews, business performance reviews, risk councils, and strategic planning forums.
• Design and maintain governance processes that provide leadership with visibility into operational performance, contract execution, financial performance, compliance posture, and emerging risks.
• Develop executive-level dashboards, scorecards, reporting packages, and governance metrics to facilitate informed decision-making.
• Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on business performance, operational effectiveness, and risk mitigation activities.
• Ensure alignment between strategic priorities, operational initiatives, and customer commitments.

Program Management Office (PMO) Leadership

• Lead the Government & Defense Services PMO and establish standards, methodologies, and operating practices that promote consistent program execution across the portfolio.
• Drive portfolio management processes related to schedule, cost, resource allocation, performance management, and risk oversight.
• Support Program Managers and business leaders in executing contractual requirements, resolving operational challenges, and addressing performance gaps.
• Oversee strategic initiatives and business transformation efforts designed to strengthen operational effectiveness, scalability, and customer outcomes.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence throughout the organization.

Business Performance Management

• Design and maintain the business performance framework for Government & Defense Services, including key performance indicators (KPIs), operational metrics, and executive reporting.
• Partner with Operations and Finance to monitor revenue, profitability, backlog, contract funding, labor utilization, and portfolio health.
• Analyze operational and financial performance trends and provide recommendations to improve efficiency, customer satisfaction, and business outcomes.
• Facilitate quarterly business reviews and leadership forums to assess performance, identify risks, and drive corrective actions.
• Develop forward-looking performance indicators that enable proactive business management and resource planning.

Compliance, Risk & Regulatory Excellence

• Partner with Contracts, Legal, Compliance leadership, Procurement, Internal Audit, Digital and Technology, and Finance to maintain effective governance and oversight processes.
• Support compliance with applicable federal regulations and contractual requirements, including FAR, DFARS, agency directives, and customer-specific obligations.
• Establish and maintain portfolio-level risk management processes, including risk identification, assessment, escalation, mitigation, and reporting.
• Monitor risks associated with contract performance, labor charging, subcontractor management, cybersecurity, security clearances, customer funding, and operational execution.
• Ensure significant compliance and operational risks are appropriately escalated and tracked through resolution.
• Promote a strong culture of ethics, integrity, and accountability across Government & Defense Services.

Strategic Planning & Business Operations

• Partner with senior leadership to translate strategic objectives into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
• Support annual business planning, budgeting, forecasting, and long-range growth initiatives.
• Monitor progress against strategic priorities and provide recommendations to improve execution and organizational effectiveness.
• Collaborate with Business Development and Operations teams to support growth initiatives, customer expansion opportunities, and organizational readiness.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, develop, and mentor a high-performing governance and PMO team.
• Foster collaboration across multiple business functions and organizational levels.
• Build scalable processes, operating models, and governance capabilities that support future growth.
• Encourage innovation, continuous improvement, and knowledge sharing across the organization.
• Role-model CBRE RISE values through leadership, collaboration, and commitment to the highest standards of ethics and integrity.

What You'll Need

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution required.
• Master's degree in Business Administration, Public Administration, Finance, Project Management, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum 10+ years of progressive leadership experience within Government Contracting, federal services, defense contracting, or a similarly regulated industry.
• Demonstrated success leading PMOs, governance organizations, business operations functions, or enterprise performance programs.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.
• Experience managing complex portfolios of federal contracts, programs, or operational initiatives.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and drive enterprise-wide change initiatives.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and executive engagement skills.
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking capabilities with the ability to translate data into actionable business insights.
• Experience developing executive reporting, governance frameworks, and performance management systems.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and business intelligence platforms.
• High integrity, sound judgment, and commitment to ethical business conduct.

Why CBRE?

At CBRE, you'll be part of a team that supports critical government missions while leveraging the capabilities of the world's largest commercial real estate and facilities management organization. Government & Defense Services delivers mission-critical solutions to federal agencies and defense customers through a culture of operational excellence, accountability, innovation, and service.

Our Culture Is Built On Our RISE Values

• Respect – We act with consideration for one another and our customers.
• Integrity – We build trust through responsible actions and principled decision-making.
• Service – We seek to create exceptional outcomes for our clients, colleagues, and communities.
• Excellence – We pursue the highest standards in everything we do.

Together, we are committed to delivering trusted solutions that help our customers achieve their missions while creating opportunities for our people to learn, grow, and thrive.

Applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States without the need for visa sponsorship now or in the future

CBRE carefully considers multiple factors to determine compensation, including a candidate’s education, training, and experience. The minimum salary for the Senior Director - Governance PMO Business Performance position is $210,000 annually and the maximum salary for the Senior Director - Governance PMO Business Performance position is $230,000 annually. The compensation offered to a successful candidate will depend on their skills, qualifications, and experience. Successful candidates will also be eligible for a discretionary bonus based on CBRE’s applicable benefit program. This role will provide the following benefits: 401(K), Dental insurance, Health insurance, Life insurance, and Vision insurance.

Equal Employment Opportunity: CBRE is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity. We have a long-standing commitment to providing equal employment opportunity to all qualified applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, pregnancy, age, citizenship, marital status, disability, veteran status, political belief, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

Candidate Accommodations: CBRE values the differences of all current and prospective employees and recognizes how every employee contributes to our company’s success. CBRE provides reasonable accommodations in job application procedures for individuals with disabilities. If you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request via email at [e-mail] or via telephone at [phone] (U.S.) and [phone] (Canada).