Description
The Sr Manager, IT Portfolio & Operations is responsible for developing and evolving the IT portfolio management function at Harbor Freight, providing governance, visibility, and coordination across the lifecycle of IT roadmaps, annual projects and resource planning, investments, and supporting related work for the IT Leadership Team (ITLT).
This role works with our project management community to define, implement and operationalize consistent portfolio and project management practices, from intake and prioritization through execution oversight, reporting, value realization monitoring, and transition to product management or steady-state ownership after implementation.
In addition to portfolio governance, this role leads annual road mapping exercises with each IT team to support stakeholder alignment, consolidate inputs for the three-year IT strategic plan, and contributes to preparing each fiscal year budget proposal.
Throughout the year, this role monitors project execution, identifies cross-functional dependencies, escalates material risks, and coordinates required portfolio inputs with Finance, IT, and the Harbor Freight Strategy team.
This role may occasionally lead ITLT-owned initiatives directly and support selected IT employee engagement activities, but its primary accountability remains portfolio governance, reporting, planning, and lifecycle discipline rather than day-to-day project delivery.
Duties and Responsibilities
- Portfolio Management & Governance
- Ensure project lifecycle processes are efficient, scalable, and aligned with business needs.
- Develop, document, and enforce PMO standards, methodologies, and governance practices.
- Ensure project documentation is complete, current, and properly maintained.
- Manage dependencies across projects, programs, and technology teams.
- Drive project quality assurance and methodology compliance.
- Partner with IT Finance to manage project budgets, forecasts, and change requests.
- Provide leadership, mentoring, training, and best practices for the IT Project Management community.
- Serve as the primary escalation point for portfolio governance, project quality, and delivery issues.
- Coordinate the intake, evaluation, and prioritization of new project requests.
- Partner with business and technology leaders to develop project proposals and business cases.
- Establish and maintain a standardized project lifecycle methodology.
- Forecast resource capacity and monitor utilization across the portfolio.
- Prepare and present portfolio health, project status, budget updates, KPIs, and executive reporting.
- Participate in steering committee and PMO governance meetings.
- Operations Management
- Lead quarterly Portfolio Reviews to assess delivery progress, roadmap alignment, and strategic priorities.
- Conduct annual roadmap reviews with key technology vendors and strategic partners.
- Support IT engagement initiatives and organizational events.
- Prepare quarterly budget reviews with Finance and IT leadership.
- Support continuous improvement and transformation of core IT processes.
- Lead, mentor, and develop the IT project manager community through best practices, standardized methodologies, coaching, and training.
- Support the transformation of core IT processes.
- Staff supervision and development: No
- Decision making: Project prioritization, Process adherence, Budgets management. Coordination with leadership and development of the IT project manager community.
- Travel: Up to 10%
- Flex Designation: Anywhere
The anticipated salary range for this position is $159,600 – $239,500 depending on location, knowledge, skills, education and experience. This position is also eligible for an annual discretionary bonus. In addition, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits to Associates (and their families) such as medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term and long-term disability. Eligible Associates are able to enroll in our company's 401k plan, as well as a deferred compensation plan. Associates will accrue paid time off up to 236 hours per year, (inclusive of PTO, floating holidays and paid holidays). Paid sick time up to 80 hours per year unless otherwise required by law.
Requirements
Education and Experience
- Bachelor's degree in computer science, Information Systems, Project Management, or a related field (or equivalent experience).
- Project Management Professional (PMP) certification required.
- Agile certification(s) preferred.
- ITIL certification is a plus.
- 8+ years delivering complex programs, working in a PMO or Portfolio Management environment..
- Experience with organizational change management practices.
- Demonstrated success delivering projects on time and within budget.
- Knowledge of Excel, PowerPoint, and project and portfolio management platforms; ability to leverage AI tools to produce documents and artifacts; experience with portfolio management tools; TeamDynamix experience is a plus.
- Advanced proficiency with Microsoft Excel and reporting tools.
- Excellent communication, presentation, and executive stakeholder management skills.
- Strong leadership, influence, and collaboration abilities.
- Deep knowledge of portfolio management, project management, Agile, and PMO best practices.
- Experience managing high visibility, high risk initiatives.
- Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to balance competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Customer-focused mindset with exceptional attention to detail.
- Ability to develop performance metrics and drive continuous improvement.
- Experience building, mentoring, and developing high-performing teams
- Excellent interpersonal skills, including a professional and diplomatic demeanor.
- Excellent written, verbal, listening, and presentation communication skills.
- Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication skills.
- Willingness to ask questions and investigate issues rather than simply follow direction.
- Deep understanding of the successful functioning of a PMO and steering committee.
- Highly self-motivated and directed
Corporate - Remote - General office environment requiring ability to: *Stand, walk, sit for extended periods of time . *Speak and listen to others in person and over the phone and video conferencing. *Use keyboard and read from computer screen and reports. *The ability to lift up to 15 lbs.
Safety
Must be able to perform this job safely in accordance with standard operating procedures and good manufacturing practices, without endangering the health or safety of self or others.
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