Global IS Department Manager for Project and Portfolio Management

Job description

At ABB, we help industries run leaner and cleaner—and every person here makes that happen. You’ll be empowered to lead, supported to grow, and proud of the impact we create together. Join us and help run what runs the world. This position reports to: Global IS Department Manager for Strategy, Governance & Portfolio Management __ Your role and responsibilities As Global IS Department Manager for Project and Portfolio Management, you will lead a global team and take strategic ownership of ABB's IT project portfolio. This is not a PMO administration role - you are accountable for the portfolio it-self: driving business value, ensuring alignment with strategy, simplifying governance, and empowering project managers with clarity and actionable data. The work model for the role is: #Li-hybrid You report to the Global Department Manager for Strategy, Governance and Portfolio Management and work in a hybrid model, engaging daily with IT leadership, the CIO, global controllers, and department portfolio and project managers. Your main accountabilities will be: Manage and maintain ABB's global IT portfolio as a strategic asset, providing leadership with clear visibility, analysis, and recommendations to support business strategy alignment and value delivery Support the IT Leadership team in portfolio prioritization and decision-making by providing evidence-based analysis, options, and recommendations that balance strategic demands against resource constraints and risk appetite Work with IT Leadership to simplify the portfolio governance framework and decision processes - reduce bu-reaucracy while maintaining transparency and control; drive a lean, outcome-focused approach Conduct regular gate reviews and health checks across active projects and programs, translating complex data into actionable insights and recommendations for leadership review and decision Lead, mentor, and develop a global team of project and portfolio professionals supporting ABB's project and portfolio management capability, ensuring clarity on priorities and access to the tools and support needed to succeed Run a structured learning and development program for project managers across the organization to build capa-bility and community Serve as the primary owner of Planview (our portfolio management platform), ensuring it is configured for visi-bility, reduces manual reporting, and enables leadership to make better-informed decisions Hold and enforce project management governance standards and processes, supporting project managers through coaching and implementation guidance without creating unnecessary complexity Serve as a trusted strategic advisor to the IT Leadership team, CIO, and global controllers, communicating port-folio status, risks, and optimization opportunities in clear business language to support their decision-making Drive continuous improvement in how we capture, analyze, and present portfolio information to increase busi-ness value and support organizational agility In this role, we're looking for someone with these characteristics: Pragmatic and Outcome-Oriented – You care about results and business impact, not process perfection. You simplify complex situations, make sound decisions with imperfect information, and move forward. Hands-On Portfolio Management Experience at Scale – You have proven experience leading teams, managing large, complex portfolios, implementing governance frameworks, and delivering measurable improvements. You can demonstrate this. Strategic Thinker Who Can Execute – You see the big picture (portfolio alignment, business value, organiza-tional strategy), but you also roll up your sleeves to solve day-to-day problems and drive implementation. Clear Communicator – You translate technical and financial complexity into language that resonates with senior leaders. You are comfortable presenting to global, executive audiences and building stakeholder alignment. Qualifications for the role 15+ years of senior-level experience in IT portfolio management, program/project management, or PMO leader-ship with proven hands-on experience managing large, complex portfolios at enterprise scale Demonstrated expertise in portfolio management tools and platforms (Planview, ServiceNow, Clarity, or similar) Strong knowledge of project delivery models (Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid) and gate-based governance frameworks Familiarity with portfolio management and lean/agile frameworks (Lean Portfolio Management, SAFe, or equiv-alent) ITIL practices and IT service management knowledge Proven track record of simplifying processes, reducing complexity, and improving portfolio performance with measurable business outcomes (e.g., cycle time reduction, improved ROI tracking, better resource utilization, increased on-time delivery) Demonstrated ability to drive organizational change and simplify governance without sacrificing control or standards Excellent stakeholder management and executive communication skills; experience engaging with C-level lead-ership and global teams Change leadership and cross-functional collaboration capabilities Professional certifications preferred (PfMP, PMP, PgMP, SAFe, Lean Portfolio Management, ITIL 4, or related PMO certifications) Fluent in English (written and spoken) to communicate effectively across a global, multinational organization Comfortable with hybrid work model and able to lead/engage with geographically distributed teams. Building a cleaner, smarter future takes all kinds of minds: the curious, the courageous, and the creative. That's why we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences. Ready to make an impact? Apply today or visit https://www.abb.com to learn more about the impact of our solutions across the globe.