Senior Director Program Management

About the Opportunity

Our client is a global OEM leader in enterprise mobile computing and edge technology, serving frontline industries such as retail, logistics, healthcare, and manufacturing. We are conducting a confidential retained search on their behalf for a Senior Director, Technical Program Management to lead their Connected Frontline PMO.

This is a high-visibility leadership role overseeing a $2B+ product portfolio and a $100M+ budget , with direct executive exposure across Product Management, Engineering, and the CTO organization.

The Role

The Senior Director will own portfolio execution and PMO leadership across a Connected Frontline portfolio spanning Mobile Computing, Software Solutions, and the Chief Technology Office. This leader will partner with Product, Engineering, Sales, Customer Success, IT, and Operations to align strategy with execution, driving delivery of hardware, software, and cloud offerings from concept through release.

Key responsibilities include:

• Setting strategic direction and governance standards for a Program Management organization of 50+ people across global sites (Asia, North America, Europe)
• Translating portfolio strategy into executable roadmaps in partnership with Product, Engineering, and Finance leadership
• Driving execution of integrated hardware, software, and cloud solutions from concept through market launch, including go-to-market
• Leading adoption of AI-enabled delivery practices and automation across the PMO organization
• Serving as a trusted advisor to senior leadership, with regular C-suite and executive-level communication
• Managing a team of Directors, Senior Managers, and Program Managers — leaders who themselves manage teams
• Overseeing strategic external development partners, including JDMs and technology providers

What You Bring

Required:

• 20+ years of experience in technical program/portfolio management (15 years considered for exceptional candidates)
• Bachelor's degree, engineering strongly preferred (Computer Science, Mechanical, Electrical, or Software Engineering)
• 7+ years of management experience, ideally in a global, matrixed organization — managing leaders who manage teams
• Demonstrated experience owning both hardware and software PMO functions (an 80/20 lean toward software is acceptable — this is the area of greatest current need)
• Full product lifecycle experience: concept through launch, including go-to-market — pure IT/analytics delivery backgrounds will not be a fit
• Strong executive presence and communication skills; proven comfort operating at C-suite level

Preferred:

• Background from a large enterprise technology or OEM organization
• Advanced skills in portfolio budgeting, ROI analysis, and roadmap governance across hardware and software products
• Experience driving AI-enabled process improvement within a PMO function
• AI Thought Leader

Logistics

• Hybrid, 3 days/week on-site
• Approximately 25% global travel
• Not a remote position