DT Program & Portfolio Lead - Demand & TLT

Job Description: We are seeking a strategic, detail-oriented, and execution-focused Lead to direct the Program, Portfolio, and Product Success functions across our Demand (Sales, Marketing, DCOM, Retail) and TLT (R&D, Manufacturing & Supply Chain) Digital Technologies organizations. This pivotal role will serve as the central control tower for all DT activities, ensuring strategic alignment, transparent performance management, and a culture of continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will be a force multiplier for our global DT execution, expanding beyond traditional PMO responsibilities to establish and operate a new Product Success operating model. This leader will manage both large-scale transformation and integration priorities while simultaneously implementing the operational drumbeat required for our business-as-usual (BAU) activities, including run projects and ongoing enhancements. What are we looking for? Experience: 15+ years of experience in IT program or portfolio management, with a proven track record of coordinating multi-functional teams in a large, matrixed enterprise. Transformation Track Record: Demonstrated success in leading large-scale M&A integrations or business transformations involving complex, multi-country technology platforms. Governance Setup: Experience setting up and operating a PMO or a similar governance function, with a strong background in executive-level reporting, issue escalation, and communication management. Product Success Principles: Familiarity with Product Management or Product Success operating models and principles (e.g., release management, incident management, user adoption). Tooling Expertise: Expertise in portfolio management tools (e.g., Smartsheet, MS Project, Jira, ServiceNow, Azure DevOps). Execution Capability: Excellent organizational, coordination, and leadership skills with a high attention to detail and structure. Ambiguity Management: A calm, structured approach to managing ambiguity, complexity, and interdependencies. Influence & Alignment: Deep expertise in aligning teams and driving results through governance and influence. Operational Excellence: A mindset focused on balancing strategic transformation with operational excellence and timely delivery. Leadership Mindset: A strong sense of ownership and the ability to build and lead a new high-performing function. Nice-to-Haves (Preferred): Experience working across global teams and diverse markets, including R&D, Manufacturing, or Supply Chain functions. Familiarity with key Demand and TLT technologies (e.g., Salesforce, CDPs, Martech, ERP, PLM) or experience in the CPG, retail, or global B2B/B2C industries. PMP, PgMP, or similar certification. What will be your key responsibilities? Strategic Alignment: Anchor all DT activities to the business vision, ensuring strategic alignment of the portfolio with overarching business goals. Portfolio Management: Oversee and manage the portfolio of IMO Projects, RUN Projects, Transformation Projects, and BAU/RUN activities across Demand and TLT functions. Playbook Standardization: Provide support, guidance, and standardized playbooks for program product lines across all functional domains, ensuring consistency in operations and governance. Project Tracking: Lead project tracking, reporting, and quality assurance for all DT initiatives. Risk & Executive Reporting: Own the creation and management of RAID logs, project status dashboards, and executive-level reporting on scope, milestones, KPIs, and financial budgeting. Governance Facilitation: Facilitate regular steering committee meetings, ensuring timely, accurate, and action-oriented updates for leadership. Change Management: Establish and lead a robust internal change management function to support the adoption of new processes and DT initiatives within our technology teams. Communication Hub: Orchestrate a communication and information hub, managing All Hands meetings, newsletters, and stakeholder updates to ensure alignment across the DT organization. Stakeholder Engagement: Manage vendor relationships and facilitate engagement with internal and external stakeholders across teams, driving the onboarding, training, and development of associates within the One Demand DT ecosystem. Culture & Tooling: Champion the use of key technologies (ServiceNow, ADO, PMXI Monday.com) to enhance PMO and Product Success efficiency, while fostering a culture of expertise, approachability, and results. What can you expect from Mars? Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles. Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today. Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University. An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus. #LD-LI1 #LI-Onsite #TBdigital The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment. The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting:USD 242,240.00 - USD 333,080.00 Mars is a family-owned business with more than $35 billion in global sales. We produce some of the world’s best-loved brands: M&M’s®, SNICKERS®, TWIX®, MILKY WAY®, DOVE®, PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, EXTRA®, ORBIT®, 5™, SKITTLES®, BEN’S ORIGINAL®, and COCOAVIA®. Alongside our consumer brands, we proudly take care of half of the world’s pets through our nutrition, health and services businesses such as Banfield Pet Hospitals™, BluePearl®, Linnaeus, AniCura, VCA™ and Pet Partners™. Headquartered in McLean, VA, Mars operates in more than 80 countries. The Mars Five Principles – Quality, Responsibility, Mutuality, Efficiency and Freedom – inspire our 140,000 Associates into taking action every day towards creating the world we want tomorrow.