The Director of Strategic Initiatives will lead the enterprise-wide development and deployment of Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) processes from the ground up. This role is accountable for designing scalable workflows, establishing governance, and driving organization-wide change to embed new ways of working. A critical aspect of this role is influencing and aligning senior leadership through clear communication, strategic insight, and a strong executive presence. The ideal candidate excels at building processes from scratch to navigating complexity, and leading cross-functional transformation with lasting impact. The candidate will also drive program management excellence and foster a culture of continuous improvement. This position demands a strategic thinker who can navigate complex transformations and optimize processes to accelerate business value.

PLM Strategy & Implementation:

• Develop and execute a comprehensive Enterprise PLM strategy to support the full product lifecycle, from ideation to retirement.

• Lead the selection, implementation, and adoption of PLM platforms to enhance product data management, design collaboration, and lifecycle tracking.

• Define and standardize PLM governance frameworks, SOPs, and best practices across the organization.

• Collaborate with product management, engineering, commercial operations, and Q&R teams to drive PLM system integration and optimization.

• Drive PLM data analytics and reporting strategies to enable informed decision-making and efficiency improvements.

• Ensure PLM processes align with regulatory, compliance, and quality standards.

Program Management Excellence:

• Establish a best-in-class enterprise program management framework to improve execution across product development initiatives.

• Develop standardized program methodologies, KPIs, and governance models for cross-functional program alignment.

• Lead large-scale transformation programs, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within scope, and on budget.

• Implement risk assessment and mitigation strategies to anticipate and address program execution challenges.

• Drive a culture of continuous improvement in project management capabilities and decision-making processes.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management:

• Serve as a strategic advisor to executive leadership on PLM and program management trends, opportunities, and innovations.

• Lead and mentor the cross functional teams on PLM and program management processes, fostering a high-performance culture.

• Act as the primary liaison between Functional teams, partner network, and Q&R to ensure alignment of enterprise PLM objectives.

• Build and maintain relationships with industry partners, technology providers, and regulatory bodies to stay ahead of emerging trends.

PLEASE NOTE: This is not an exhaustive list of all the duties, responsibilities, and requirements of the position described above. Other functions may be assigned, and management may add or change duties at any time.

Minimum Qualifications, Education, and Experience

• 10+ years of experience in enterprise transformation, or program management within a technology-driven environment.

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field; MBA or PMP certification is a plus.

• Deep expertise in formulating business processes and standard operating

• Proven track record in leading enterprise-wide transformation and leading program management office (PMO) transformations.

• Experience with agile methodologies, lean product development, and digital transformation initiatives.

• Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

• Experience working with C-suite executives and influencing decision-making.