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Director Project Portfolio Management Jobs (NOW HIRING)

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Director Project Portfolio Management information

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$44K

$109.6K

$197.5K

How much do director project portfolio management jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 25, 2026, the average yearly pay for director project portfolio management in the United States is $109,563.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $74,000.00 and $144,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a director of project portfolio management do?

A Director of Project Portfolio Management is responsible for overseeing a company's portfolio of projects to ensure they align with organizational goals and deliver maximum value. This role involves evaluating project proposals, prioritizing initiatives, allocating resources, and monitoring the progress of multiple projects. The director also works closely with senior leadership to set strategic directions and manages risks across the portfolio. They ensure that the right projects are selected and executed efficiently to support business objectives.

How does a director of project portfolio management typically interact with executive leadership and project teams?

A Director of Project Portfolio Management serves as a crucial link between executive leadership and project teams, translating strategic business goals into actionable project plans. They regularly present portfolio updates, risks, and resource needs to the executive team, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives. At the same time, they support project managers and teams by providing guidance, prioritizing initiatives, and resolving roadblocks. This dual focus requires strong communication, negotiation, and leadership skills to balance stakeholder expectations and drive successful project outcomes.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a director of project portfolio management, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Director of Project Portfolio Management, you need expertise in project management methodologies, strategic planning, and a background in business or related fields, often supported by a PMP or PgMP certification. Familiarity with portfolio management software such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, or Planview, as well as financial analysis tools, is typically required. Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills help drive alignment and motivate diverse teams. These competencies ensure effective oversight of multiple projects, optimizing resource allocation and achieving organizational objectives.

What is the difference between Director Project Portfolio Management vs Program Manager?

AspectDirector Project Portfolio ManagementProgram Manager
Primary FocusOverseeing multiple projects and aligning them with strategic business goalsManaging a specific program consisting of related projects to achieve a set objective
ResponsibilitiesPortfolio strategy, resource allocation, prioritization, and performance oversightProgram planning, execution, coordination, and stakeholder communication
CredentialsOften requires PMP, PgMP, or similar certificationsTypically PMP or similar project management certifications
Work EnvironmentExecutive-level, strategic, often in large organizationsOperational, team-focused, within project teams or departments

The main difference is that the Director of Project Portfolio Management oversees the entire portfolio of projects, ensuring strategic alignment and resource distribution, while a Program Manager focuses on managing a specific program of related projects to achieve particular objectives. Both roles require strong project management credentials, but the scope and strategic level differ significantly.

More about Director Project Portfolio Management jobs

What cities are hiring for Director Project Portfolio Management jobs?

Cities with the most Director Project Portfolio Management job openings:

What states have the most Director Project Portfolio Management jobs?

States with the most job openings for Director Project Portfolio Management jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Director Project Portfolio Management jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Director Project Portfolio Management jobs are:

Infographic showing various Director Project Portfolio Management job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 84% Full Time, 13% Part Time, and 2% Contract. Highlights an 83% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 15% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $109,563 per year, or $52.7 per hour.

Associate Director, Project & Portfolio Management

El Segundo, CA โ€ข On-site

Socket.dev
Network Securityย โ€ขย 1 - 10 employees

$178 - $230/hr

Other

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, PTO

Posted 6 days ago


Job description

Weโ€™re here for one reason and one reason only โ€“ to cure cancer. Every moment is dedicated to developing treatments and every action moves us one step closer to our goal. Weโ€™ve made incredible scientific breakthroughs and our pioneering personalized CAR T-cell therapies have changed the paradigm. But we're not finished yet.

Join Kite, as we make even bigger advances in cancer therapies, and help shape where our business and medical science goes next.

We believe every employee deserves a great leader. People Leaders are the cornerstone to the employee experience at Gilead and Kite. As a people leader now or in the future, you are the key driver in evolving our culture and creating an environment where every employee feels included, developed and empowered to fulfil their aspirations. Join Kite and help create more tomorrows.

Job Description

The Associate Director, Project & Portfolio Management will provide strategic leadership for project and portfolio management capabilities across Tech Ops. This role will focus on building, reshaping, and advancing a PPM Center of Excellence by defining fitโ€‘forโ€‘purpose methodology, standards, tools, templates, training, and adoption strategies that enable consistent and practical ways of working across crossโ€‘functional teams.

This individual will not simply manage project reporting or timelines. They will be expected to design futureโ€‘state PPM practices, improve portfolio visibility, and influence a dottedโ€‘line network of PPM representatives across the organization. Success in this role will require strong change leadership, practical process design, and the ability to build buyโ€‘in with stakeholders before implementing new standards or ways of working.

Key Responsibilities

  • Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of project and portfolio management methodology, standards, and operating practices across Tech Ops.

  • Build and scale a PPM Center of Excellence by creating practical tools, templates, playbooks, training, and guidance that teams can adopt and use effectively.

  • Assess current PPM maturity across functions and identify the highestโ€‘value improvements to strengthen planning quality, execution discipline, portfolio visibility, and decisionโ€‘making.

  • Design futureโ€‘state ways of working that create consistency while allowing flexibility for different initiative types, team needs, and business priorities.

  • Drive adoption of new PPM practices through stakeholder engagement, change management, training, coaching, and practical implementation support.

  • Influence and align a dottedโ€‘line network of PPM representatives and crossโ€‘functional partners in a matrixed environment, without direct people management authority.

  • Partner with leaders and teams to translate complex PPM frameworks into clear, actionable guidance that supports businessโ€‘relevant execution.

  • Define and monitor portfolio metrics that measure process effectiveness, identify risks and trends, and highlight opportunities for continuous improvement.

  • Foster a collaborative culture of accountability, learning, continuous improvement, and capabilityโ€‘building across Tech Ops.

Basic Qualifications

  • PhD / Doctorate with 2+ years of relevant experience OR

  • Master's Degree with 8+ years of relevant experience OR

  • Bachelor's Degree with 10+ years of relevant experience OR

  • High School Diploma/GED with 14+ years of relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications

  • 10+ years of relevant experience preferred, with a strong background in project management, portfolio management, PMO, PPM Center of Excellence, or operating model design.

  • Biotech or pharma experience preferred, but not required if the candidate has strong PPM capabilityโ€‘building experience.

  • Experience building, improving, or maturing PPM capabilities, not only managing project execution, timelines, or reporting.

  • Demonstrated experience creating methodology, governance models, standards, frameworks, tools, templates, playbooks, training, and adoption plans.

  • Strong ability to assess PPM maturity and identify practical, highโ€‘value improvements across teams or functions.

  • Experience leading change in a matrixed environment, including driving adoption, managing stakeholder impact, and helping teams adjust to new ways of working.

  • Strong influence without authority, with the ability to align crossโ€‘functional stakeholders and dottedโ€‘line partners around shared PPM practices.

  • Ability to translate complex frameworks, processes, and portfolio insights into clear, practical guidance for leaders and teams.

  • Experience defining portfolio visibility, metrics, and reporting that show process effectiveness, risks, trends, and improvement opportunities.

The salary range for this position is: $177,905.00 - $230,230.00. Kite considers a variety of factors when determining base compensation, including experience, qualifications, and geographic location. These considerations mean actual compensation will vary. This position may also be eligible for a discretionary annual bonus, discretionary stockโ€‘based longโ€‘term incentives (eligibility may vary based on role), paid time off, and a benefits package. Benefits include company-sponsored medical, dental, vision, and life insurance plans*.

For additional benefits information, visit:

https://www.gilead.com/careers/compensation-benefits-and-wellbeing

* Eligible employees may participate in benefit plans, subject to the terms and conditions of the applicable plans.

Kite is a biopharmaceutical company engaged in the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies with a goal of providing rapid, longโ€‘term durable response and eliminating the burden of chronic care. The company is focused on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and T cell receptor (TCR) engineered cell therapies designed to empower the immune system's ability to recognize and kill tumors. Kite is based in Santa Monica, CA. For more information on Kite, please visit www.kitepharma.com. Sign up to follow @KitePharma on Twitter at www.twitter.com/kitepharma.

For jobs in the United States:

Kite Pharma is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment, and is dedicated to fostering an inclusive work environment comprised of diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences. Employment decisions regarding recruitment and selection will be made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, genetic information or characteristic, gender identity and expression, veteran status, or other nonโ€‘job related characteristics or other prohibited grounds specified in applicable federal, state and local laws. In order to ensure reasonable accommodation for individuals protected by Section 503 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Vietnam Era Veterans' Readjustment Act of 1974, and Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, applicants who require accommodation in the job application process may contact ApplicantAccommodations@gilead.com for assistance.

For more information about equal employment opportunity protections, please view the 'Know Your Rights' poster.

NOTICE: EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION ACT

YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT

Kite Pharma will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, (c) consistent with the legal duty to furnish information; or (d) otherwise protected by law.

Our environment respects individual differences and recognizes each employee as an integral member of our company. Our workforce reflects these values and celebrates the individuals who make up our growing team.

Kite Pharma provides a work environment free of harassment and prohibited conduct. We promote and support individual differences and diversity of thoughts and opinion.

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