Program Manager Foundation Jobs in Columbus, OH (NOW HIRING)

Job Summary

The Sr. Manager, Portfolio Management will be responsible for establishing and managing the company's enterprise-wide product development portfolio management practices. As the first dedicated portfolio leader in our critical infrastructure organization, this individual will work across all product lines and global functions to develop capacity planning, resource management, and project approval processes that align with company strategy and business priorities.

Responsibilities:

This role will drive transparency into how resources are allocated, ensure prioritization of the most impactful NPDI initiatives, and help senior leaders make informed trade-off decisions based on data. The successful candidate will combine a strong foundation in project and program management with the strategic vision to build a scalable, cross-functional portfolio management system. Over time, this role may evolve to lead a small team of portfolio analysts and metrics experts.  Key aspects of role are as follows:

Portfolio Governance & Prioritization:  

• Develop and implement a portfolio governance process for NPDI, ETO, and SFA projects. Facilitate prioritization frameworks that align with business strategy, ROI, and capacity constraints.    

Product Line Capacity & Resource Management:  

• Build and run a standardized process for analyzing and reporting resource capacity (internal & functional support) by Product Line, function, and region. Partner closely with all key Cross-Functional leaders.  

NPDI Project Approval Framework:  

• Design and maintain a formal Cross-BU project approval process for NPDI initiatives, integrated with Phase Gate readiness and business case rigor.  

Portfolio Reporting to Executive Team    

• Deliver recurring executive-level insights and presentations on portfolio mix, risks, status, and resourcing  

Tool & Process Development    

• Assess and improve portfolio tools (e.g., Smartsheet, Power BI, AppSheet) to support scalable decision-making, scenario planning, and real-time KPI visibility.    

Portfolio Health Monitoring    

• Track and assess health of the full project portfolio (e.g., NPDI, sustaining, ETO), identify systemic risks, and ensure portfolio alignment to strategic and operational objectives.   

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering or Business discipline; Master Degree a plus
• 10+ years of experience in project or program management within a product development environment
• Proven success in implementing or improving phase-gate processes (NPDI, ETO, SFA)
• 3+ years directly involved in portfolio management or strategic PMO leadership
• Experience working cross-functionally with Engineering, Operations, Procurement, AME, Quality, and Marketing
• Demonstrated ability to lead executive-level reporting and influence without authority
• Develop scenario modeling tools for "what-if" tradeoff analysis during investment and resourcing decisions
• Facilitate cross-functional alignment workshops to ensure prioritization is jointly owned by all stakeholders
• Lead periodic portfolio health reviews with functional and business leaders
• Establish a learning loop to refine prioritization criteria and KPIs over time
• Partner with IT and digital transformation teams to ensure portfolio tools are scalable and user-friendly
• Strong business acumen and strategic thinking; able to balance long-term goals with operational realities
• Analytical mindset to drive capacity modeling, scenario planning, and KPI tracking
• Expertise with project and portfolio tools (Smartsheet, AppSheet, Power BI, MS Project, etc.)
• Outstanding verbal, visual, and written communication skills for senior-level audiences
• Self-starter with a high sense of ownership and the ability to build from scratch
• Able to navigate ambiguity and influence at multiple organizational levels
• Educations & Certifications:
  • Required:  Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Program Management, or related field
  • Preferred:  Formal training in Project Management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, or similar)
  • Preferred:  Master's degree (MBA, M.Eng., or related discipline)
  • Preferred:  Portfolio Management Certification (PMP, MoP, or similar)
  • Preferred:  Agile and/or Lean Six Sigma certification
     

The successful candidate will embrace Vertiv's Core Principals & Behaviors to help execute our Strategic Priorities. 

OUR CORE PRINCIPALS:  Safety.  Integrity.  Respect.  Teamwork.  Diversity & Inclusion.

OUR STRATEGIC PRIORITIES

  Customer Focus

  Operational Excellence

  High-Performance Culture

  Innovation

  Financial Strength

OUR BEHAVIORS

  Own It

  Act With Urgency

  Foster a Customer-First Mindset

  Think Big and Execute

  Lead by Example

  Drive Continuous Improvement

  Learn and Seek Out Development

About Vertiv

Vertiv is a $8.0 billion global critical infrastructure and data center technology company.  We ensure customers' vital applications run continuously by bringing together hardware, software, analytics and ongoing services.  Our portfolio includes power, cooling and IT infrastructure solutions and services that extends from the cloud to the edge of the network. Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, USA, Vertiv employs around 20,000 people and does business in more than 130 countries. Visit Vertiv.com to learn more.      

Work Authorization

No calls or agencies please. Vertiv will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which sponsorship will be provided. Individuals with temporary visas such as E, F-1, H-1, H-2, L, B, J, or TN or who need sponsorship for work authorization now or in the future, are not eligible for hire.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Vertiv is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. We promote equal opportunities for all with respect to hiring, terms of employment, mobility, training, compensation, and occupational health, without discrimination as to age, race, color, religion, creed, sex, pregnancy status (including childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions), marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity / expression (including transgender status or sexual stereotypes), genetic information, citizenship status, national origin, protected veteran status, political affiliation, or disability. If you have a disability and are having difficulty accessing or using this website to apply for a position, you can request help by sending an email to help.join@vertiv.com.

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