Principal Portfolio Project Manager

Avantor is seeking a Principal Portfolio Project Manager to lead a portfolio of complex global programs and capital investments within its Life Sciences business. The role manages strategic prioritization, governance, funding, and execution of large-scale CAPEX and business transformation initiatives, ensuring they deliver approved business objectives.

Responsibilities:

• Manage a portfolio of strategic initiatives and capital investments across Engineering, Operations, EHS, PSM, Real Estate, IT, Supply Chain, and Commercial functions
• Evaluate, prioritize, and balance project investments based on strategic alignment, business value, risk, resource availability, and organizational capacity
• Partner with business leaders to develop and maintain multi-year portfolio roadmaps supporting Avantor's strategic objectives
• Facilitate portfolio governance reviews, investment decisions, funding approvals, and executive prioritization discussions
• Identify portfolio-level risks, dependencies, constraints, and opportunities to optimize value delivery
• Develop executive portfolio dashboards and reporting to provide visibility into capital deployment, resource utilization, project performance, and business outcomes
• Ensure portfolio investments align with approved business cases, operational priorities, and enterprise strategy
• Lead and manage multiple concurrent global programs and CAPEX projects across manufacturing and operational domains
• Drive end-to-end project execution from concept through commissioning, qualification, startup, and operational handover
• Ensure programs align with Avantor's strategic objectives, operational priorities, and Life Sciences growth initiatives
• Lead global cross-functional teams without direct reporting authority to achieve program objectives
• Manage projects involving process equipment, assembly systems, manufacturing technologies, automation, and facility infrastructure across global locations
• Lead facility expansions, process improvements, equipment installations, operational efficiency projects, and capital investment programs
• Support projects focused on EHS, PSM, IT, Commercial, Supply Chain, and Real Estate initiatives
• Ensure technical solutions meet quality, compliance, safety, operational, and business requirements
• Manage projects and programs that may exceed $50M in capital investment
• Drive projects through a structured stage-gate process, ensuring appropriate documentation, stakeholder engagement, approvals, and governance at each phase
• Prepare and present business cases, project charters, gate reviews, and investment recommendations to senior leadership
• Support enterprise portfolio governance processes to ensure projects are appropriately prioritized, funded, and aligned with corporate objectives
• Lead executive reviews and provide recommendations regarding project continuation, acceleration, modification, or termination
• Maintain rigorous control of project budgets, forecasts, schedules, risks, and financial performance
• Manage portfolio-level capital planning, forecasting, cash flow projections, and benefit realization tracking
• Ensure projects achieve approved business case objectives and KPI targets
• Develop and manage integrated schedules, proactively identifying and mitigating risks affecting cost and timing
• Optimize allocation of capital and resources across competing initiatives
• Develop, validate, and maintain project business cases and investment justifications
• Establish measurable KPIs and benefit realization targets for each initiative
• Track actual business performance against approved commitments following implementation
• Ensure projects deliver expected productivity, capacity, quality, compliance, cost reduction, and revenue objectives
• Collaborate with stakeholders across Engineering, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, Procurement, Finance, Commercial, EHS, and IT organizations
• Manage relationships with external contractors, equipment suppliers, engineering firms, consultants, regulatory agencies, and municipalities
• Support procurement activities, vendor selection processes, contract negotiations, and supplier performance management
• Provide direct and indirect leadership to project teams across multiple regions and business functions
• Influence stakeholders and leaders within a highly matrixed organization
• Foster collaboration, accountability, transparency, and execution excellence
• Mentor and coach project managers and team members on project management best practices
• Communicate project, program, and portfolio performance clearly and effectively to executive leadership
• Deliver concise, data-driven reporting on portfolio health, capital deployment, project status, risks, and business outcomes
• Build strong relationships with senior leaders and external partners
• Present complex technical and business issues in a manner that supports informed decision-making and organizational alignment
• Drive stakeholder engagement, communication planning, organizational readiness, and adoption activities
• Ensure business operations are prepared to successfully transition into new processes, systems, and facility capabilities
• Support sustainable implementation and realization of expected business benefits
• Operate with a high degree of autonomy and accountability
• Independently plan and execute work while addressing complex issues, risks, and deviations
• Analyze ambiguous situations involving operational, financial, technical, and organizational considerations
• Apply strategic thinking and sound judgment to develop scalable solutions
• Make significant recommendations regarding investment priorities, resource allocation, and execution strategies
• Serve as a subject matter expert in portfolio management, capital program execution, project governance, and PMO best practices
• Contribute to continuous improvement of project management methodologies, stage-gate processes, governance frameworks, and portfolio management practices
• Provide coaching, mentoring, and informal training across the PMO organization

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Project Management, Operations, Manufacturing, Business, or related discipline
• Minimum of 12 years of progressive project, program, and portfolio management experience, including leadership of global CAPEX projects and strategic business initiatives
• Demonstrated success managing large-scale capital projects and cross-functional business programs
• PMP certification from the Project Management Institute (PMI), or willingness to obtain within a defined timeframe
• Proven experience managing portfolios of strategic initiatives and capital investments
• Strong understanding of portfolio governance, prioritization methodologies, capital planning, and resource optimization
• Ability to balance competing priorities and recommend investments that maximize organizational value
• Experience providing executive portfolio reporting and facilitating investment decisions
• Strong understanding of business strategy, operations, financial planning, and organizational goals
• Ability to translate complex business challenges into executable solutions
• Capable of evaluating long-term implications of investment decisions
• Extensive knowledge of project management principles and lifecycle methodologies
• Proven ability to manage scope, schedule, budget, resources, and risk across global programs
• Strong record of delivering large-scale, multi-site CAPEX initiatives
• Ability to lead multiple projects and programs simultaneously
• Skilled at influencing leaders and teams without direct authority
• Trusted advisor to senior stakeholders
• Exceptional verbal and written communication skills
• Strong presentation and facilitation capabilities
• Ability to communicate effectively with executives, business leaders, and technical teams
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills
• Experience working with contractors, vendors, engineering firms, regulators, and municipalities
• Ability to develop productive partnerships across diverse stakeholder groups
• Master's degree in Engineering, Business Administration (MBA), Project Management, or related discipline
• Experience in Life Sciences, pharmaceutical, biotech, medical device, specialty chemicals, or similarly regulated industries