Director, Program Management Office (PMO)

The Director of Program Management Office (PMO) will establish and lead a centralized PMO function to drive execution of strategic initiatives across the organization. This role is critical to aligning cross-functional priorities, ensuring disciplined execution, and delivering measurable outcomes tied to the company’s growth and operational improvement agenda. The ideal candidate brings a blend of strategic thinking, operational rigor, and hands-on program leadership in high-growth or private equity–backed environments. Key Responsibilities

PMO Leadership & Governance

• Build and lead the PMO function, including frameworks, tools, and governance processes
• Establish standardized program and project management methodologies across the organization
• Drive prioritization, resource allocation, and portfolio management of strategic initiatives

Strategic Initiative Execution

• Partner with executive leadership to translate strategic priorities into executable programs
• Lead high-impact, cross-functional initiatives (e.g., revenue growth, margin expansion, systems implementation, M&A integration)
• Track and report on program milestones, risks, and KPIs to leadership and board stakeholders

Operational Excellence

• Identify opportunities to improve execution speed, accountability, and cross-functional coordination
• Implement performance management systems to ensure initiatives deliver expected outcomes
• Drive continuous improvement in processes, tools, and organizational effectiveness

Stakeholder Management

• Serve as a key liaison between executive leadership, functional teams, and private equity sponsors
• Facilitate executive-level updates, including board-ready reporting materials
• Build strong relationships across departments to ensure alignment and accountability

Team Development

• Recruit, develop, and mentor a high-performing PMO team as the company scales
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and results-driven execution

Key Qualifications

Experience

• 8–12+ years of experience in program management, operations, consulting, or related roles
• Proven experience in a private equity–backed, high-growth, or startup environment
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional strategic initiatives with measurable impact
• Experience building or scaling a PMO function preferred
• Background in consulting (e.g., strategy or operations) is a plus

Skills & Competencies

• Strong program and project management expertise (Agile, Waterfall, hybrid methodologies)
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills
• Executive-level communication and presentation skills
• Ability to operate both strategically and tactically in a fast-paced environment
• High level of ownership, accountability, and bias for action

Key Success Metrics

• On-time, on-budget delivery of customer projects and strategic internal initiatives
• Achievement of value creation targets (e.g., revenue growth, EBITDA improvement)
• Improved organizational alignment and execution velocity
• Stakeholder satisfaction, including executive team and investors

Why Ascend?

• Opportunity to shape and lead a critical function in a purpose-driven, high-growth environment
• Direct exposure to executive leadership and private equity sponsors
• Meaningful impact on company strategy, operations, and long-term value creation
• Competitive compensation and benefits

We offer a competitive salary range of $175,000–$205,000, plus the opportunity to earn an annual discretionary bonus of up to 10%. Compensation is flexible and will be tailored to your experience and background. At Ascend, we believe great talent deserves great rewards—and we’re proud to offer compensation that is often above the industry average. But the perks don’t stop there. We’re committed to creating a workplace where people can do meaningful work, grow their careers, and still have a life outside the office. You’ll enjoy flexible work hours, a collaborative environment, and real opportunities for advancement. Ascend Analytics is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.