Portfolio Manager

Position Summary

The Portfolio Manager is responsible for developing and overseeing a high‑caliber portfolio management function within a designated domain, with direct accountability for the planning, execution, and delivery of projects managed by their own team. This role ensures excellence in portfolio governance, alignment of roadmaps, and effective strategic execution across both team‑owned initiatives and broader enterprise programs. This role oversees a team of Project Managers, providing coaching, mentorship, and performance leadership while serving as the primary escalation point for portfolio-related risks, issues, and decisions.

The Portfolio Manager ensures that all initiatives within the portfolio align with strategic priorities, deliver measurable business value, and adhere to governance standards. This leader collaborates closely with IT and business executives -- partnering with IT Directors and Business Relationship Managers to understand demand and priorities -- to optimize resources, proactively manage risk, and ensure clear, transparent visibility into portfolio performance and financial outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

1. Portfolio Governance & Strategy Alignment

• Adhere to and continuously apply established portfolio governance standards, frameworks, tools, and best practices, helping position the team as a center of excellence.

• Ensure initiatives and projects align with enterprise strategy, roadmap priorities, and defined KPIs.
• Drive structured decision-gating processes to ensure appropriate business case validation, funding approval, and benefits realization tracking.
• Establish and monitor portfolio performance metrics, risk dashboards, and value realization reporting.
• Continuously improve governance processes to increase efficiency, predictability, and strategic impact.

2. Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and mentor a team of Project Managers, fostering professional growth, accountability, and delivery excellence.
• Conduct regular one-on-ones, performance evaluations, and development planning sessions.
• Build a culture of collaboration, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Help standardize methodologies, templates, reporting, and best practices across the broader portfolio.
• Serve as a role model for leadership, communication, and stakeholder engagement.

3. Escalation & Risk Management

• Act as the primary escalation point for portfolio-level risks, interdependencies, and cross-functional conflicts.
• Proactively identify systemic risks and develop mitigation strategies.
• Facilitate resolution of complex stakeholder issues, balancing business and IT priorities.
• Ensure transparency and timely communication of critical risks to executive leadership.

4. Resource Planning

• Partner with IT and business leaders to optimize resource allocation across competing priorities.
• Evaluate new initiatives for strategic fit, capacity impact, and ROI for potential inclusion in the portfolio.
• Provide scenario analysis and prioritization recommendations to executive stakeholders.

5. Executive Communication & Reporting

• Lead recurring governance forums and Sponsor updates
• Deliver regular updates to executive and senior leadership, providing clear insights into:
  • Portfolio health and delivery status
  • Strategic roadmap progress
  • Budget and resource utilization
  • Key risks and mitigation plans
  • KPI performance and value realization
• Translate complex project data into actionable executive insights and recommendations.

Skills & Competencies

Technical & Functional Expertise

• Deep knowledge of portfolio, program, and project management frameworks (e.g., PMO best practices, stage-gate governance, Agile/Hybrid methodologies).
• Strong financial acumen, including budget management, forecasting, and business case evaluation.
• Expertise in KPI development, benefits realization tracking, and portfolio analytics.
• Experience in leading or participating in a Project Management Office or Center of Excellence.

Leadership & Interpersonal Skills

• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams.
• Strong executive presence and communication skills.
• Ability to influence without authority and navigate complex organizational dynamics.
• Skilled in conflict resolution and decision facilitation.
• High emotional intelligence and strong coaching capability.

Strategic & Analytical Capabilities

• Exceptional prioritization and decision-making skills.
• Ability to manage multiple complex initiatives simultaneously.
• Strong analytical mindset with the ability to synthesize data into strategic recommendations.
• Systems thinking with an enterprise-wide perspective.

Domain Expertise

• Experience overseeing portfolios that support retail store systems, preferably within convenience retail environments
• Strong understanding of retail technology ecosystems, including how platforms integrate across stores, regions, and vendors
• Working knowledge of Point‑of‑Sale (POS) and payment systems, including transaction flows, compliance considerations, and vendor dependencies
• Familiarity with fuel systems and forecourt technologies, including their interaction with POS, payments, and store operations

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Information Technology, or related field (Master’s preferred).
• 10 years of progressive experience in project, program, or portfolio management.
• 5 years of people leadership experience.
• PMP, PgMP, SAFe, or equivalent certification preferred.

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Circle K is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
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