Portfolio Manager Enterprise IT

Portfolio Manager - Enterprise IT

Location: Clive, IA

Contract to Hire (6 mos)

On-site

Job Description

The Portfolio Manager - Enterprise IT plays a critical role in aligning IT initiatives with enterprise business strategy across the organization. This role is responsible for overseeing the planning, execution, and governance of the IT project portfolio, with a strong focus on understanding the enterprise technology ecosystem and tooling.

The ideal candidate brings strategic insight, cross-functional influence, and analytical rigor to ensure optimal resource allocation, risk mitigation, and value delivery.

Key Functions & Responsibilities

Strategic Alignment & Cross-Functional Influence

• Act as a strategic partner to business and IT leaders, ensuring technology investments align with enterprise goals and deliver measurable business value.
• Influence prioritization and decision-making across business units, IT, and governance bodies.
• Foster collaboration across departments to promote shared ownership, seamless execution, and strategic outcomes.

Portfolio Strategy & Governance

• Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of IT portfolio management processes and governance frameworks.
• Facilitate portfolio reviews with senior leadership to ensure transparency, alignment, and informed decision-making.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the enterprise IT ecosystem-including platforms, tools, and integrations-to guide strategic planning.

Project Oversight & Execution Management

• Oversee the intake, prioritization, sequencing, and approval of IT initiatives across the enterprise.
• Monitor project performance, risks, and dependencies to ensure alignment with scope, budget, and timelines.
• Partner with PMO, business units, and IT delivery teams to ensure successful execution and value realization.
• Ensure portfolio decisions are informed by business value, technical feasibility, and resource availability.

Tooling & Ecosystem Enablement

• Serve as a subject matter expert on enterprise tooling (e.g., JIRA, Confluence, Planview, ServiceNow).
• Promote effective use of project and portfolio management tools to enhance visibility, reporting, and decision-making.
• Collaborate with architecture and platform teams to align tooling strategies with business and technical needs.

Financial & Resource Management

• Oversee portfolio budgeting, forecasting, and financial tracking (CapEx/OpEx).
• Optimize resource allocation across competing initiatives using data-driven insights and scenario planning.
• Conduct cost-benefit analyses and ROI assessments to support strategic investment decisions.
• Collaborate with HR and vendor management to ensure appropriate staffing and skills alignment.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Build and maintain strong relationships with business leaders, IT teams, and external partners.
• Communicate portfolio insights, risks, and strategic recommendations effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to resolve issues, manage dependencies, and drive continuous improvement.

Travel Requirements

• Domestic U.S. travel up to 20%

Education Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, Computer Science, Engineering, CIS, MIS, or a related field required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Equivalent experience and/or alternative qualifications will be considered.
• Certifications such as PMP, SAFe, or equivalent are highly desirable.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in IT portfolio or program management.
• Experience in insurance or financial services environments strongly preferred.
• Deep understanding of enterprise IT ecosystems, platforms, and tooling.
• Proven ability to manage complex portfolios with cross-functional dependencies.
• Experience with Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid delivery models.
• Proficiency with portfolio and project management tools (e.g., JIRA, Confluence, Planview, ServiceNow).
• Strong analytical, leadership, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to engage and influence senior leaders.

Behavioral Core Competencies

• Integrity
• Strategic Thinking
• Critical Thinking
• Influence & Executive Presence
• Visionary Mindset
• Customer Service Orientation
• Flexibility & Adaptability
• Perseverance