The Projects and Communications Director will oversee and manage multi-departmental projects, ensuring timely and budget-compliant completion. This role also involves developing effective communication and change management strategies that align with the company's human capital goals. The ideal candidate will be an experienced leader capable of bridging various departments, driving key initiatives, and ensuring effective communication and project execution. This position is crucial for fostering collaboration and ensuring the seamless execution of complex, high-impact projects.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Lead and manage cross-functional projects, ensuring alignment with organizational goals.
- Collaborate with leadership to define project objectives, scope, and deliverables, balancing departmental needs.
- Lead project teams from various functional areas, including Operations, HR, IT, and other business functions.
- Ensure projects meet deadlines, stay within budget, and deliver high-quality results.
- Assess staffing needs and make appropriate adjustments during project cycles.
- Develop and implement strategic communication plans to keep all stakeholders informed about key initiatives.
- Tailor messaging for different internal audiences to ensure clarity and alignment with organizational goals.
- Prepare presentations, reports, and executive communications to update senior leadership on project status.
- Enhance communication processes between functional teams to foster transparency and collaboration.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders across all functions to drive effective collaboration.
- Partner with senior leaders to prioritize projects, evaluate business needs, and ensure resource alignment.
- Lead regular project status meetings with key stakeholders, providing updates and managing expectations.
- Champion change management processes to ensure smooth implementation and adoption of new systems and initiatives.
- Identify opportunities for process improvements and collaborate with teams to implement solutions.
- Measure and report on project outcomes, using data and feedback to improve future strategies and communication efforts.
CERTIFICATIONS:
- PMP (Project Management Professional) certification or equivalent is preferred.
- Change Management certification (e.g., Prosci, CCMP) or experience leading organizational change initiatives is preferred.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Human Resources, Information Technology, Operations, or a related field (Master’s degree preferred).
- 8+ years of experience in project management, with at least 5 years leading projects for cross-functional teams in HR, Operations, and IT.
- Ability to travel up to 25% for company meetings, customer visits, and events.
- Proven ability to manage complex projects that span multiple departments and drive organizational change.
- Strong background in strategic communications, with the ability to tailor messages for diverse internal audiences.
- Expertise in project management tools and methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall).
- Solid understanding of HR, IT, and Operations processes, with the ability to drive improvements across these functions.
- Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with a proven track record of influencing and building relationships at all levels.
- Strong problem-solving abilities and the capacity to manage multiple competing priorities effectively.
- Analytical mindset with the ability to use data to inform decision-making and measure project success.