Program Director

Scope and Authority

As our Program Director, you are end responsible for leading the relevant project teams to deliver their projects on time, at the right quality and within budget. Program Management refers to the process of program planning, organizing, directing, communicating and controlling project work to achieve project/program objectives with internal stakeholders.

As Program Director you work on highly complex programs that are across all divisions and functions of Marel, with global span of control and that change the way of working within different job areas. 

You will be working on the development and implementation of our new Product Life Cycle Management System. This will entail a whole re-design of the way we work across Marel, which means change management is one of your main focus areas. 

You work closely together with the VP Innovation and other relevant (senior) stakeholders to ensure all are well informed. Based on your connection to the operational teams, you gather relevant business insights to take into account in your program. You are able to translate the project and business insights into clear scenario’s that enables management to take the right decisions. Last, but not least, you are responsible for adequate risk management for the whole program.

Main tasks

The tasks the Program Director include, but are not limited to:

• Create and maintain structured project teams, project plans, project timelines, and project RACI’s (responsible, accountable, consulted, informed)

• Execute the program as the primary contact from the kick-off meeting to project closure

• Organize program kick-off, status meetings and steering committee meetings as applicable

• Drive all change management activities

• Coordinate project managers working within the program, and project team activities and distribute tasks to project managers/team members as needed

• Ensure all colleagues participating in the program are engaged into the program 

• Monitor milestones in program/project plans

• Investigate and resolve issues in the program/projects as they arise

• Adapt program for changes needed during the programs duration

• Stakeholder Management, keep stakeholders updated on progress and deviations from plan

• Monitor program costs and business cases and steer into the right direction where we are heading to go over budget

• Coordinate handover of program and individual projects into business as usual

• Evaluate the program and individual projects for continuous improvement points

Skills and Abilities 

The position demands individuals with analytical skills, who can promote effective performance

through good management, strategic thinking, communication, motivation, and project

management. 

The individual must possess the following skills:

• Team player, with the confidence to take the lead and guide others 

• Strong drive for results and persistent in achieving targets

• Self-starter who can work independently

• Proven and demonstrable skills in complex program/project management and change management

• Capable to build consensus and deal with and manage resistance in a multi-cultural environment

• Strategic mindset and critical thinker 

• A born bridge builder, who is able to both translate between operational teams and senior management, as well as between the business teams and IT

• Able to manage risks in an effective way and to think in different scenario’s 

• Excellent organizational, communication and networking skills

Education, Knowledge and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in business and/or technical related subjects

• Extensive experience in program management

• Known with Product Life Cycle Management Systems, either by implementing it as program manager, or have been a super user or process expert in the past

• Experience in and comfort working in multi-cultural, multi-discipline organization 

• Strong English skills, both written and verbal

• The job requires some travel on an as needed basis

Commitment to Global Safety

As a Marel employee you are expected to respect internal rules and actively contribute to the delivery of the corporate Safety policy and guidance to ensure Marel is a safe place to work.

Marel Vision and Values

In partnership with our customers we are transforming the way food is processed. Our vision is of a world where quality food is produced sustainably and affordably. Marel’s core values are: Unity, Innovation and Excellence.