Hiring: Associate Director, Project & Portfolio Management Company: Kite Pharma Location: El Segundo, CA Job Posted Time: 2026-09-15 11:39:58 Target Skills & Keywords : Change Management, Portfolio Management, Project Management, Workday About the job Experience: •10+ years of relevant experience preferred, with a strong background in project management, portfolio management, PMO, PPM Center of Excellence, or operating model design. Required Skills: •Lead the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of project and portfolio management methodology, standards, and operating practices across Tech Ops. •Build and scale a PPM Center of Excellence by creating practical tools, templates, playbooks, training, and guidance that teams can adopt and use effectively. •Assess current PPM maturity across functions and identify the highest-value improvements to strengthen planning quality, execution discipline, portfolio visibility, and decision-making. •Design future-state ways of working that create consistency while allowing flexibility for different initiative types, team needs, and business priorities. •Drive adoption of new PPM practices through stakeholder engagement, change management, training, coaching, and practical implementation support. •Influence and align a dotted-line network of PPM representatives and cross-functional partners in a matrixed environment, without direct people management authority. •Partner with leaders and teams to translate complex PPM frameworks into clear, actionable guidance that supports business-relevant execution. •Define and monitor portfolio metrics that measure process effectiveness, identify risks and trends, and highlight opportunities for continuous improvement. Qualifications: •PhD / Doctorate with 2+ years of relevant experience OR Master's Degree with 8+ years of relevant experience OR Bachelor's Degree with 10+ years of relevant experience OR High School Diploma/GED with 14+ years of relevant experience. •Biotech or pharma experience preferred, but not required if the candidate has strong PPM capability-building experience. •Demonstrated experience creating methodology, governance models, standards, frameworks, tools, templates, playbooks, training, and adoption plans. •Strong ability to assess PPM maturity and identify practical, high-value improvements across teams or functions. •Strong influence without authority, with the ability to align cross-functional stakeholders and dotted-line partners around shared PPM practices. •Demonstrated capacity to translate complex frameworks, processes, and portfolio insights into clear, practical guidance for leaders and teams. •Create Inclusion - knowing the business value of diverse teams, modeling inclusion, and embedding the value of diversity in the way they manage their teams. •Develop Talent - understand the skills, experience, aspirations and potential of their employees and coach them on current performance and future potential. They ensure employees are receiving the feedback and insight needed to grow, develop and realize their purpose. •Empower Teams - connect the team to the organization by aligning goals, purpose, and organizational objectives, and holding them to account. They provide the support needed to remove barriers and connect their team to the broader ecosystem. •2+ years of relevant experience OR Master's Degree with 8+ years of relevant experience OR Bachelor's Degree with 10+ years of relevant experience OR High School Diploma/GED with 14+ years of relevant experience. Compensation: •$177,905 - $230,230 / year •Flexible work environment (work from home / hybrid options) Interested candidates, please apply directly through the job posting on company's career page or try via AI auto apply on this platform. Don't miss this opportunity to join a forward-thinking team!