Director, Project Management Office

National Council on Aging POSITION SUMMARY The Director of the Project Management Office (PMO) provides enterprise-wide leadership to ensure NCOA's strategic initiatives are executed with clarity, discipline, and measurable impact. Reporting directly to the Chief of Staff, this role is responsible for establishing, leading, and continuously improving NCOA's PMO to align strategy, operations, and outcomes across the organization. The Director of PMO will work closely with the Economic Wellbeing Strategist and the Healthy Aging Strategist to translate strategic priorities into executable portfolios, ensure cross-functional coordination, and drive progress on high-impact initiatives that advance NCOA's mission to improve the health and economic security of older adults. Positions at this level typically report to a senior director or executive leader and require advanced knowledge, experience, and management capabilities. They represent the organization externally and are required to exercise latitude and independent judgement with broad scope and minimal oversight. Incumbents generally have eight or more years of experience in their discipline and a bachelor's degree or equivalent, as well as substantive experience at this level. COMPETENCIES AND EXPECTATIONSProblem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; gathers and analyzes information skillfully; develops alternative solutions; works well in group problem solving situations; uses reason even when dealing with emotional topics.Interpersonal Skills - Demonstrates emotional intelligence in interactions and collaboration with others; listens actively and respectfully without interrupting; remains open to feedback and new perspectives; manages conflict constructively; builds trust through empathy, discretion, and respectful engagement - even under pressure.Business Acumen - Understands business implications of decisions and profitability; demonstrates knowledge of market and competition; aligns work with strategic goals.Ethics - Treats people with respect; works with integrity; upholds organizational values; avoids actual or perceived conflicts of interest.Judgment - Displays willingness to make decisions; exhibits sound and accurate judgment; supports and explains reasoning for decisions; includes appropriate people in decision-making process; makes timely decisions.Planning/Organizing - Prioritizes and plans work activities; uses time efficiently; plans for additional resources; sets goals and objectives; organizes or schedules other people and their tasks; develops realistic action plans.Professionalism - Approaches others in a tactful manner; reacts well under pressure; treats others with respect and consideration regardless of their status or position; accepts responsibility for own actions; follows through on commitments.Adaptability - Adapts to changes in the work environment; manages competing demands; changes approach or method to best fit the situation; able to deal with frequent change, delays, or unexpected events. KEY RESPONSIBILITIESLead the development and operation of an enterprise PMO that supports organizational strategy, prioritization, and executionOversee NCOA's portfolio of strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, timelines, and resourcesEstablish and maintain standardized project management methodologies, tools, and governance structuresProvide executive-level visibility into initiative status, risks, dependencies, and outcomesPartner with senior leaders to scope, launch, and deliver complex, cross-functional initiativesEnsure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and with clear measures of success and impactChampion the use of ASANA our primary tool used for project management Strategic LeadershipTranslate organizational strategy into an integrated, actionable roadmap across programs, policy, research, and operationsAdvise the Chief of Staff and executive leadership on sequencing, capacity, and tradeoffs across strategic initiativesServe as a connective leader across departments to reduce silos and enable coordinated executionSupport strategy implementation efforts led by the Economic Wellbeing Strategist and Healthy Aging Strategist by ensuring operational rigor and delivery discipline Innovation and Partnership DevelopmentIdentify and implement innovative project management approaches that enhance agility, collaboration, and learningSupport cross-sector partnerships by ensuring clear governance, roles, milestones, and accountability structuresCollaborate with internal and external partners to manage joint initiatives, pilots, and demonstrationsPromote a culture of continuous improvement, experimentation, and adaptive learning within project teams Research, Policy, and ImpactPartner with research and policy teams to ensure initiatives are grounded in evidence and aligned with NCOA's policy and advocacy goalsIntegrate impact measurement and learning into project design and executionSupport the translation of research and policy priorities into actionable initiatives with clear deliverablesEnsure projects contribute to measurable outcomes that advance equity, health, and economic wellbeing for older adults Leadership and CultureBuild and lead a high-performing PMO function that models collaboration, accountability, and service-oriented leadershipCoach and support project managers and cross-functional teams in effective execution and change managementFoster a culture of transparency, shared ownership, and results-driven workServe as a trusted advisor to leaders and staff navigating complex organizational change PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/QUALIFICATIONSBachelor's degree required, advanced degree in public administration, business, public health, or a related field preferredProject Management Professional (PMP) required8-10+ years of progressive experience in project, program, or portfolio management, including leadership of complex, cross-functional initiativesDemonstrated experience building or leading a PMO or equivalent enterprise-wide execution functionStrong strategic thinking skills with the ability to operationalize vision into resultsExcellent communication skills, with experience presenting to and advising senior executives Ideal Candidate ProfileMission-driven leader with experience in nonprofit, public sector, healthcare, or social impact organizationLocal to NCOA office and operates on a hybrid schedule two days a weekComfortable operating in complexity and ambiguity while driving clarity and executionSkilled at influencing without authority and aligning diverse stakeholders around shared goalsAdept at balancing rigor with flexibility in fast-moving, mission-focused environmentsPassionate about advancing health, economic security, and equity for older adults PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.Frequently required to sit or use a standing desk.Occasionally required to walk.Occasionally required to reach with hands and arms.Frequently required to talk or listen.Occasionally required to bend, lift, or climb stairs.Occasionally required to lift light weights (less than 25 pounds). WORK ENVIRONMENTThe noise level in the work environment usually is moderate. PId24c9e1963bb-29400-39791811

Created: 2026-03-05