Principal Portfolio Manager Global PMO, Zalando eCommerce Platform (all genders)

ABOUT THE TEAM

The Global Project Management Organization (PMO) helps Zalando achieve its strategy by driving the intake and successful delivery of Zalando’s most impactful, collaborative, and technically complex initiatives. In order to deliver against the organizational ambitions and goals, we steer the complexity and challenges around prioritization, ranking and transparency while owning the process. Our organization with its Leadership, Portfolio Managers, Program Managers, and Project Managers ensure these initiatives are driven to successful delivery across services, products, business units and teams in the organization.

At Zalando, our mission is to be our customers’ starting point for fashion. To achieve this ZCP Transactions contributes to our Customer Promise #4, "Zalando offers you the most seamless overall fashion experience with comparatively better convenience plus delightful and time-saving features and services". We do this for each and every Zalando customer as they buy and anticipate their next loved item, or return the ones they do not. While each Transactions team has its own distinct area of ownership and focus that contributes to this strategy, the overall Transactions mission is to let customers purchase and return products conveniently, empower our internal partner teams to succeed with us, and ensure long-term commercial success.

THE ROLE

To manage the accountability and the ambitious goals of ZCP Transactions, we are seeking to hire an experienced and visionary portfolio manager to implement Zalando portfolio management standards in an effective manner. In this role, the candidate will enable the execution of the ZCP Transactions strategy and ensure alignment of all investments with overarching business goals. 

As the Principal Portfolio Manager you will implement target portfolio metrics, and key ceremonies and standard processes for portfolio management in ZCP Transactions together with the respective executive leaders. 

WHAT WE’D LOVE YOU TO DO (AND LOVE DOING)

• Strategic Planning and Execution

Develop and implement a comprehensive strategic portfolio management framework aligned with organizational goals and objectives. Collaborate with executive leadership to define and refine the company's strategic priorities. 

• Portfolio Optimization

Have an understanding of portfolio processes, and are able to enable decision making in your portfolio. You are able to quickly zoom in on details as required while at the same time maintaining a robust helicopter view of your portfolio. Structure and adapt your portfolio to develop a clear granular view of work based upon the organization’s needs, and enable your business leader to secure support, budget and resources to achieve the expected impact. Oversee the management and optimization of the project portfolio to ensure it aligns with the company's strategic objectives. Evaluate and prioritize projects based on their strategic fit, resource requirements, and potential impact. Manage your portfolio to the highest standard with a continuous improvement mindset, and continuously guide your organization in identifying the right projects to pursue at the right time, ensuring strategic investment in alignment with the company strategy. Make complexity manageable and bring structure to the organization by driving an increase in transparency on the organization's strategy and resource investment. 

• Risk Management

Identify and assess potential risks associated with the project portfolio and develop mitigation strategies. Implement risk management processes to proactively address challenges and uncertainties. Drive discussions around the identification and management of trade offs in your portfolio, including the escalation to higher level portfolios, and work with little to no guidance. Forecast upcoming changes and/or incoming projects due to a strong understanding of both your organization’s and the overall company’s strategy.

• Resource Allocation

Work closely with department heads to allocate resources efficiently across strategic initiatives. Monitor resource utilization and recommend adjustments to optimize portfolio performance.

• Performance Monitoring and Reporting

Responsible for the management of an organizational portfolio including steering, intake, prioritization, implementation, reviews, and reporting. Provide regular, transparent reporting on key portfolio updates to executive leadership. Manage work in progress through regular prioritization and ranking exercises, and resource availability and allocation insights. The insights derived from your work with your portfolio is leveraged to improve the design of your organization, and increase transparency of your organization’s strategic investments, resourcing, budget tracking, planning, and investment forecasting.

• Stakeholder Engagement

Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment of project outcomes with stakeholder expectations. Foster strong relationships with key partners and vendors to enhance collaboration and project success. Work as a member of the ZCP Transactions senior leadership team while nurturing and maintaining a relevant network. This includes identifying the right senior stakeholders when working on tasks, understanding their needs, and actively asking for their feedback to uncover blind spots.

• Innovation and Continuous Improvement

Drive a culture of innovation within the organization, encouraging the exploration of new ideas and technologies. Continuously evaluate and improve portfolio management processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

WE’D LOVE TO MEET YOU IF YOU

• You are a strategic thinker with a proven ability to drive business outcomes through effective portfolio management.

• Have experience working in dynamic and fast-paced environments.

• Have years of experience in the tech, e-commerce and online industry and a strong experience as a leader. 

• Can navigate in the tech as well as business related context and is experienced in acting as the link between strategy and execution for all hierarchy levels.

• Possess great interpersonal, communication, and influencing skills with all forms of stakeholders up to the C-suite that allow you to speak with precision, clarity, and empathy.

• Developed and/or managed a matrix organization portfolio. 

• Be comfortable with ambiguity and change while bringing solutions to help move decisions and the organization forward.

• Mastered project management methodology and frameworks, especially in an agile environment.

• Have empathy, awareness, and understanding related to working in a mission driven and highly diverse and inclusive environment like Zalando.

• Have a near native language English writing and speaking skills.

OUR OFFER

Zalando provides a range of benefits, here’s an overview of what you can expect. Ask your Talent Acquisition Partner to learn more about what we offer. Learn all about Zalando and our values here: https://jobs.zalando.com/en/?gh_src=22377bdd1us 

• Employee shares program

• 40% off fashion and beauty products sold and shipped by Zalando, 30% off Zalando Lounge, discounts from external partners

• 2 paid volunteering days a year

• Hybrid working model with 60% (or more) remote per week, actual practice is up to each team to best support their collaboration

• Work from abroad for up to 30 working days a year

• 27 days of vacation a year to start

• Relocation assistance available (subject to prior agreement)

• Family services, including counseling and support

• Health and wellbeing options (including Gympass)

• Mental health support and coaching available

INCLUSIVE BY DESIGN

At Zalando, our vision is to be inclusive by design. This vision starts with our hiring - we do not discriminate on the basis of gender identity, sexual orientation, personal expression, ethnicity, religious belief, or disability status. You are welcome to leave out your picture, age, or marital status from your application. We only assess candidates on their qualifications and merit. 

We want to provide you with a great candidate experience. Feel free to inform us of any accommodations you may need, so we can best support you throughout the hiring process. 

• do.BETTER - Our Diversity & Inclusion strategy: https://corporate.zalando.com/en/our-impact/dobetter-our-diversity-and-inclusion-strategy

• Our Employee Resource Groups: https://corporate.zalando.com/en/our-impact/our-employee-resource-groups