Global Director Project Management

Hayward Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HAYW) is a global leader in pool and spa equipment, designing and manufacturing innovative solutions that enhance water experiences. As the world’s largest manufacturer of residential swimming pool equipment, we continue to expand our presence in the commercial pool market. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Hayward operates facilities across the U.S., Canada, Spain, France, Australia, and China.  This position is located in Clemmons, NC.

We are seeking a highly experienced and motivated Global Director of Project Management to lead the global project management function within our Engineering department across North America and Europe. In this role, you will be responsible for overseeing a global portfolio of engineering projects, ensuring alignment with the organization’s strategic objectives, and driving efficiency, quality, and collaboration across geographically diverse teams. You will lead a team of project managers, develop and optimize project management processes, and ensure successful project delivery on time, within scope, and on budget.

This is a leadership position requiring exceptional project management expertise, a deep understanding of engineering processes, and the ability to work across multiple time zones and cultures.

• Global Leadership: Lead and manage the global project management team, providing guidance, mentorship, and strategic direction to project managers across multiple regions.
• Strategic Alignment: Collaborate with senior leadership to ensure engineering projects align with business goals and global engineering strategies.
• Project Portfolio Management: Oversee the global portfolio of engineering projects, ensuring effective prioritization, resource allocation, and risk management.
• Process Optimization: Develop and continuously improve standardized project management methodologies, tools, and best practices tailored to engineering workflows.
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Work closely with engineering, product development, operations, and other cross-functional teams to ensure seamless execution of complex projects.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Communicate project status, progress, risks, and opportunities to executive leadership and key stakeholders on a regular basis.
• Risk Management: Identify and mitigate project risks, proactively addressing issues to prevent delays and ensure successful delivery.
• Performance Monitoring: Establish and track KPIs to measure the success of project execution, team performance, and overall project portfolio health.
• Budget and Resource Management: Ensure projects are completed within scope, time, and budgetary constraints. Manage global project budgets, timelines, and resources effectively.
• Team Development: Foster a high-performance culture by leading, coaching, and developing a global team of project managers to drive excellence in project delivery.

• Minimum of 10-15 years of experience in project management within engineering, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven track record of managing complex, large-scale engineering projects across multiple geographies and teams.
• Experience in leading global teams and working in a matrixed environment.
• Technical Expertise: Strong understanding of engineering processes and practices, including software/hardware development, manufacturing, and product lifecycle management.
• Project Management Skills: Expert knowledge of project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, Lean), project portfolio management, and risk management frameworks.
• Leadership & Communication: Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Analytical Thinking: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with a focus on data-driven decision-making.
• Cultural Competency: Experience working across diverse cultures and regions, with a strong understanding of global business dynamics and remote team management.
• Tools: Proficiency with project management software tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Jira, Asana, or equivalent).

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, Project Management, Business Administration, or related field. A master’s degree or PMO CP, PFMP, PGMP a plus.

At Hayward, we are committed to quality, innovation, and sustainability—delivering solutions that inspire happiness and well-being. If you’re passionate about solving complex problems and driving product excellence, we invite you to join our team!

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