Portfolio Governance & Operations Manager - GROWMARK, Inc. - Bloomington, IL

SALARY RANGE: $102,300.00 - $140,687.50 

GROWMARK is an agricultural cooperative serving almost 400,000 customers across North America, providing agronomy, energy, facility engineering and construction, and logistics products and services, as well as grain marketing and risk management services. Headquartered in Bloomington, Illinois, GROWMARK owns the FS trademark, which is used by its member cooperatives. GROWMARK also owns and operates SEEDWAY, the largest full-line seed company in the United States. More information is available at growmark.com.

See what it's like to work at GROWMARK: https://youtu.be/CSVMnKCySsY

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY STATEMENT

The Manager, Portfolio Governance & Operations is a leadership role within the Wholesale Technology Portfolio division, reporting to the Director, Wholesale Technology Portfolio. This position is responsible for driving effective governance, strategic alignment, and operational excellence across our portfolio of technology initiatives. The Manager will provide oversight and leadership to ensure the seamless execution of portfolio management, governance, and operational functions, enabling the team to deliver impactful outcomes efficiently and effectively.

SUPERVISION AND LEADERSHP

This position supervises two team members focusing on Governance and Operations.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Portfolio Management & Governance:

• Establish and maintain best practices for portfolio management, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities and strategic objectives.
• Define, implement, and support governance frameworks, including project management, change management, portfolio prioritization, and more.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams to manage the portfolio’s lifecycle, from idea intake to execution and reporting.
• Continuously monitor and support team activities to ensure compliance with established governance and operational processes and procedures.

Operational Excellence:

• Develop and implement operational processes that support the consistent execution of operational and administrative activities across the division.
• Support resource allocation, capacity planning, and risk management to help ensure project delivery within scope, schedule, and budget constraints.
• Identify and address inefficiencies or redundancies in division’s operational workflows.
• Oversee divisional operations, including budgeting, cost allocations, team roster maintenance, vendor invoice processing, and operational reporting and analysis.

PPM Software Usage and Adoption:

• Promote the usage and adoption of our Project and Portfolio Management (PPM) tool across the organization.
• Establish processes and procedures to ensure consistency in the way the division uses our PPM tool.
• Provide training and documentation to support the team members in maximizing the PPM tool’s benefits.
• Discover and advocate for best practices that enhance transparency, efficiency, and accountability across our portfolio of projects.

Leadership & Development:

• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and innovation.
• Mentor team members to enhance their professional growth and align their contributions with the organization’s goals.
• Build and leverage productive relationships with key stakeholders to drive portfolio management initiatives forward through mutual trust, collaboration, and partnership.

Strategic Collaboration:

• Partner with directors and team leads across the organization to support the successful delivery of technology initiatives.
• Work closely with the Director, Enterprise Portfolio, Director, IS/Dev, and other stakeholders to maintain consistent and effective governance practices.
• Ensure alignment of our project portfolio to our strategic goals to maximize organizational impact.

Reporting & Communication:

• Develop portfolio performance reports, including key metrics, risks, and accomplishments for executive leadership and other stakeholders.
• Ensure transparency in portfolio management through clear and consistent communication channels.
• Assist with routine portfolio reporting and analysis activities to facilitate routine conversations around prioritization, status, and future roadmaps for the Wholesale Technology Portfolio.

OTHER JOB FUNCTIONS

• Anticipate and address challenges by fostering a solutions-oriented and servant leadership mindset across the team.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of portfolio governance processes over time.
• Adheres to GROWMARK’s Code of Conduct and Corporate Compliance Program, as well as Environmental Health and Safety, OSHA, and DOT policies and procedures.
• Responsible for encouraging, supporting, and promoting innovative practices, ideas, and technologies within the team.
• Perform all other duties as assigned.

REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Information Systems, or a related field is required; MBA or PMP certification preferred.
• 15 years of experience in portfolio or program management with substantial exposure to technology-driven initiatives and strategic leadership.
• Proficiency with Project Portfolio Management (PPM) tools; experience with ServiceNow SPM is a plus.
• Proven track record of balancing organizational culture, operational needs, and best practices when establishing governance frameworks and leading operational excellence initiatives.
• Demonstrated ability to leverage collaborative servant leadership when working with others.
• Experience with budgeting, cost tracking, and other administrative activities.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and interpersonal skills.

At GROWMARK, we are dedicated to supporting the long-term financial well-being of our employees through a fully funded pension, a cornerstone benefit that ensures security for the future. We offer a comprehensive benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, along with a variety of supplemental plans like accident, critical illness, disability, hospital indemnity, and identity theft protection. To promote a healthy work-life balance, employees enjoy generous paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and parental leave, giving you time to recharge and focus on what matters most. Additionally, our 401(k) plan with company matching helps you plan for retirement, while our free Employee Assistance Program (EAP) supports your overall well-being. Whether you're starting your career, balancing family life, or planning for retirement, our company is committed to providing employees with a comprehensive and competitive Total Rewards package that meets your needs at every stage. Benefits eligibility may vary depending on the position.

Actual compensation will be determined based on experience, location, and other factors permitted by law.  In addition to base pay, certain roles may be eligible for bonuses, incentives, and commissions.

We are an equal opportunity employer, including protected veterans and qualified individuals with disabilities. Employment may be contingent upon receipt of an acceptable and job-related background check, drug test, motor vehicle report, and/or reference check, as applicable and permissible by law.

Salary : $102,300 - $140,688