Director, Global Project Management and Customer Implementation (Remote) - Scottsdale AZ

About the Role

The Director of Global Project Management and Customer Implementation leads the strategy, execution, and oversight of a portfolio of supply chain solutions projects across APLL Regions (Americas – EMEA – ASIA). This role defines, sets, and manages project methodology, monitors and ensures the effective implementation of new operations, complex customer solutions, enterprise, and strategic initiatives. The director manages project prioritization, justification, scope, resource planning, and execution through a team of project managers and analysts in collaboration with functional heads, corporate SMEs, and vendor teams. The role oversees project portfolios to ensure they meet APL Logistics’ and customer requirements, applying both APLL standards and Agile methodologies as appropriate. Strong leadership is required to coordinate across functional areas such as operations, IT, finance, HR, and commercial and customer teams. This position reports directly to the Sr Director of Operations Excellence and collaborates with region heads to define global project standardization and roadmap. The role provides direct access to counsel and influence the APLL C-suite team on strategy planning and execution.

Responsibilities

• Project Portfolio Management
  • Lead, manage, and monitor a diverse portfolio of complex supply chain projects, including new customer implementations and strategic initiatives.
  • Provide guidance and support to project managers in executing detailed project plans that align with customer goals and organizational strategies.
  • Maintain and manage a portfolio tool to ensure real-time accuracy of project status, timelines, and resource allocation.
  • Ensure project governance, adhering to established project management methodologies, with a focus on meeting cost, quality, and delivery goals.
  • Balance resources across multiple projects, ensuring the appropriate skills and expertise are applied to each project phase.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration & Customer Engagement
  • Engage with operations, technology, human resources, finance, legal, and commercial teams to deliver integrated solutions.
  • Act as the primary point of contact with senior leadership and key stakeholders, both internally and with customers, on project status, risks, and outcomes.
  • Collaborate closely with commercial teams on RFPs and proposals, providing project-related cost estimates, timelines, and risk assessments.
  • Develop communication strategies to keep leadership and customers informed on project progress through detailed status reports and steering committee meetings.
• Team Leadership & Development
  • Lead a team of project managers and analysts, providing mentorship, career guidance, and fostering professional growth.
  • Champion the development and implementation of best practices in project management, including Agile methodologies, and promote a culture of continuous improvement.
  • Drive organizational capabilities by developing training programs and knowledge-sharing initiatives across project management teams.
• Innovation & Change Management
  • Lead innovation initiatives by collaborating with technology, operations, and vendor teams to design and implement cutting-edge supply chain solutions.
  • Oversee the design and deployment of change management programs, ensuring smooth transitions in operations, system upgrades, and new technology deployments.
• Delivery of New Operations, Revenue Streams, or Strategic Initiatives
  • Support APLL Product and Services: CNS, OMS, IFS, International Control Tower, DNS, CLS, LTS, and MTS.
  • Manage relationships with operations and commercial teams to provide value in the pursuit of new opportunities or the expansion of services for existing customers.
  • Develop commercial content, including cost estimates, timelines, and project structures for responses to customer proposals.
  • Oversee project timelines that demonstrate a realistic path from project initiation through go-live of services and transition to ongoing operations.
  • Estimate or oversee project implementation costs, including investments in time, facility infrastructure, technology, one-time expenses, or capital.
  • Manage or oversee costs from acceptance through project implementation, with the ability to estimate variance at completion.
  • Define, document, and evaluate risks associated with a project and create a risk management plan to avoid, mitigate, or transfer risk.
  • Provide project status reporting that delivers an accurate assessment of project health and is easily interpreted by executive leadership.
  • Integrate project documents with external customers and service providers to ensure plans represent the project in total, not just APL Logistics elements.
  • Maintain a portfolio management tool that accurately reflects projects being worked on, overall status, high-level timeline, and leadership.
• Building Capabilities and Competencies
  • Develop a working plan to fill knowledge and skill gaps that enable continuous improvement of project and portfolio management capabilities.
  • Demonstrate continued growth in the project management discipline by creating and executing innovative approaches to the delivery of supply chain strategies.
  • Drive organizational project management competencies by teaching, mentoring, and guiding the development paths of project managers within the portfolio’s span of responsibility.
  • Become the leading expert in the implementation of supply chain strategies within the portfolio geography.

Requirements

• Ability to work remotely and autonomously.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• Ability to travel within and outside the country to support meetings and/or projects when required.
• Experience working across multiple regions and with functional teams located in multiple geographies.
• Function effectively in a fast-paced project environment, leading and collaborating in the development of integrated solutions for existing operations as well as for new customers.
• Excellent analytical, problem-solving, conflict resolution, and decision-making skills.
• Experience in the implementation of supply chain strategies through APLL standard project management or Agile methodologies.
• Experience in the global logistics industry, preferably in consolidation services, warehousing services, freight forwarding services, or domestic transportation services.
• Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills at all levels of an organization.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of combined experience in domestic and international supply chain (Asia Consolidation, International Freight Management, Warehousing, Transportation).
• 10+ years of leadership experience in managing complex projects or portfolios, including direct management of teams.
• 10+ years of combined experience in logistics solutions design and account management.
• Project Management credentials: PMP® from the Project Management Institute preferred.
• Advanced user level: MS Visio, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and MS Project Pro.
• Proficient user level: MS Power BI.
• Working knowledge: Cascade, Monday.com.
• Scrum Master certification or a strong understanding of Agile methodologies.
• Detail-oriented, highly organized, with the ability to handle communications, reporting, status reports, and issues logs for multiple projects/customers simultaneously.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment handling multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong communication skills (bilingual preferred) to support weekly status calls, steering committee meetings, and customer presentations.
• Strong public speaking skills (bilingual preferred) to prepare and deliver oral presentations internally and with customer teams.
• Continued education for obtaining and maintaining professional credentials in project management.

Key Result Areas

• Update and accurate project portfolio representing all projects under responsibility.
• Project deliverables completed on time: OMS, IFS, MTS, CT, DNS, CLS, LTS (Target: 100%).
• Project completion under budget: OMS, IFS, MTS, CT, DNS, CLS, LTS (Target: 100%).
• Quality of product/service delivered through project implementation: OMS, IFS, MTS, CT, DNS, CLS, LTS (Target: 100%).
• Develop, retain, and promote talent.
• Work with APLL existing project management tools and templates, maintain, and enhance them.
• Develop new and cost-effective solutions through innovation and collaboration with other areas.
• Adhere to APLL POMs and guidelines for the onboarding of new customers and meet the financial indicators approved by corporate, regional head, and local owner LOB.
• Collaborate with other functional areas in the development of flexible, suitable, innovative, and cost-effective engineered solutions.
• Document and agree to project scope, controlled to prevent scope creep without financial protections.
• Delivery of customer supply chain strategies within agreed timelines, accounting for changes through documented change management processes.
• Risk management plans that reduce financial exposure through risk responses agreed to by APLL and customers.
• Cost control systems capturing planned cost and comparing against actual to predict outcome at the end of a project.

Pay

The typical starting salary range for this position is $131,000 - $189,000. The actual salary offer will take into account multiple factors including skills, experience, and location. Please note that the salary details listed reflect the base salary only, not total compensation, which includes bonus and benefits.

Benefits

• Vacation or Flexible Time Off ("FTO")
• 6 days sick time
• 9 paid holidays
• 1 paid "Personal Holiday"
• Company Bonus Plan
• 401(K) SAVE Plan with Annual Fixed Contribution
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life & Disability coverage
• Voluntary Benefits: Accident/Critical Illness/Hospital Indemnity
• Tuition reimbursement and student loan assistance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Health Savings Account (HSA) with employer funding and wellness incentives
• Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
• Employee Referral Program

Schedule

• Employees residing within 25 miles of an APL Logistics Hub Office (AZ, FL, MI, NC, OR) are required to follow a designated Hybrid schedule:
  • Fully on-site or fully remote schedules are determined based on role and business needs.
  • Hybrid employees must report to the office 8 days per month, scheduled by their supervisor.
  • Warehouse roles are typically fully on-site.
• Candidates outside the 25-mile