Principal Project Manager

About the role

The Principal Project Manager, Hip & Knee R&D Data Operations, Budget & Program Excellence serves as a strategic leader within the Hip & Knee R&D organization. This individual is responsible for advancing portfolio visibility, enabling data-driven decision making, and driving operational excellence across project, program, and budget management processes.

Responsibilities

• Data Operations & Portfolio Analytics:
  • Lead the development and continuous improvement of R&D portfolio analytics, dashboards, metrics, and reporting capabilities.
  • Establish governance processes for portfolio data accuracy, consistency, transparency, and accessibility.
  • Partner with Finance, PMO, R&D and cross functional teams to design and implement integrated reporting solutions for project, portfolio, resource, and financial management.
  • Drive deployment and adoption of portfolio management tools, analytics platforms, databases, and reporting systems.
  • Translate complex data into executive-ready insights that support strategic investment and resource allocation decisions.
  • Develop performance metrics and operational KPIs to monitor portfolio health, execution effectiveness, and organizational productivity.
• Budget & Financial Management:
  • Lead annual operating planning, long-range financial planning, and portfolio investment management activities for Hip & Knee R&D.
  • Develop and manage portfolio budget tracking processes, forecasts, spend analyses, and variance reporting.
  • Partner with Finance and R&D leaders to evaluate investment opportunities, business cases, ROI analyses, and capital allocation decisions.
  • Support development of resource demand, capacity planning, and workforce investment strategies.
  • Provide financial insights and recommendations for portfolio prioritization and business planning decisions.
• Program & Project Leadership:
  • Lead complex cross-functional initiatives focused on business transformation, operational excellence, digital enablement, and portfolio management.
  • Develop project charters, schedules, milestones, governance plans, communication strategies, and risk mitigation plans.
  • Identify risks, dependencies, resource constraints, and business impacts while driving timely resolution.
  • Facilitate decision-making across diverse stakeholder groups and influence alignment in a highly matrixed environment.
  • Ensure initiatives are executed on time, within scope, and aligned to strategic objectives.
• Strategic PMO & Governance Leadership:
  • Support portfolio review processes, stage-gate governance, investment reviews, and executive decision forums.
  • Develop standardized project management methodologies, operating procedures, templates, and reporting tools, in concert with Orthopaedics processes.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives that improve execution speed, portfolio visibility, resource effectiveness, and organizational efficiency.
  • Serve as a subject matter expert in portfolio management, governance, project management, and business operations.
  • Mentor project managers and operational leaders in best practices for program execution and portfolio management.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Executive Communication:
  • Build strong partnerships with Hip & Knee R&D Leadership, PMO, Finance, Quality, Regulatory Affairs, Supply Chain, Marketing.
  • Present portfolio performance, budget status, key risks, and strategic recommendations to senior leadership teams.
  • Develop executive-level communications, presentations, and decision-support materials.
  • Lead workshops and alignment sessions to build consensus and drive organizational change.
  • Serve as a key liaison between business stakeholders, technical teams, and leadership forums.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Finance, Data Analytics, Life Sciences, or related field required.
• Minimum 8-10 years of progressive experience in project management, program management, PMO, portfolio management, business operations, finance, or related disciplines.
• Minimum 5 years of experience within a regulated industry; medical device, pharmaceutical, or healthcare experience strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading complex cross-functional programs and organizational initiatives.
• Experience managing R&D budgets, financial planning, forecasting, and investment analysis.
• Experience developing or implementing portfolio management systems, analytics solutions, dashboards, or business intelligence tools.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and drive organizational change in matrix environments.

Preferred Skills

• Agility
• Jumps
• Business Alignment
• Coaching
• Collaboration
• Continuous Improvement
• Operational Excellence
• Performance Measurement
• Process Control
• Process Improvements
• Project Management Methodology (PMM)
• Project Management Office (PMO)
• Project Reporting
• Project Schedule
• Quality Control (QC)
• Research and Development
• Tactical Planning
• Technical Credibility