Director Program Management Office

Penta Search Group has been retained by an established international medical technology organization to appoint a PMO Director at its operations in the Vancouver area, British Columbia.

This is a senior leadership opportunity within a growing technology-driven business that develops sophisticated hardware-based solutions for healthcare applications worldwide.

As the organization continues to invest in product innovation, technology advancement and portfolio expansion, it is seeking an experienced leader to strengthen the execution of complex product development initiatives and enhance the effectiveness of its program management function.

The successful candidate will assume responsibility for a diverse portfolio of engineering and product development programs, spanning new product introductions, technology upgrades, product enhancements and ongoing product lifecycle improvements.

Beyond overseeing program delivery, this individual will play a key role in evolving the organization's program management capabilities, improving operational discipline and establishing the processes necessary to support continued growth.

This position offers significant exposure to senior executive leadership, the opportunity to influence product development strategy and direct responsibility for an established team of seven Program Managers.

Key Responsibilities

Product Development & Portfolio Leadership

• Provide strategic and operational oversight of multiple concurrent hardware product development programs, from initial concept and feasibility through engineering development, validation, manufacturing readiness and commercial introduction.
• Direct portfolio planning, financial management, scheduling and resource allocation to ensure development commitments are achievable and aligned with business priorities.
• Work closely with Engineering, Product Management, Manufacturing, Quality and Regulatory teams to coordinate complex technical deliverables and resolve competing priorities.
• Ensure product development activities meet established performance, quality, cost and regulatory requirements.
• Identify and address technical, operational and commercial risks that could affect program outcomes.

Program Management Excellence

• Evaluate and enhance existing program management methodologies, governance structures and performance measurement systems.
• Introduce scalable processes and tools that improve development efficiency, delivery predictability and visibility across the project portfolio.
• Establish effective program reviews, reporting mechanisms and escalation processes to support timely decision-making.
• Strengthen resource and capacity planning to balance development priorities with available engineering and operational capabilities.
• Champion continuous improvement initiatives designed to reduce delays, improve cross-functional collaboration and increase overall development productivity.

People Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, mentor and develop an established team of seven Program Managers, fostering accountability, collaboration and high performance.
• Establish clear expectations around program execution, stakeholder communication, risk management and delivery performance.
• Support the professional development of team members while building the leadership capability necessary to accommodate future organizational growth.
• Influence stakeholders across a matrixed organization, creating alignment between technical teams, operational functions and senior management.

Cross-Functional & Executive Engagement

• Act as a senior point of contact for program execution, communicating progress, challenges and strategic considerations to executive stakeholders.
• Partner with engineering and commercial leadership to translate product roadmaps into executable development plans.
• Coordinate with external technology partners, suppliers and development resources to ensure effective integration and delivery.
• Provide informed recommendations regarding portfolio priorities, investment decisions and resource trade-offs.

Candidate Profile

We are interested in speaking with accomplished engineering and program management leaders who have successfully delivered complex hardware products within technically demanding, quality-driven environments.

Essential Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science or another relevant technical discipline preferred; a bachelor's degree is required.
• At least 10 years of professional experience involving hardware product development, including a minimum of five years in program or project management.
• Three or more years of direct leadership responsibility for teams of Program Managers or Project Managers.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, multidisciplinary product development initiatives through the complete development lifecycle.
• Strong understanding of engineering development processes, product validation, manufacturing integration and commercialization.
• Proven ability to manage competing development priorities, budgets, technical resources and delivery schedules.
• Experience establishing or improving program management frameworks, governance and organizational processes.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management capabilities, including experience influencing senior leadership and cross-functional teams.
• A track record of developing and mentoring high-performing technical program management teams.

Highly Desirable Experience

• Previous experience within medical devices, medical technology, life sciences instrumentation or other highly regulated hardware industries.
• Familiarity with formal design controls, stage-gate development methodologies and regulated product development practices.
• Knowledge of FDA requirements, ISO 13485 or comparable quality management standards.
• Experience managing electromechanical, electronic or other sophisticated hardware product development programs.
• Experience coordinating international development teams, external engineering partners or geographically distributed stakeholders.