Senior Strategic Projects Lead

We are seeking an experienced Senior Strategic Projects Lead to drive the evolution and deployment of the Johnson Controls Business System. In this highly strategic role, you will partner closely with senior leadership to translate business strategy into execution, build organizational capability, and deliver sustainable, measurable performance improvements. The role provides project governance, analytical challenge, structured problem-solving and change leadership from opportunity identification through implementation, benefit validation and sustainment.

Strategic Portfolio, Change Leadership & Project Leadership

• Lead a portfolio of high-priority, cross-functional strategic projects from definition and business case through execution, handover and benefits realisation.
• Establish robust project governance, including scope, schedule, budget, risks, decision logs and executive-level reporting.
• Translate strategic objectives into clear project charters, workstreams, milestones, governance routines, resource requirements and measurable outcomes.
• Lead selected transformation initiatives, including digitalization, automation, process redesign and manufacturing capacity expansion.
• Partner with leadership to ensure projects support business and operational priorities.
• Coach project owners and cross-functional teams in structured problem-solving, project discipline and continuous-improvement methods. Lead root‑cause analysis workshops manage the implementation of corrective actions.
• Capture lessons learned and establish repeatable standards, templates and governance practices that strengthen project delivery capability.

Operational Excellence and Business Performance

• Use data and structured analysis to identify performance gaps, operational constraints, cost opportunities and improvement priorities.
• Lead root-cause analysis and structured problem-solving workshops, ensuring corrective actions have defined owners, deadlines and effectiveness checks.
• Apply Lean Six Sigma and Continuous Improvement methods to deliver measurable improvements in People, Quality, Safety, Production and Cost.
• Promote a culture of structured problem‑solving and operational excellence.
• Develop project performance reviews that connect project activity to business outcomes and support effective decision-making.
• Partner with operational leaders to embed improvements into standard work, management routines and sustainable operating practices.

Grant & External Funding Governance

• Provide senior coordination of relevant grant and external-funding opportunities, aligning submissions to strategic programmes and investment plans.
• Oversee application planning, documentation, deadlines, compliance requirements and stakeholder inputs.
• Partner with Finance and functional owners to maintain accurate supporting records, financial information, progress reporting and governance for funded initiatives.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Project Management or a related discipline.
• Significant relevant experience (5+ years) leading complex cross-functional projects, strategic initiatives, operational transformation or business improvement in a demanding organisational environment.
• Demonstrated experience taking projects from problem definition and business case through implementation, governance and benefits realisation.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including business-case development, cost analysis, budgeting, forecasting and variance analysis.
• Advanced analytical and problem-solving capability, with the ability to turn complex data into clear priorities and recommendations.
• Strong project and programme management discipline, including scope, schedule, risk, dependency, stakeholder and change management.
• Proven ability to communicate with and influence senior stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
• High standard of written, presentation and executive-level communication skills.
• Experience in manufacturing, engineering, industrial operations or a technology-enabled operational environment.
• Lean Six Sigma or recognised continuous-improvement qualification and practical application experience.
• Recognised project or programme management qualification is advantageous.
• Experience supporting digitalisation, automation, systems implementation, capacity expansion or other transformation programmes.
• Experience with grant-funded projects or external-funding governance is advantageous.
• Strategic thinking, commercial judgement, ownership, resilience, attention to detail and a proactive, collaborative leadership style.

• Delivery of strategic projects against approved scope, milestones, budget and expected outcomes.
• Demonstrated and sustained operational, financial, quality, safety, productivity or capacity benefits, as applicable to each initiative.
• Quality and timeliness of project governance, risk management, forecasting and executive reporting.
• Stakeholder adoption and effective transition of improvements into normal operating processes.
• Improved organisational capability in project execution, structured problem-solving and continuous improvement.

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