Director Program Governance & Planning (m/f/d)

Join DHL Express in Transforming Global Customs Operations

We are launching one of the most ambitious Customs Transformation programs in DHL Express history—and we are looking for exceptional talent to help shape it.

This multi-year global initiative spans people, processes, and technology, with the goal of significantly elevating our Customs Operations and quality worldwide. As part of this journey, we are scaling our Global Operations and IT teams from under 30 to over 100 high-impact professionals, building new capabilities and strengthening existing ones.

Key focus areas include establishing a best-in-class Program Management Office (PMO), creating a Global Customs Process team, expanding Business Capability teams, and investing significantly in advanced IT solutions. Backed by a multi-million Euro investment, this program is a long-term commitment to building smarter processes, stronger systems, and a future-ready Customs environment.

This is a complex and demanding transformation—but also a rare opportunity to make a tangible, global impact. Your work will directly contribute to how DHL Express delivers excellence to customers around the world.

If you are motivated by scale, challenge, and meaningful impact, this is your opportunity to be part of something truly transformational.

We are looking for a Director Program Governance & Planning .

Role Location: Whilst this role has been advertised as located in a specific location, we will also be considering locating this role at other GHO locations in Europe, including Bonn, Brussels, Maastricht and Leipzig .

The Director, Program Governance & Planning is accountable for establishing, leading, and continuously improving the Program Management Planning & Governance area to ensure effective transformation governance, delivery excellence, and strategic alignment of the roadmap, across all projects. The role supports the VP, Head of Program Management by defining, owning and operationalizing governance, communication & documentation frameworks and standards, driving portfolio performance, and enabling transparency and efficient decision‑making across the organization including GMB level.

How will you contribute to the success of DHL?

Leadership

• Lead, manage, mentor and further develop a direct team of (Senior) Managers in the PMO team
• Indirectly manage, coach and steer the PMO team from parallel teams in Global Programs and Ops, BUIT, IT-S
• Take a active leadership role in the wider Global Programs and Ops community.

PMO Governance & Strategy

• Define and maintain PMO governance frameworks, methodologies, and standards in alignment with enterprise strategy.
• Establish efficient and innovative and aligned program governance processes for planning and reporting, utilizing latest technology.
• Run and ensure portfolio‑level governance routines, reporting cycles, and risk escalations towards GMB Steering Board as well as Program Gate Reviews and Decision Boards.
• Cooperate with Methodology & Tools team to ensure consistent project and program execution through standardized methodology, tools, templates, and processes.

Portfolio, Program & Project Management Excellence

• Oversee portfolio planning, constantly establishing a program roadmap with aligned priorities, and resource allocation.
• Monitor cross-funtional delivery performance, ensuring scope, schedule, budget, and quality targets are met.
• Equip and support program and project managers with best‑practice guidance, coaching, and delivery oversight.
• Establish remediation plans for underperforming projects and facilitate decision‑making with leadership.

Reporting, Analytics & Performance Management

• Own the creation of standardized program portfolio reporting dashboards and executive‑level presentations.
• Implement KPIs and performance metrics to track portfolio health and strategic impact, against defined BCA targets.
• Provide transparent, data‑driven insights on transformation delivery to support leadership decisions.

Resource & Capability Management

• Build and manage PMO resourcing models, including capacity planning and skills mapping.
• Develop capability‑building upskilling initiatives for project and program managers as well as PMO team across functions.
• Drive continuous improvement through lessons‑learned cycles and maturity assessments.

Stakeholder & Communications Management

• Serve as a central communication ambassador, for all portfolio activities across functions, convincing senior stakeholders to adopt governance standards.
• Ensure stakeholders receive and provide timely, accurate, and relevant information for planning and roadmap.
• Facilitate and ensure alignment between functions, leadership, and delivery teams.

Do you have what it takes?

• Relevant university degree, MBA/ Master in Business Administration or similar.
• 7-10 years of experience in project, program, or portfolio management.
• Fluency in English; additional languages beneficial.
• Exceptional communication and executive‑level presentation skills.
• Strong leadership and stakeholder management skills.
• Prior leadership experience within a PMO or transformation function.
• Experience in cross‑functional, global, or complex matrixed organizations.
• Experience leading PMOs or large transformation portfolios.
• Deep knowledge of project and program management methodologies (e.g., PMI, PRINCE2, Agile).
• Resilience and a proactive attitude towards overcoming challenges and leading change.
• Willingness to be hands-on and actively engage when necessary.
• Excellent analytical and problem‑solving capabilities.
• Ability to translate strategy into actionable frameworks and processes.
• High proficiency in portfolio reporting, metrics, and performance management.

Please submit your application along with your CV and a copy of your highest educational degree (e.g., Bachelor’s, Master’s, or MBA certificate).

DHL is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.