Senior Project Manager

Syensqo is all about chemistry. We’re not just referring to chemical reactions here, but also to the magic that occurs when the brightest minds get to work together. This is where our true strength lies. In you. In your future colleagues and in all your differences. And of course, in your ideas to improve lives while preserving our planet’s beauty for the generations to come.

Job Overview and Responsibilities

Syensqo’s Global Business Services (GBS) is an integral part of our organization, delivering Finance, Procurement, Human Resources, Credit Management, and Transformation services worldwide. As we continue to evolve and expand our impact, we invite you to join a dynamic, collaborative, and forward-thinking environment—where your expertise will directly shape the future of our GBS organization.

We are seeking a highly skilled (Senior) Project & Transition Manager with a strong project management background to lead and execute critical transitions and transformation projects within Syensqo GBS. In this pivotal role, you will drive high-visibility initiatives that ensure our services are continuously optimized, scalable, and aligned with Syensqo’s strategic ambitions. Reporting to the GBS PMO Lead, you will play a key part in delivering business value and operational excellence across our global footprint.

Key Responsibilities

Transition Management

• Own and continuously enhance the transition methodology and framework for GBS.
• Develop and execute robust transition plans for GBS-related migrations and transformations.
• Proactively identify and manage risks throughout the transition lifecycle, defining effective mitigation strategies.
• Oversee robust knowledge transfer, documentation, and training to ensure operational continuity and minimize disruption.
• Lead change management efforts, including communication, stakeholder engagement, and training plans.
• Collaborate with GBS leaders to assess change impacts and drive adoption of new processes and systems.
• Anticipate and influence service demand in alignment with capacity management.
• Track and evaluate change effectiveness, making data-driven adjustments as needed.
• Map and engage all relevant stakeholders, ensuring transparent, timely, and tailored communication throughout the transition lifecycle.
• Drive ongoing process improvements to maximize quality, efficiency, and scalability.
• Define and track clear success criteria (KPIs, SLAs) for each transition, ensuring measurable outcomes and continuous improvement.
• Provide post-transition support to ensure smooth stabilization, business continuity, and adoption.

Project Management

• Apply end-to-end (E2E) project management standards to deliver transformation initiatives.
• Build business cases, manage project budgets, and evaluate costs, benefits, and feasibility.
• Partner with business stakeholders to ensure seamless alignment with project objectives and timelines.
• Monitor project progress, proactively addressing challenges and ensuring timely delivery.
• Lead mid- to large-scale projects across the GBS organization, ensuring adherence to scope, schedule, and quality.
• Manage internal and external stakeholders, providing clear and regular project updates.
• Leverage project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Jira, Google Suite) to drive delivery excellence.

Key Skills for this Role

1. Project Management: Demonstrated ability to lead and deliver complex projects using structured methodologies and tools.
2. Transition Leadership: Expertise in managing service transitions and transformations, ensuring quality and timely execution.
3. Change Management: Proven experience in organizational change, communication, and training across diverse functions and geographies.
4. Risk Management: Strong skills in identifying and mitigating transition and project risks.
5. Stakeholder Management: Ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams and resolve challenges effectively.
6. Technical Understanding: Solid knowledge of GBS processes and the impact of IT, business process implementation, or restructuring.
7. Quality Assurance: Define and uphold quality standards through rigorous reviews and continuous improvement.
8. Post-Transition Support: Ensure business continuity and user adoption through structured support and feedback mechanisms.

You will bring:

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or relevant certifications (e.g., PMP, Scrum Master, ITIL) preferred.
• 7–10 years of experience in transition and project management roles within GBS or multinational environments.
• Proven track record in managing complex, cross-functional programs and projects.
• Experience in transformation, process improvement, and technology implementation projects is highly desirable.
• Familiarity with Agile/Waterfall methodologies.

Must-Have Skills

• Fluent in English (written and spoken)
• Strong project and transition management capabilities
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and stakeholder management skills
• Proactive, organized, and self-driven, with a high level of initiative
• Strong problem-solving and analytical thinking
• Financial acumen and experience managing project budgets
• Experience working in fast-paced, multicultural environments
• Proficiency in project management and collaboration tools (Microsoft, Google Suite, Jira)
• Ability to connect people and foster collaboration
• Willingness to travel (domestic or international) as required

Nice-to-Have Skills

• Jira knowledge (preferred)
• Experience managing external vendors
• Experience in shared services/GBS environments

You will get:

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• 16, or more, weeks of maternity/paternity and co-parenting leave, according to local regulations
• Free well-being sessions (physical and psychological)

Additional Information:

• Location: Portugal
• Working model: Hybrid. 1 day per week at the Lisbon office when Lisbon-based, 2 days per month at the Lisbon office if based outside the Lisbon area.

About us

• Syensqo is a science company developing groundbreaking solutions that enhance the way we live, work, travel and play. Inspired by the scientific councils which Ernest Solvay initiated in 1911, we bring great minds together to push the limits of science and innovation for the benefit of our customers, with a diverse, global team of more than 13,000 associates. Our solutions contribute to safer, cleaner, and more sustainable products found in homes, food and consumer goods, planes, cars, batteries, smart devices and health care applications. Our innovation power enables us to deliver on the ambition of a circular economy and explore breakthrough technologies that advance humanity.
• At Syensqo, we seek to promote unity and not uniformity. We value the diversity that individuals bring and we invite you to consider a future with us, regardless of background, age, gender, national origin, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, ability or identity. We encourage individuals who may require any assistance or accommodations to let us know to ensure a seamless application experience. We are here to support you throughout the application journey and want to ensure all candidates are treated equally. If you are unsure whether you meet all the criteria or qualifications listed in the job description, we still encourage you to apply.