PMO lead; Business Transformation

Position: PMO lead (Business Transformation)
Summary:

Are you an expert in project governance with a passion for driving excellence?

Do you enjoy coaching others to reach their full potential while keeping a bird's-eye view on strategic goals?

Reporting to the Head of Transformation, this role is essential for the process oversight and management of our entire business transformation portfolio.

You will be the architect of our governance standards, ensuring every initiative aligns with South East Water's organisational strategy while driving continuous improvement across the business. As a central point of contact, you'll resolve escalated issues, manage high-level reporting for senior management, and provide the guidance needed to help our Project Managers thrive.

Whether you are an Experienced Contributor looking for a senior role with impact or a Technical Specialist who loves the rigour of PPM tools and data, this position offers the autonomy to cultivate a high-performing team and deliver consistent, successful results.

This role will act as the central point of contact for all business change portfolio related activities. This includes managing high-level reporting and dashboards for senior management, resolving escalated issues and providing guidance and coaching to Project and Programme Managers.

This role is also responsible for cultivating a high-performing Project Management Office (PMO) team to ensure the consistent and successful execution of all projects and programs.

Main responsibilities:

• Establish and enforce robust project and programme governance standards, including approval stage gates and delivery methodologies, to ensure consistency and quality across the portfolio.
• Lead the strategic oversight of the entire Transformation portfolio, guaranteeing all initiatives are fully aligned with organisational strategy.
• Oversee the development and delivery of insightful, portfolio-level reports and dashboards. Provide senior management and key stakeholders with transparency on key metrics, including project milestones, budget and benefits realisation to inform critical business decisions.
• Serve as the central point of contact for the business, expertly navigating stakeholder needs and resolving escalated issues to maintain project momentum.
• Provide expert guidance, coaching and training to Project and Programme managers, cultivating a culture of consistent project execution and best practices.
• Drive the continuous improvement of all PMO processes and standards, actively seeking opportunities to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Cultivate and lead a high-performing team of Project and Programme professionals, providing the support and autonomy necessary for them to excel, meet deadlines, and deliver results.
• Act as the Subject Matter Expert and "super-user" for the Project Portfolio Management (PPM) tool, ensuring its effective use, ongoing maintenance, and alignment with business needs.
• Champion knowledge sharing by proactively identifying and addressing skill and capability gaps within the organisation through the creation of a community of practice.

You'll need:
Skills / Qualifications / Experience

• A professional project management certification, such as the Project Management Professional (PMP) is essential, in addition to a certification in a specific methodology like PRINCE2 Practitioner.
• The ability to define and enforce project governance.
• Leadership and influencing skills to drive strategic planning, foster business acumen and lead organisational change initiatives.
• The capacity to communicate effectively with all stakeholders.
• Strong negotiation and conflict resolution skills to resolve escalated issues and build alignment.
• Expertise in using project data to create high-level, portfolio-wide reports and dashboards.
• Advanced data analysis skills for portfolio-level reporting and a deep understanding of Project Portfolio Management (PPM) tools and governance frameworks.
• The ability to provide guidance, training and support to Project Managers and teams to ensure consistent project execution and to gain buy-in for new processes and standards.
• Proven experience of leading and managing a PMO, with a track record of developing and implementing PMO processes, standards, and governance frameworks.
• A demonstrated ability to connect project delivery with organisational strategy and business outcomes, using data to drive key decisions.
• Extensive hands-on experience managing complex projects and coaching or mentoring Project and Programme Managers.
• A history of successfully managing relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, including senior management, suppliers and external partners.

Employees are required to be flexible and to be prepared to perform duties and other tasks within their capabilities. The nature of our business is such that the contents of any job profile are subject to change from time to time.

We want to be the water company people want to be supplied by and want to work for.

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