Head of Enterprise PMO in Manchester

At AQA, we’re committed to advancing education and we’re committed to our people. As the largest provider of academic qualifications in the UK, we mark over 10 million exam papers each year and it’s our people who make this happen.

We are seeking an experienced and credible Head of Enterprise PMO on a 12-month fixed term contract to lead, evolve and embed a high impact, enterprise-wide PMO function that enables strategic decision-making, drives delivery confidence and strengthens portfolio value across the organisation. This is a leadership role with two distinct but complementary areas of responsibility:

• Ownership and development of the Enterprise PMO, where most of the value will be created, refining the business planning and business case processes, generating insight across our strategy and portfolio delivery, and supporting an ambitious team on their growth journey.
• Leadership oversight of the Delivery PMO, a newly established but already high-performing, delivery-focused team.

The role will suit a leader who has taken established capabilities and continued to evolve, align and drive value (ideally within an Enterprise PMO), moving organisations beyond reporting and control into strategic enablement and insight.

Key responsibilities:

• Enterprise PMO (Primary Focus)

• You will be accountable for embedding and evolving an Enterprise PMO capability that provides portfolio insight, reports on our strategy, creates our business plans, and manages our investment decisions through business cases.
• Continuing to evolve the Enterprise PMO operating model, creating greater connection and cohesion between the individual capabilities, and to drive automation.
• Establishing portfolio frameworks that enable clear prioritisation, investment decisions and benefits realisation.
• Enhancing enterprise level portfolio insight, including capacity planning, dependency management, risk aggregation and scenario modelling.
• Acting as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, providing objective insight and challenge on portfolio health, delivery confidence and strategic trade-offs.
• Driving consistency and maturity across change, project, programme and portfolio management practices.

This element of the role is highly strategic, requiring influence at executive level and the confidence to challenge where necessary.

• Delivery PMO (Leadership & Oversight)

• Providing leadership and direction to ensure ongoing effectiveness and alignment with enterprise standards.
• Ensuring integration between delivery-level reporting and enterprise-level portfolio insight.
• Supporting capability development, coaching and succession where appropriate.

This is not a hands-on delivery management role; rather, it requires visible leadership, alignment and sponsorship.

What you will bring:

• We are specifically seeking candidates who can demonstrate tangible experience of building or maturing Enterprise PMO capability.
• Proven experience leading an Enterprise PMO or equivalent strategic portfolio function.
• Demonstrable track record of designing and embedding portfolio governance, prioritisation and investment frameworks.
• Experience of leading business planning and business case processes, or participating in them.
• Experience operating at executive level, influencing and challenging senior stakeholders.
• Strong understanding of portfolio, programme and change management maturity models.
• Experience working in complex, multi-initiative environments with competing priorities.
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to build trust quickly.

What’s in it for you:

This role represents a rare opportunity to shape and lead an Enterprise PMO offering high visibility and influence across the organisation. By joining AQA, a leading independent education charity, you actually make a difference in the lives of millions of learners. There are lots of company benefits, including private medical insurance, a fantastic pension (up to 11.5% employer contributions), a 35 hour working week, 25 days annual leave with additional office closure in December and bank holidays on top, the opportunity to join lots of network groups (LGBTQ+, neurodiversity, disability, empowering women, wellbeing, ethnic minority and more), an extensive online learning platform, days for volunteering and more.

Diversity and inclusion statement:

At AQA, we are committed to fostering a workplace that celebrates diversity and promotes equity and inclusion. We believe that a diverse team brings richer perspectives and drives better outcomes. Our ED&I strategy ensures that everyone, regardless of religion, ethnicity, gender identity or expression, age, disability, sexual orientation or background, is valued, respected and empowered to thrive. We actively promote inclusive language, avoid stereotypes and strive for representation across all dimensions of diversity. We welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds and lived experiences.

What next?

Please upload your CV and a short cover letter outlining your interest and transferable skills. Closing date: 23:59 on Thursday 28th May 2026. You’ll complete a short application questionnaire, followed by a two stage interview process (Teams, then face to face). Interviews will take place during June with outcomes by the end of that month.