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- Tasks: Lead the PMO for a major port transformation programme, ensuring effective governance and project delivery.
- Company: ABP, the UK's largest ports group, driving trade and green infrastructure.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension, private healthcare, and discounts at retailers.
- Other info: Inclusive environment with ongoing training and career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Join a vital initiative supporting the UK's energy transition and make a real impact.
- Qualifications: Significant PMO experience, strong communication skills, and proficiency in project management tools.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
ABP is the UK's leading and largest ports group, providing essential gateways for trade and enabling green infrastructure essential for the UK's energy transition. We are a major landlord and port operator with 21 port locations in the UK, handling approximately 100 million tonnes of cargo every year.
The Role: PMO Manager
The PMO Manager is responsible for establishing, leading, and continuously improving the Programme Management Office for the Future Port Talbot (FPT) Programme, one of ABP's most strategically important multi-year infrastructure programmes. The FPT Programme is a major, complex, multi-disciplinary port transformation initiative involving multiple interdependent projects, delivered through internal teams and consultant partners, with combined investment values expected in the £300m-£600m+ range.
Accountabilities:
- Design, establish, and lead the PMO structure tailored for the FPT Programme.
- Develop PMO strategy, operating model, maturity roadmap, and programme performance KPIs.
- Implement and maintain the FPT governance framework, including Review meetings, Stage Gates, Steering Groups and decision-making protocols.
- Maintain a robust suite of programme logs including decisions, assumptions, dependencies, risks and lessons learned.
- Oversee development and maintenance of the Integrated Schedule (IS) for the FPT Programme.
- Integrate schedules produced by consultant planners and internal teams, ensuring alignment with ABP standards.
- Facilitate Quantitative Risk Analysis (QRA) for cost and schedule where required.
- Provide clear insights, delivery confidence assessments and strategic recommendations to support decision-making.
- Manage digital tools including P6, MS Project, PowerBI, risk tools and collaboration platforms.
- Support preparation of business cases, investment papers and approvals.
About you:
You will ensure programme governance, controls, reporting, and assurance frameworks are consistently applied across all FPT workstreams to support ABP's missions of Keeping Britain Trading and Enabling the Energy Transition. You have the ability to cope with uncertainty, conflict and change. You are flexible, persistent and have well-developed creative problem-solving skills. You will be able to work independently with a strong bias to getting things done.
Skills, Experience & Qualifications:
Essential:
- Significant experience leading PMO or project controls on major infrastructure programmes.
- Deep knowledge of planning, scheduling, risk, cost, governance and reporting.
- Exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills.
- Proficiency with MS Office, MS Project, Primavera P6, PowerBI and CDE systems.
- High energy, proactive and hands-on leadership style.
Desirable:
- Experience on large capital programmes (£20m-£800m+).
- APM, PMI, MSP, IPA or equivalent professional qualifications.
- Experience establishing PMO structures in early-stage programme environments.
We offer:
We offer a competitive salary, contributory pension from day one, private healthcare, access to our Employee Assistance Program, and a wide range of discounts and cash back with high street and online retailers. We offer an inclusive work environment with an in-house training academy which offers ongoing opportunities to develop your skills.
PMO Manager - Major Projects in Cardiff employer: Associated British Ports Holdings Ltd
Contact Detail:
Associated British Ports Holdings Ltd Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land PMO Manager - Major Projects in Cardiff
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy to reach out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching ABP and the PMO Manager role thoroughly. Understand their projects, values, and challenges. This will help you tailor your answers and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your interview skills with a friend or mentor. Mock interviews can help you get comfortable with common questions and refine your responses. Plus, it’s a great way to boost your confidence before the real deal!
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage directly with us. Good luck!
We think you need these skills to ace PMO Manager - Major Projects in Cardiff
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the PMO Manager role. Highlight your experience in leading PMOs and managing major infrastructure programmes. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're passionate about the role and how you can contribute to ABP's mission. Keep it engaging and relevant to the job description.
Showcase Your Skills: Don’t forget to showcase your exceptional stakeholder engagement and communication skills. We value these traits highly, so give us examples of how you've used them in past projects.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It helps us keep track of your application and ensures you don’t miss any important updates!
How to prepare for a job interview at Associated British Ports Holdings Ltd
✨Know Your PMO Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand what a PMO is and how it functions within major infrastructure programmes. Familiarise yourself with ABP's specific projects and their impact on the UK's energy transition. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Stakeholder Skills
Given the importance of stakeholder engagement in this role, prepare examples that demonstrate your exceptional communication and relationship-building skills. Think about times when you've successfully navigated conflicts or managed diverse teams to achieve project goals.
✨Be Ready for Technical Questions
Expect questions about your proficiency with tools like MS Project, Primavera P6, and PowerBI. Brush up on your technical knowledge and be prepared to discuss how you've used these tools in past projects to manage schedules, risks, and reporting effectively.
✨Demonstrate Your Problem-Solving Approach
The role requires creative problem-solving skills, so come prepared with examples of challenges you've faced in previous projects. Explain your thought process and how you arrived at effective solutions, showcasing your ability to cope with uncertainty and change.