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- Tasks: Lead and shape a newly established Central PMO, driving governance and standardisation.
- Company: Join a large, complex organisation with a focus on strategic initiatives.
- Benefits: High visibility role with opportunities for influence and career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by shaping project delivery culture and standards.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in leading PMOs and strong communication skills.
- Other info: Collaborate with senior leaders and build high-performing teams.
The predicted salary is between 54000 - 84000 £ per year.
About the role
We are seeking an experienced Head of Central PMO to establish and lead a portfolio-level Project Management Office within a large, complex organisation. This is a newly created leadership role with responsibility for driving standardisation, governance, and assurance across a diverse portfolio of strategic and operational programmes. Reporting to a senior strategy leader, you will operate as a Centre of Excellence for Project, Programme and Portfolio Management, working collaboratively across multiple professional service and delivery functions. You will provide senior leaders with clear, timely insight into portfolio performance, risks, dependencies, and investment decisions. This role is suited to a senior PMO leader who is equally comfortable shaping strategy, influencing executives, and building high-performing PMO teams in a matrix environment.
Key responsibilities:
- PMO strategy & leadership
- Define and own the PMO strategy, ensuring alignment with organisational objectives
- Establish the Central PMO as a recognised centre of excellence for project and programme delivery
- Set and maintain project, programme, and portfolio management standards, frameworks, and best practices
- Provide leadership assurance on the delivery of strategically critical initiatives
- Portfolio management & governance
- Lead portfolio-level governance, ensuring appropriate oversight, assurance, and decision-making
- Maintain full transparency of the project and programme portfolio, including risks, issues, dependencies, and change control
- Oversee preparation and support for senior decision-making boards and forums
- Promote and embed governance frameworks through training, guidance, and stakeholder engagement
- Performance, reporting & assurance
- Deliver high-quality portfolio reporting to senior leadership, enabling informed prioritisation and investment decisions
- Define and monitor KPIs to assess delivery performance, maturity, and value realisation
- Act as the central authority for portfolio data, metrics, and management information
- Lead project assurance and audit activity, including engagement with internal and external assurance bodies
- Capacity, demand & financial management
- Align resources across multiple PMO teams to support strategic priorities
- Develop approaches to demand management and cross-organisational resource planning
- Ensure effective financial controls, forecasting, and benefits tracking across the portfolio
- Identify opportunities for efficiency, continuous improvement, and value for money
- PMO operations
- Standardise PMO processes, templates, tools, and documentation across the organisation
- Lead maturity assessments and continuous improvement initiatives
- Champion the use of portfolio and reporting tools to enable efficient, automated insight
- People leadership & stakeholder engagement
- Lead and develop PMO professionals through direct and matrix management models
- Coach and mentor senior managers and delivery leads on best practice in governance, planning, and control
- Build strong, trusted relationships with senior stakeholders, operating with integrity and impartiality
- Foster collaboration across functions and delivery teams
About you:
Essential experience and skills:
- Proven experience leading a Central or Enterprise PMO, or equivalent portfolio-level function
- Deep understanding of project, programme and portfolio management methodologies and governance
- Strong experience operating in complex, multi-stakeholder environments
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence at senior leadership level
- Demonstrable experience of portfolio reporting, financial control, and benefits tracking
- Strong analytical capability with a pragmatic, solution-focused approach
- Experience managing PMO resources, including matrix management models
- Advanced skills in common project and reporting tools (e.g. MS Project, Excel, PowerPoint)
Desirable:
- Experience in highly regulated or large public-sector style organisations
- Formal P3M / PMO qualifications (e.g. P3O, PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent)
- Experience leading maturity assessments and continuous improvement initiatives
Why apply?
- Opportunity to shape and lead a newly established Central PMO
- High visibility role working closely with senior leadership
- Significant scope to influence delivery culture, standards, and outcomes
- Chance to build and mature portfolio-level capability in a complex organisation
Head of Central PMO in London employer: Burman Recruitment
Contact Detail:
Burman Recruitment Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Central PMO in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry and let them know you're on the hunt for a Head of Central PMO role. You never know who might have the inside scoop on an opportunity or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by brushing up on your portfolio management knowledge. Be ready to discuss how you've driven standardisation and governance in past roles. Show them you’re the Centre of Excellence they need!
✨Tip Number 3
Don’t just apply anywhere; focus on companies that align with your values and career goals. Use our website to find roles that excite you and match your skills. Tailor your approach to each application for maximum impact!
✨Tip Number 4
Follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email can go a long way in keeping you top of mind. Reiterate your enthusiasm for the role and how you can contribute to their PMO success.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Central PMO in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in leading PMOs and managing complex portfolios. We want to see how your skills align with the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: This role is all about leadership, so be sure to emphasise your experience in coaching and mentoring teams. Share examples of how you've influenced senior stakeholders and driven governance in previous roles – we love a good success story!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, clarity is key! Use straightforward language and structure your thoughts logically. We appreciate well-organised applications that make it easy for us to see your qualifications at a glance.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity. We can’t wait to hear from you!
How to prepare for a job interview at Burman Recruitment
✨Know Your PMO Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the specifics of project management methodologies and governance frameworks. Be ready to discuss how you’ve successfully led a Central PMO in the past, and think about examples that showcase your ability to influence senior leaders and drive standardisation.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
This role is all about leadership, so be prepared to talk about your approach to building high-performing teams. Share stories about how you've coached and mentored PMO professionals, and how you foster collaboration across functions. Highlight your experience in matrix management and how it has contributed to successful project outcomes.
✨Be Data-Driven
Since the role involves portfolio reporting and financial control, come equipped with examples of how you've used data to inform decision-making. Discuss specific KPIs you've defined and monitored, and how they helped assess delivery performance and value realisation. This will show your analytical capability and solution-focused approach.
✨Prepare for Governance Discussions
Expect questions around governance frameworks and oversight. Prepare to explain how you've maintained transparency in project portfolios and ensured effective decision-making. Think about how you’ve engaged with stakeholders to promote governance best practices and how you’ve handled risks and dependencies in previous roles.
