At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the design and implementation of a PMO function from scratch in a dynamic environment.
- Company: Join emagine, a high-end consultancy transforming the financial services sector.
- Benefits: Enjoy hybrid working, competitive pay, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by driving change and building effective project management frameworks.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in PMO leadership with strong stakeholder management skills.
- Other info: Be part of a diverse team that values inclusion and continuous learning.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
About the Project
Initial 6 month project. emagine is a high‑end professional services consultancy and solutions firm specialising in providing business and technology services to the financial services sector. We power progress, solve challenges, and deliver real results through tailored high‑end consulting services and solutions.
Role: PMO Lead
We are seeking an experienced PMO Lead to design, establish, and embed a PMO function from the ground up within a fast‑paced, complex organisation operating in a trading / operationally intensive environment. This is a greenfield role: there is currently a minimal PMO structure. The successful consultant will thrive on ambiguity, enjoy driving behavioural change, and have the credibility to influence senior stakeholders while rolling up their sleeves to build practical PMO foundations.
Compensation & Location
£600pd Inside IR35. Hybrid working 3‑4 days on site, London.
Key Responsibilities
- Design and implement a PMO function from scratch, including governance frameworks, delivery standards, and controls.
- Define, formalise, and continuously improve the project lifecycle, methodologies, and ways of working.
- Establish transparency across delivery through clear reporting, dashboards, and governance forums.
- Ensure projects comply with agreed standards while remaining pragmatic and value‑focused.
- Provide senior‑level oversight across technology and change initiatives.
- Track delivery progress, risks, dependencies, and issues across the portfolio.
- Introduce and maintain core PMO artefacts (e.g. RAID logs, plans, status reports, stakeholder matrices, communication plans).
- Drive consistency where delivery is currently fragmented and Excel‑driven.
- Introduce capacity planning, resource allocation, and demand management.
- Establish financial tracking and budget governance (with scalability as the portfolio evolves).
- Support leadership with clear insight into delivery health, constraints, and trade‑offs.
- Partner with senior leadership, business units, and technology teams to align delivery with strategic goals.
- Influence stakeholders who may not be accustomed to structured PMO governance.
- Embed accountability and ownership across delivery teams.
- Act as a trusted advisor, balancing empathy with assertiveness to drive behavioural change.
- Embed new ways of working, not just defining them.
- Socialise PMO concepts and value across diverse teams and working styles.
- Handle resistance constructively – adapt approach when stakeholders don’t change first time.
- Gain senior sponsorship and bring leadership on the journey.
- Translate structure into outcomes without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
Skills & Experience
- 5+ years’ experience in PMO leadership, portfolio management, or complex change delivery.
- Proven experience designing, implementing, and improving PMO functions or delivery lifecycles.
- Strong background in regulated, structured, or high‑risk environments (e.g. trading, financial services, commodities).
- Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at senior levels.
- High emotional intelligence – able to balance empathy with firmness.
- Comfortable working through ambiguity and driving change without formal authority.
What We’re Looking For
- A love for the challenge of transformation and change management.
- A practical PMO leader who can build artefacts and shift behaviours.
- A communicator who can articulate value, manage resistance, and bring people along.
- A leader who can design today, implement tomorrow, and improve continuously.
Our People & Culture
The ideal consultants share our values and are aligned with our ways of working. As your career progresses, you can expect to work across all areas of the project lifecycle, from strategy to implementation, providing a broad base of experience to build an outstanding career.
Benefits & Development
- Providing our people with a supportive culture, rooted in our values and driven by our purpose.
- Promoting a culture of inclusion, collaboration, well‑being, and learning and development.
- Providing increased agility and flexibility within our hybrid working model.
- Investing in employees’ growth through ongoing training and development.
- Autonomy to take ownership of projects, making decisions and demonstrating individual expertise.
- Providing a transparent performance and career management experience.
Interested?
At emagine, we are committed to building an international and diverse team by embracing our different backgrounds. If you are up to the challenge and would like to find out more, get in touch with us immediately – our internal recruitment team is always keen to hear from dynamic individuals looking to further their career and explore their full potential.
emagine is an equal opportunity employer, and employment practices are based strictly on merit. It is the policy of the Company to give equal opportunity in employment regardless of sex, sexual orientation, marital status, race, age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, religion or ethnic origin.
Lead PMO Consultant employer: emagine
Contact Detail:
emagine Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Lead PMO Consultant
✨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 about reaching out to potential colleagues on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on a job opportunity!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by practising common PMO scenarios. Think about how you’d tackle ambiguity or drive behavioural change. We recommend role-playing with a friend or using mock interview platforms to sharpen your responses.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your experience with real-life examples. When discussing your past roles, focus on specific projects where you designed or improved PMO functions. This will help you stand out as someone who can deliver results in a fast-paced environment.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who are proactive about their job search. So, get that application in and let’s make some magic happen!
We think you need these skills to ace Lead PMO Consultant
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in PMO leadership and change management. We want to see how your skills align with the specific needs of the role, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Stakeholder Management Skills: Since influencing senior stakeholders is key for this role, share examples of how you've successfully navigated complex relationships in previous positions. We love to see how you’ve driven behavioural change and built trust in challenging environments.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make your experience easy to digest. We appreciate clarity, especially when it comes to your PMO accomplishments and methodologies.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. This way, you’ll ensure it reaches the right people quickly. Plus, it’s a great opportunity to explore more about us and what we stand for at emagine!
How to prepare for a job interview at emagine
✨Understand the PMO Landscape
Before your interview, dive deep into what a PMO function looks like in a trading or operationally intensive environment. Familiarise yourself with governance frameworks and delivery standards that are relevant to financial services. This knowledge will help you speak confidently about how you can design and implement a PMO from scratch.
✨Showcase Your Change Management Skills
Be prepared to discuss specific examples of how you've driven behavioural change in previous roles. Highlight your emotional intelligence and ability to influence stakeholders, especially in environments resistant to structure. This will demonstrate your capability to embed new ways of working effectively.
✨Prepare for Ambiguity
Since this role thrives on ambiguity, think of scenarios where you've successfully navigated uncertainty. Share how you approached these situations and the outcomes. This will show your potential employer that you're comfortable with the challenges of a greenfield project.
✨Articulate Value Clearly
Practice articulating the value of PMO functions and how they align with strategic goals. Be ready to explain how you would establish transparency across delivery and ensure compliance with agreed standards while remaining pragmatic. This clarity will resonate well with senior stakeholders during your interview.