Head of Portfolio PMO - Hertfordshire in Stevenage
Head of Portfolio PMO - Hertfordshire

Head of Portfolio PMO - Hertfordshire in Stevenage

Stevenage Temporary Home office (partial)
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At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead and improve the PMO for strategic projects, ensuring effective delivery and governance.
  • Company: Join a forward-thinking talent solutions business with a global reach.
  • Benefits: Competitive daily rate, hybrid working, and opportunities for professional growth.
  • Other info: Work in a collaborative culture that values innovation and continuous improvement.
  • Why this job: Make a significant impact on project delivery and governance in a dynamic environment.
  • Qualifications: Proven experience in PMO leadership and governance frameworks.

A senior leadership role within the Strategic Projects and Management Office. The postholder is accountable for establishing, leading, and continuously improving the way the change portfolio is delivered. The role ensures that robust governance, delivery frameworks, quality standards, and assurance processes are in place to enable successful delivery of projects and programmes. The role influences organisational delivery capability, providing the delivery framework, and expert support to project and programme managers. Driving consistency, transparency, and control across the change portfolio while enabling teams to deliver effectively is a key requirement. This position requires a commercially minded, proactive, and experienced technology professional. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of managing complex portfolios and be confident engaging with C Suite stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities:

  • PMO Strategy & Leadership
    • Operate PMO function as a centre of excellence for change governance, standards, and best practice.
    • Lead, mentor, and develop PMO teams, fostering a high-performance and service-oriented culture.
    • Act as a senior advisor to leadership on delivery capability, governance, and performance.
  • Governance and Control:
    • Design, implement, and maintain a scalable governance framework across projects and programmes.
    • Define and enforce stage gates, approvals, and assurance processes.
    • Ensure compliance with organisational policies, audit requirements, and regulatory obligations.
    • Provide independent oversight and challenge to delivery teams to ensure adherence to standards.
  • Frameworks, Standards, and Methodologies:
    • Establish and maintain delivery frameworks (e.g., waterfall, Agile, hybrid) aligned to organisational needs.
    • Define standard artefacts, templates, tools, and lifecycle processes.
    • Ensure frameworks are pragmatic, scalable, and support delivery rather than hinder it.
    • Drive adoption and consistent use of standards across all initiatives.
  • Quality Assurance and Delivery Oversight
    • Define and implement quality control processes across all projects and programmes.
    • Conduct health checks, audits, and assurance reviews to assess delivery confidence.
    • Ensure accurate, timely, and consistent reporting of delivery performance, risks, and issues.
    • Escalate systemic risks and delivery concerns to senior leadership with clear recommendations.
  • Continuous Improvement and Capability Development
    • Drive continuous improvement of PMO processes, tools, and governance practices.
    • Benchmark organisational maturity (e.g., P3M3) and implement improvement roadmaps.
    • Establish lessons learned processes and embed knowledge sharing across teams.
    • Lead communities of practice for project and programme management.
  • Support to Project and Programme Managers
    • Provide guidance, coaching, and support to project and programme managers.
    • Ensure clarity of roles, responsibilities, and delivery expectations.
    • Enable effective planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement practices.
    • Support resolution of cross-project dependencies and resource challenges.
    • Establish portfolio-level reporting standards and dashboards.
    • Provide consolidated insights on delivery performance, trends, and risks.

Key Skills & Experience:

  • Leads the establishment and operation of PMO functions - across Portfolio.
  • Defines governance frameworks, standards, and processes.
  • Influences organisational adoption of consistent delivery practices.
  • Provides guidance and assurance across projects and programmes.
  • Significant experience operating within a PMO at enterprise level.
  • Proven experience designing and implementing governance frameworks.
  • Strong track record in delivery assurance, quality control, and reporting.
  • Experience supporting and enabling project and programme managers.

Desirable Qualifications:

  • Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline (e.g., IT, Business, Management, Engineering) or equivalent professional experience.
  • Relevant professional certifications such as APM, PMP, PRINCE2, MSP, AgilePM, SAFe.
  • Experience with Agile delivery frameworks (e.g., SAFe, Scrum at scale).
  • Familiarity with portfolio and PMO tooling (e.g., Clarity, Planview, ServiceNow, Jira Align).

Head of Portfolio PMO - Hertfordshire in Stevenage employer: MORGAN PHILIPS UK LIMITED

At Morgan Philips Group, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. Our Hertfordshire location provides a hybrid working model, allowing for flexibility while engaging in meaningful projects that drive organisational success. We are committed to employee growth, providing ample opportunities for professional development and mentorship within a supportive environment, making us an ideal choice for those seeking a rewarding career in strategic project management.
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Contact Detail:

MORGAN PHILIPS UK LIMITED Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of Portfolio PMO - Hertfordshire in Stevenage

✨Tip Number 1

Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who might know someone at the company you're eyeing. A friendly chat can open doors that a CV just can't.

✨Tip Number 2

Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their PMO strategies and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. Show them you’re not just another candidate!

✨Tip Number 3

Practice your pitch! You want to convey your value clearly and confidently. Highlight your leadership skills and how you've driven successful project outcomes in the past. Make it memorable!

✨Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A quick thank-you email reiterating your interest can keep you top of mind. Plus, it shows your enthusiasm for the role. We love seeing candidates take that extra step!

We think you need these skills to ace Head of Portfolio PMO - Hertfordshire in Stevenage

PMO Strategy & Leadership
Governance Framework Design
Delivery Frameworks (Waterfall, Agile, Hybrid)
Quality Assurance Processes
Performance Reporting
Stakeholder Engagement
Risk Management
Coaching and Mentoring
Continuous Improvement
Project Management Methodologies (APM, PMP, PRINCE2, MSP, AgilePM, SAFe)
Portfolio Management Tools (Clarity, Planview, ServiceNow, Jira Align)
Change Management
Analytical Skills
Communication Skills

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Portfolio PMO role. Highlight your experience in managing complex portfolios and engaging with C Suite stakeholders. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!

Showcase Your Leadership Skills: This role is all about leadership, so don’t hold back! Share examples of how you've led PMO teams and fostered a high-performance culture. We love seeing candidates who can inspire and mentor others.

Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it clear and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read. We appreciate straightforward communication that gets right to the heart of your experience.

Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for the best chance of being noticed. It’s the easiest way for us to track your application and ensure it gets into the right hands. Don’t miss out!

How to prepare for a job interview at MORGAN PHILIPS UK LIMITED

✨Know Your PMO Inside Out

Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the PMO function and its role as a centre of excellence. Familiarise yourself with governance frameworks, delivery methodologies, and quality assurance processes. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their needs.

✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills

As a senior leadership role, they’ll be looking for someone who can lead and mentor teams effectively. Prepare examples of how you've developed high-performance cultures in previous roles, and be ready to discuss your approach to fostering collaboration and service orientation.

✨Engage with C-Suite Scenarios

Since the role involves engaging with C Suite stakeholders, think of instances where you've successfully influenced senior leaders. Be prepared to discuss how you’ve provided strategic advice on delivery capability and governance, showcasing your ability to communicate complex ideas clearly.

✨Demonstrate Continuous Improvement Mindset

Highlight your experience in driving continuous improvement within PMO processes. Discuss specific initiatives you've led that benchmarked organisational maturity or implemented lessons learned processes. This shows you’re proactive and committed to enhancing delivery capabilities.

Head of Portfolio PMO - Hertfordshire in Stevenage
MORGAN PHILIPS UK LIMITED
Location: Stevenage

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