Head of PMO

Head of PMO

Full-Time 70000 - 90000 € / year (est.) No home office possible
Pavion

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the PMO function across EMEA, improving project visibility and governance.
  • Company: Dynamic company focused on project management excellence and collaboration.
  • Benefits: Private medical insurance, pension scheme, car allowance, and wellbeing support.
  • Other info: Inclusive workplace committed to diversity and personal development.
  • Why this job: Shape project management processes and make a real impact in a growing environment.
  • Qualifications: Experience in PMO, project controls, and leadership roles is essential.

The predicted salary is between 70000 - 90000 € per year.

We are looking for an experienced Head of PMO to establish and lead a central PMO hub across EMEA. This is a newly created role, so we are looking for someone hands-on, structured, and confident building processes from the ground up. The successful candidate will play a key role in improving project visibility, reporting discipline, governance, and project controls across the region. The role will act as a central point of coordination between Project Managers, Operations, Finance, and wider support teams, ensuring key project information is complete, accurate, and available in one place. This will include oversight of project status, forecasting, billing readiness, timesheets, travel, applications for payment, purchase orders, contracts, scope, specifications, drawings, and other key project documentation. The role will also have management responsibility for office administration functions, ensuring administrative support, coordination, documentation, and office-based processes are aligned with business needs and delivered consistently. As the PMO function develops, the role may also expand to support additional international regions and business areas. This role would suit someone who has previously led a formal PMO function and is comfortable bringing structure, accountability, and practical process improvement into a project-led environment.

Responsibilities:

  • Establish and lead the PMO function across EMEA, setting the standards, processes, templates, governance routines and reporting expectations required to support effective project delivery.
  • Review current ways of working, identify gaps, and implement practical PMO structures that improve consistency, visibility, and control across the regional project portfolio.
  • Develop and maintain a clear project governance framework, ensuring projects are tracked consistently from mobilisation through to completion, handover, and close-out.
  • Ensure project documentation, approvals, reporting, risk management, financial tracking, and change control processes are followed consistently across the business.
  • Create and maintain a structured weekly cadence with Project Managers and key stakeholders to review project status, forecasting, billing readiness, risks, issues, actions and documentation requirements.
  • Own the project reporting rhythm across EMEA, including weekly PM updates, commercial reviews, finance/risk reviews, billing readiness reviews and leadership reporting.
  • Work with Project Managers, Finance and Operations to support forecasting, applications for payment, billing dates, committed costs, purchase orders, timesheets, travel and cost-to-complete information.
  • Identify missing, inconsistent or inaccurate project data and follow up with the relevant stakeholders to ensure information is corrected and completed on time.
  • Support Project Managers and delivery teams across EMEA with planning, coordination, governance, documentation, and project control processes.
  • Ensure project milestones, deliverables, actions, risks, issues, dependencies, billing dates, applications for payment, purchase orders, contracts, scope, specifications, drawings, and other key project information are clearly tracked and maintained.
  • Support the implementation of improved project controls, including lessons learned, project reviews, standard operating procedures, and continuous improvement actions.
  • Partner with operational teams to ensure project delivery activity is aligned with client requirements, contractual commitments, internal standards, and business priorities.
  • Support business transformation activity, system improvements, reporting improvements, and operational change initiatives.
  • Promote a culture of accountability, accuracy, structure, and proactive communication across project and support teams.
  • Influence stakeholders to follow agreed governance processes and maintain accurate project information.
  • Support client-facing or leadership meetings where PMO input, reporting, governance, or project performance updates are required.
  • Set clear objectives, priorities, and expectations for direct reports.
  • Conduct regular one-to-ones, performance reviews, workload reviews, and development conversations.

Qualifications:

  • A recognised project management qualification such as PRINCE2, APM, PMP, Agile, or equivalent is desirable.
  • A degree or equivalent experience in business management, project management, engineering, construction management, operations, or a related field would be beneficial.

Education/Experience:

  • Significant experience in a PMO, project controls, project management, operations, or business leadership role is required, preferably within a project-led technical environment such as electronic security, fire and life safety, construction, engineering, data centres, technology infrastructure, or facilities services.
  • The successful candidate should have experience setting project governance standards, improving reporting processes, managing project controls, and supporting senior leadership with portfolio-level visibility.
  • Experience managing people is required, ideally including PMO, project coordination, or project administration.
  • Experience working across multiple projects, stakeholders, and operational teams in a fast-paced environment is essential.
  • Degree level education or equivalent relevant business experience would be beneficial.

What We Offer:

  • Private Medical Insurance (PMI)
  • Pension scheme
  • Car allowance
  • Phone allowance
  • Company sick pay
  • Access to wellbeing support services
  • A supportive and collaborative working environment

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels respected and supported. We welcome applications from all backgrounds and experiences and make recruitment decisions based on skills, experience, and business needs.

Head of PMO employer: Pavion

As the Head of PMO, you will join a dynamic and inclusive company that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. With a strong focus on collaboration and accountability, we offer a supportive work culture where your expertise in project management will be valued and nurtured. Located in the EMEA region, this role provides unique opportunities to shape processes from the ground up while enjoying benefits such as private medical insurance, a pension scheme, and a commitment to diversity.

Pavion

Contact Detail:

Pavion Recruiting Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Head of PMO

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 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 interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their current PMO structure and think about how you can bring your experience to improve their processes. Show them you’re not just a fit, but the perfect fit!

Tip Number 3

Practice your pitch! Be ready to explain how your hands-on experience and structured approach can help establish and lead their PMO hub across EMEA. Confidence is key, so make sure you can articulate your value clearly.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen by the right people. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining our team and contributing to our success.

We think you need these skills to ace Head of PMO

Project Management
PMO Leadership
Process Improvement
Governance Framework Development
Project Controls
Stakeholder Management
Reporting and Documentation

Some tips for your application 🫡

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of PMO role. Highlight your experience in establishing PMOs, improving project visibility, and managing project controls. We want to see how your skills align with what we're looking for!

Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to explain why you're the perfect fit for this newly created role. Share specific examples of how you've built processes from the ground up and improved project governance in your previous roles.

Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves managing people and coordinating across teams, make sure to highlight your leadership experience. We want to know how you've influenced stakeholders and promoted accountability in past projects.

Apply Through Our Website:Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, we love seeing candidates who follow instructions!

How to prepare for a job interview at Pavion

Know Your PMO Fundamentals

Make sure you brush up on your project management methodologies like PRINCE2 or Agile. Be ready to discuss how you've implemented these frameworks in previous roles, especially in establishing governance and reporting processes.

Showcase Your Hands-On Experience

Since this role is about building processes from the ground up, prepare examples of when you've successfully led a PMO function. Highlight specific challenges you faced and how you overcame them to improve project visibility and control.

Demonstrate Stakeholder Management Skills

This position requires coordination between various teams. Be prepared to share instances where you've influenced stakeholders to adhere to governance processes or improved communication across departments. This will show your ability to foster collaboration.

Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions

Expect questions that ask how you'd handle specific project scenarios, such as missing data or stakeholder disagreements. Think through your approach to problem-solving and be ready to articulate your thought process clearly.