Head of PMO - Operations

Scope of the Role: The Asset, Operations & Capital Delivery (AO&CD) Portfolio Management Office (PMO) is designed as a ‘hub and spoke’ delivery model. This model enables the ‘Hub’ PMO to provide critical delivery and enabling PMO services and the ‘Spoke’ PMOs in Asset Management & Engineering (AM&E), Capital Delivery (CD) and Renewals & Logistics (R&L) to drive standardised delivery across the AO&CD Project Lifecycle and enable the AMP8 Strategic Sponsor delivery model. This role is part of the ‘Hub’ PMO leadership team.

Purpose of Role: The purpose of this role is to set up, lead and manage the change, transformation and best practice initiatives across the Hub PMO and Spoke. Alongside managing the performance of the PMO, ensuring it is in line with the approved delivery model and that the organisational benefits are being realised. The role will also oversee PMO business planning, governance frameworks and operational efficiencies.

Key Responsibilities:

• Own the Hub PMO KPI’s and manage the performance of the PMO, ensuring it is operating in line with the approved delivery model, and that the organisational benefits are being realised.
• Drive accurate and transparent reporting, ensuring the KPI’s are used to track progress, highlight risks and inform strategic decision making.
• Develop, lead and execute transformation programmes to enhance PMO efficiency, maturity and service delivery ensuring best practice adoption across the portfolio.
• Own and develop the PMO transformation roadmap and plan, ensuring alignment with wider AO&CD transformation initiatives, including the evolution of the sponsor model and water/waste business strategies.
• Implement and optimise the capital governance framework and ensure standardisation of associated PMO processes and operations.
• Develop and optimise business change plans and activities to ensure the successful implementation of the PMO hub & spoke model.
• Manage the change agents embedded in the spoke PMO teams and work with senior stakeholders to drive change management initiatives.
• Own and maintain the communication and engagement strategy and plan across the Hub & Spoke Delivery Model, working closely with the Spoke Change Agents to ensure consistency in communication and engagement.
• Establish and implement Capxx efficiency tracking processes and cadence to support the sponsor model.
• Lead formal LFE activities across the AO&CD organisation.
• Ensure these insights are shared and implemented through regular knowledge-sharing sessions, best practice forums and PMO learning initiatives, enabling continuous improvement and benefits realisation.
• Support PMO long-term business planning by establishing a structured annual roadmap of key PMO events and strategic initiatives.
• Lead on planning, execution and successful delivery of these events to enhance PMO operational effectiveness.
• Foster an inclusive motivated team culture, by leading, mentoring and developing high-performing PMO teams across AO&CD.

What you should bring to the role:

• Degree or equivalent in Project Management, Engineering, Business Management, Commercial or Finance related subject.
• APM qualification – APM PPQ, APM PMQ or APM Major Project, CHPPM.
• Experience of P3M.
• Experience in IT solutions required to manage, control and report on project, programme and portfolio scope, schedule, resource requirements, budgets, risks, opportunities and issues, benefits, and quality.
• Change management.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of complex capital projects and major programmes through the lifecycle to benefit realisation.
• Set up and delivery of frameworks, processes, standards and assurance within a complex portfolio environment.
• Set up and delivery of project control disciplines within complex portfolios and programmes.
• Strong senior leadership skills to manage, influence, motivate teams and lead change in and outside of PMO Hub.
• Proficiency in project management methodologies and tools (EVM, risk management, scheduling software).
• Ability to make risk-based decisions where the parameters are unclear and judgment is needed.
• Experience in leading and managing multidisciplinary teams.
• Delivery of activities to build capability, improve efficiency and increase maturity.
• Ability to think strategically, anticipating and managing high-level risks and uncertainties.
• Identifying and implementing solutions in collaboration with teams.

Ideally, you will also be able to demonstrate:

• In-depth experience in managing complex capital projects or major programmes through lifecycle.
• Experience in leading change in a complex organisation.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary up to £110,000 per annum, depending on skills and experience.
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays).
• Car Allowance (£5,800).
• Annual Bonus (OTE 16.25%).
• Private Medical Health Care.
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Who are we? We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people and the planet to thrive.

Working at Thames Water: Thames Water is a unique, rewarding and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is a great, diverse and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience.