At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead PMO activities across complex projects and ensure effective governance and planning.
- Company: Join Railpen, a leader in responsible investment and change management.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, generous leave, pension scheme, and flexible working options.
- Other info: Diverse and inclusive workplace with excellent career growth opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on how change is managed and governed at Railpen.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in PMO activities and strong stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 56700 - 69300 £ per year.
PMO (12 month FTC)
London or Darlington, with hybrid working arrangements.
About the role
At Railpen, we’re committed to helping secure our members’ future through responsible investment and effective change.
As a senior PMO (Level 3) practitioner within Change & Transformation (C&T), you’ll provide leadership, oversight and constructive challenge across governance, planning, reporting, assurance and portfolio controls.
Working across complex projects, programmes and portfolios, you’ll use data and insight to support informed decisions, improve delivery confidence and ensure change investments are governed effectively.
You may also line-manage and coach PMO colleagues, helping to strengthen professional capability, standards and ways of working across the function.
To learn more about Railpen including our values, culture and purpose, visit our careers page here
- What you’ll be doing
- Leading PMO activities across complex projects, major programmes and portfolios, ensuring effective governance, planning, reporting and control.
- Providing independent assurance and portfolio-level oversight of delivery performance, milestones, benefits, risks, assumptions, issues, dependencies and actions.
- Developing and maintaining integrated portfolio plans, delivery roadmaps and dependency-management processes to support strategic decision-making.
- Producing executive reporting, dashboards and portfolio insights, analysing delivery performance, governance effectiveness, resource utilisation and delivery confidence to provide clear recommendations.
- Facilitating governance boards, steering committees and portfolio forums, ensuring decisions are well informed, documented, communicated and tracked.
- Conducting assurance reviews, governance health checks and delivery assessments to identify weaknesses and improve delivery outcomes and governance maturity.
- Horizon scanning across the change portfolio to identify emerging risks, dependencies and delivery pressures, enabling early intervention where required.
- Supporting prioritisation, capacity planning, investment decisions and financial governance in partnership with Portfolio Managers, Project Managers, Business Analysts and senior stakeholders.
- Driving the adoption and continuous improvement of PMO standards, frameworks, tools, reporting, governance and AI-enabled practices across the portfolio.
- Where appropriate, line-managing, coaching and supporting PMO colleagues to strengthen capability, share good practice and build a collaborative professional community.
- What we’re looking for
You’ll be an experienced PMO professional with a strong track record of leading governance, assurance, planning and portfolio controls across complex change.
You’ll combine strategic thinking with strong operational delivery, using data and insight to bring structure to complexity, challenge constructively and provide clear recommendations to senior stakeholders.
You’ll be pragmatic and outcome-focused, able to balance robust governance with a proportionate approach.
You’ll also bring the leadership and coaching skills needed to develop PMO colleagues and continuously improve professional standards and capability.
Essential
- Proven experience leading PMO activities across complex programmes, portfolios or large-scale change environments.
- Strong knowledge of portfolio governance, independent assurance, integrated planning, reporting, risk management and delivery controls.
- Experience designing, implementing and continuously improving PMO frameworks, standards, methodologies and governance processes.
- Ability to analyse complex portfolio data, identify trends, risks, dependencies and delivery pressures, and provide clear recommendations to senior stakeholders.
- Experience producing executive reporting, dashboards and portfolio insights that support informed decision-making.
- Experience facilitating governance boards, steering committees, portfolio reviews and assurance activities.
- Experience managing integrated plans, delivery roadmaps, milestones and cross-portfolio dependencies.
- Ability to balance strategic objectives, delivery capability, resource availability and governance requirements.
- Strong stakeholder-management, communication and influencing skills, with the confidence to challenge constructively and influence without direct authority.
- Experience line-managing, coaching or developing PMO professionals to improve capability and performance.
- Ability to balance robust governance and professional standards with a pragmatic, proportionate and outcome-focused approach.
Desirable
- Experience working within financial services, pensions, investment management or another regulated environment.
- Knowledge of portfolio, programme and project management systems or enterprise governance tools.
- Experience supporting portfolio prioritisation, investment decisions, financial governance, capacity planning or resource management.
- Experience developing or embedding AI-enabled reporting, governance or portfolio management practices.
- A relevant PMO, portfolio, programme or project management qualification or professional accreditation.
Why is this role exciting now?
This is an opportunity to influence how change is governed and managed across Railpen’s C&T portfolio.
You’ll work closely with senior leaders, strengthen delivery confidence and use portfolio insight to support important decisions and early intervention.
Your impact will extend beyond individual projects and programmes, helping to improve PMO maturity, develop colleagues and shape more consistent, proportionate and effective delivery practices across the function.
- What you’ll get in return
- A competitive salary (depending on experience) plus generous annual bonus plan
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- We provide membership of the Railways Pension Scheme, a Defined Benefit arrangement under which you get a pension for life and a lump sum when you retire, based on your length of service and pay
- 4x Life Assurance cover
- We support hybrid and flexible working along with very generous family leave including 12 months full pay maternity leave and 6 months full pay paternity leave
- Take a look at the full range of benefits available to support you, click here
- Next steps
If you’re excited by the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution and grow your career with us, we encourage you to apply by 8th October.
Inclusion at Railpen
At Railpen, diversity, equity and inclusion are core to who we are.
We’re committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels respected, supported and able to thrive.
Our mission to secure a better future for our members is strengthened by the different perspectives and experiences our people bring.
We are transparent about our gender pay gap and are actively committed to addressing it through fair and inclusive recruitment, progression and reward practices.
We respect and support individuals’ pronouns and encourage colleagues to share them if they feel comfortable to do so.
We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer.
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and do not discriminate on the basis of age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, neurodiversity, or any other protected characteristic.
If you need adjustments during the recruitment process, just let us know.
Level 3 PMO in London employer: Railpen
Railpen is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee well-being and professional growth. With a competitive salary, generous benefits including a robust pension scheme, and a commitment to flexible working arrangements, employees can thrive in their roles while contributing to the meaningful mission of safeguarding the financial futures of the rail industry. Located in Darlington, this role provides a unique opportunity to be part of a team that values integrity and community, ensuring a rewarding career path for finance professionals.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Level 3 PMO in London
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Level 3 PMO at Railpen!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Railpen or be willing to refer you for that Level 3 PMO position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Railpen who’s on the lookout for their next Level 3 PMO star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Level 3 PMO role at Railpen!
We think you need these skills to ace Level 3 PMO in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Railpen. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Railpen
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Railpen. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
