At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and manage the PMO framework, ensuring effective governance and reporting across change initiatives.
- Company: Join Starr, a rapidly growing global insurance and investment organisation.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and opportunities for career advancement.
- Other info: Opportunity to mentor junior team members and build PMO capabilities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a dynamic environment while supporting enterprise change agendas.
- Qualifications: Senior PMO experience with strong governance and stakeholder management skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 € per year.
Starr is a global insurance and investment organisation providing property and casualty insurance solutions to business and industry. Starr has grown into one of the world’s fastest‑expanding insurance organisations, writing business in 128 countries across six continents. Our talented and experienced associates manage risk and ultimately support the profitable growth of organisations in a dynamic, competitive and ever-changing marketplace. Join us and become part of our talented and passionate workforce.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide deputy leadership to the Head of Change, supporting day‑to‑day operational management of the Change team and enabling effective decision-making across the portfolio;
- Establish and run a consistent PMO framework for the change portfolio, delivering:
- Portfolio governance, prioritisation and assurance to ensure initiatives are controlled, on track and aligned to strategic outcomes;
- Regular, high‑quality reporting to senior management and stakeholders, providing clear visibility of progress, risks, dependencies, budget and resource demand/capacity;
- Active monitoring and management of delivery plans, milestones, RAID, interdependencies and benefits tracking across integration and transformation initiatives;
- Effective resource management across projects (forecasting, allocation, utilisation and constraints), supporting the Change leadership team to make trade‑off decisions;
- Strong partnership with 2nd and 3rd line functions (Risk, Compliance and Internal Audit) to evidence that change is appropriately governed, controlled and effective.
- Transition of governance, tooling and knowledge from PwC into the internal Change team, reducing external dependency while retaining best practice.
- Build PMO capability, including coaching and developing junior team members and continuously improving templates, standards and ways of working.
- Align local portfolio governance, reporting and delivery controls with the global Starr enterprise PMO framework and processes, ensuring consistent standards, artefacts and reporting cadence in support of strategic prioritisation.
Qualifications, skills and experience
- This role requires a senior PMO professional with the capability to lead portfolio governance in a complex, regulated environment and to support delivery of an enterprise change agenda, including M&A integration activity.
- Significant experience in a PMO / Portfolio Office leadership role, running governance, controls and reporting across multiple concurrent projects and workstreams.
- Proven track record supporting delivery of complex change in a regulated environment (e.g., financial services/insurance), with strong understanding of risk and control requirements.
- Demonstrable experience establishing and maintaining portfolio governance: steering forums, RAID management, dependency management, stage gates, and quality assurance of project artefacts.
- Strong portfolio reporting capability, producing clear executive‑level packs and dashboards that enable prioritisation decisions and provide transparency on progress, risks, budget and benefits.
- Resource and demand management expertise (capacity planning, forecasting, allocation and utilisation) across a portfolio, with the confidence to surface constraints and recommend trade‑offs.
- Experience partnering with 2nd and 3rd line functions (Risk/Compliance/Internal Audit) to evidence that change delivery is controlled, well‑documented and operating effectively.
- Ability to align local PMO governance and reporting to a wider enterprise PMO framework and processes, including consistent standards, artefacts and cadence.
- Strong stakeholder management and influencing skills, able to challenge constructively and drive actions through senior leadership and delivery teams.
- Advanced working knowledge of common PMO tools and Microsoft 365 (e.g., Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams), with experience using project/portfolio tooling (e.g., MS Project, Planview, Clarity, Jira/Confluence, Smartsheet or equivalent).
- M&A integration experience, including operating model/process integration, technology change, and governance across multiple workstreams.
- Experience transitioning PMO capability from external advisers/consultancies into an internal team, with a focus on knowledge retention and sustainable ways of working.
- People leadership and coaching experience, including building PMO capability and mentoring junior team members.
- Professional certification (or working towards) such as MSP, PRINCE2 Practitioner, PMP, APM PMQ/PPQ, AgilePM, SAFe, or equivalent.
- Exposure to portfolio data visualisation and automation (e.g., Power BI), and improving reporting efficiency and insight.
PMO Manager in London employer: Starr
Starr is an exceptional employer that fosters a dynamic and inclusive work culture, where talented professionals are empowered to drive meaningful change in the insurance and investment sector. With a strong focus on employee growth, Starr offers extensive training and development opportunities, ensuring that associates can thrive in their careers while contributing to the company's global success across 128 countries. Join us in our London office, where you will be part of a passionate team dedicated to excellence and innovation in a fast-paced environment.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land PMO Manager in London
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, attend relevant events, and engage with professionals on platforms like LinkedIn. We all know that sometimes it’s not just what you know, but who you know that can help you land that PMO Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews by researching Starr and understanding their change portfolio. We recommend practising common PMO interview questions and having examples ready that showcase your experience in governance and resource management. Confidence is key!
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your skills through real-life scenarios. When discussing your experience, focus on how you've successfully managed complex change initiatives and collaborated with risk and compliance teams. We want to see how you’ve made an impact in previous roles!
✨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. Let’s get you that PMO Manager position at Starr!
We think you need these skills to ace PMO Manager in London
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the PMO Manager role. Highlight your experience in portfolio governance and change management, and don’t forget to showcase any relevant certifications. 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 tell us why you’re passionate about the role and how your background makes you a perfect fit. Be sure to mention specific experiences that relate to the key responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Showcase Your Achievements:When detailing your past roles, focus on your achievements rather than just duties. Use metrics where possible to demonstrate your impact, especially in areas like resource management and reporting. We love numbers that tell a story!
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it shows you’re keen to join our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at Starr
✨Know Your PMO Framework
Before the interview, make sure you’re well-versed in PMO frameworks and governance structures. Starr is looking for someone who can establish and run a consistent PMO framework, so be ready to discuss your experience with portfolio governance and how you've implemented similar frameworks in the past.
✨Showcase Your Reporting Skills
Prepare to demonstrate your ability to produce high-quality reports and dashboards. Bring examples of executive-level packs you've created that highlight progress, risks, and budget management. This will show that you can provide clear visibility to senior management, which is crucial for the role.
✨Highlight Your Change Management Experience
Starr values candidates with a proven track record in managing complex change in regulated environments. Be ready to share specific examples of M&A integration activities or transformation initiatives you've led, focusing on how you managed risks and ensured effective delivery.
✨Emphasise Stakeholder Management
Strong stakeholder management skills are key for this role. Prepare to discuss how you've influenced senior leadership and collaborated with various teams, including Risk and Compliance. Share instances where you’ve successfully navigated challenges and driven actions through constructive feedback.
