Thesis is looking for a PMO Lead to cover a period of maternity leave. This is someone who can take the reins of our implementation portfolio, lead the Project Management team, and still roll their sleeves up on the projects that matter most. This is a genuinely dual role. You will own the governance, standards, reporting and resource planning that keep a book of concurrent Thesis SM implementations predictable and profitable across the UK and North America. You will also personally project manage a small number of strategic or complex implementations, working directly with senior stakeholders at some of our most significant institutions.
You will line manage and develop a team of Project Managers spread across UK and North American time zones, setting the expectations, decision rights and ways of working that make delivery consistent wherever it happens. You will report to the VP of Customer Experience, and your view of portfolio health will be the one the leadership team relies on. Stakeholder management runs through the whole role. Externally, you will be a credible senior contact for client sponsors and executives, holding relationships steady when delivery gets difficult. Internally, you will depend on colleagues in Support, Product, Solutions Consulting and Sales who do not report to you — and a good deal of the job is making those relationships work in the customer's interest.
It is a fixed-term appointment, so we are looking for someone who can land quickly, build trust fast and take real ownership from a standing start, and who will leave the function in better shape than they found it.
- Experience leading a PMO or delivery function accountable for a portfolio of concurrent client implementation projects
- Line management, coaching and development of project managers, ideally across more than one country or time zone
- Hands-on senior project management of full lifecycle SaaS implementations — Student Information System, ERP or comparable enterprise platforms
- A track record of building portfolio governance that drives outcomes: stage gates, delivery assurance, portfolio RAID, steering committees and executive reporting
- Strong resource forecasting and capacity planning across a multi-project delivery book, including utilisation and planned versus actual effort
- Commercial delivery discipline — change control, scope protection, effort and margin management
- Experience leading escalation and recovery on projects that have gone off track, including direct engagement with executive client stakeholders
- Confidence managing senior client stakeholders — resetting expectations, delivering unwelcome messages and rebuilding confidence where it has been lost
- A track record of working effectively across internal functions you depend on but do not control, such as Support, Product, Solutions Consulting and Sales
- Confident with a PSA or portfolio tool (Projector, Kantata, Certinia or similar), plus Smartsheet, MS Project, Excel and PowerPoint
- Formal project or programme management certification (PRINCE2, APM PMQ, PMP) or portfolio certification (P3O, MSP, MoP) is desirable
- Higher education, EdTech or public sector delivery experience is desirable but not essential
PMO Lead employer: Thesis
Thesis SM is an exceptional employer that prioritises the growth and well-being of its employees, offering a dynamic work culture that fosters innovation and collaboration. With a focus on professional development, employees have access to continuous learning opportunities and the chance to lead impactful IT and security initiatives in a remote-first environment. Located in a vibrant tech hub, the company provides a unique advantage for those looking to thrive in a cutting-edge industry while enjoying a supportive and inclusive workplace.
