At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and improve the PMO for strategic projects, ensuring effective delivery and governance.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking organisation in Hertfordshire with a hybrid working model.
- Benefits: Competitive daily rate, flexible working, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Other info: Dynamic role with a focus on continuous improvement and team development.
- Why this job: Make a significant impact by shaping project delivery and governance at a senior level.
- Qualifications: Proven experience in PMO leadership and governance frameworks required.
Start 1st of June, 2026
Stevenage Head Office - hybrid working
1000 to 1200 per day - Inside of IR35
Monthly rolling
A senior leadership role within the Strategic Projects and Management Office. The postholder is accountable for establishing, leading, and continuously improving the way the change portfolio is delivered. The role ensures that robust governance, delivery frameworks, quality standards, and assurance processes are in place to enable successful delivery of projects and programmes. The role influences organisational delivery capability, providing the delivery framework, and expert support to project and programme managers. Driving consistency, transparency, and control across the change portfolio while enabling teams to deliver effectively is a key requirement. This position requires a commercially minded, proactive, and experienced technology professional. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of managing complex portfolios and be confident engaging with C Suite stakeholders.
Key Responsibilities
- PMO Strategy & Leadership
- Operate PMO function as a centre of excellence for change governance, standards, and best practice.
- Lead, mentor, and develop PMO teams, fostering a high-performance and service-oriented culture.
- Act as a senior advisor to leadership on delivery capability, governance, and performance.
- Governance and Control
- Design, implement, and maintain a scalable governance framework across projects and programmes.
- Define and enforce stage gates, approvals, and assurance processes.
- Ensure compliance with organisational policies, audit requirements, and regulatory obligations.
- Provide independent oversight and challenge to delivery teams to ensure adherence to standards.
- Frameworks, Standards, and Methodologies
- Establish and maintain delivery frameworks (e.g., waterfall, Agile, hybrid) aligned to organisational needs.
- Define standard artefacts, templates, tools, and lifecycle processes.
- Ensure frameworks are pragmatic, scalable, and support delivery rather than hinder it.
- Drive adoption and consistent use of standards across all initiatives.
- Quality Assurance and Delivery Oversight
- Define and implement quality control processes across all projects and programmes.
- Conduct health checks, audits, and assurance reviews to assess delivery confidence.
- Ensure accurate, timely, and consistent reporting of delivery performance, risks, and issues.
- Escalate systemic risks and delivery concerns to senior leadership with clear recommendations.
- Continuous Improvement and Capability Development
- Drive continuous improvement of PMO processes, tools, and governance practices.
- Benchmark organisational maturity (e.g., P3M3) and implement improvement roadmaps.
- Establish lessons learned processes and embed knowledge sharing across teams.
- Lead communities of practice for project and programme management.
- Support to Project and Programme Managers
- Provide guidance, coaching, and support to project and programme managers.
- Ensure clarity of roles, responsibilities, and delivery expectations.
- Enable effective planning, risk management, and stakeholder engagement practices.
- Support resolution of cross-project dependencies and resource challenges.
- Establish portfolio-level reporting standards and dashboards.
- Provide consolidated insights on delivery performance, trends, and risks.
Key Skills & Experience
- Leads the establishment and operation of PMO functions - across Portfolio
- Defines governance frameworks, standards, and processes.
- Influences organisational adoption of consistent delivery practices.
- Provides guidance and assurance across projects and programmes.
- Significant experience operating within a PMO at enterprise level
- Proven experience designing and implementing governance frameworks
- Strong track record in delivery assurance, quality control, and reporting
- Experience supporting and enabling project and programme managers
Desirable Qualifications
- Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline (e.g., IT, Business, Management, Engineering) or equivalent professional experience.
- Relevant professional certifications such as APM, PMP, PRINCE2, MSP, AgilePM, SAFe.
- Experience with Agile delivery frameworks (e.g., SAFe, Scrum at scale).
- Familiarity with portfolio and PMO tooling (e.g., Clarity, Planview, ServiceNow, Jira Align)
Head of Portfolio PMO - Hertfordshire. Job in Stevenage LilyLifestyle Jobs employer: United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia
As a leading employer in Hertfordshire, we pride ourselves on fostering a dynamic and inclusive work culture that prioritises employee growth and development. Our hybrid working model allows for flexibility while our commitment to excellence ensures that you will be part of a high-performance team dedicated to delivering impactful projects. With competitive remuneration and a focus on continuous improvement, this role offers a unique opportunity to influence organisational success at a strategic level.
Contact Details:
United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Portfolio PMO - Hertfordshire. Job in Stevenage LilyLifestyle Jobs
✨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. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its projects. Understand their PMO strategies and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. Tailor your responses to show how you can drive consistency and quality in their change portfolio.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your pitch! Be clear about your achievements and how they relate to the role of Head of Portfolio PMO. Highlight your leadership skills and experience in managing complex portfolios to impress those C Suite stakeholders.
✨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 and engaged with our platform.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Portfolio PMO - Hertfordshire. Job in Stevenage LilyLifestyle Jobs
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the Head of Portfolio PMO role. Highlight your experience in managing complex portfolios and engaging with C Suite stakeholders. We want to see how your skills align with our needs!
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 senior leadership role. Share specific examples of how you've driven governance and delivery frameworks in the past.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this role involves leading and mentoring PMO teams, make sure to highlight your leadership experience. We love seeing how you've fostered high-performance cultures and supported project managers in previous roles.
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. We can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!
How to prepare for a job interview at United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia
✨Know Your PMO Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in PMO functions and governance frameworks. Brush up on your knowledge of Agile, waterfall, and hybrid methodologies, as well as the tools like Jira Align or Clarity that are commonly used in the industry. This will help you demonstrate your expertise and show that you can lead the PMO effectively.
✨Engage with C-Suite Scenarios
Prepare for questions that involve engaging with senior stakeholders. Think about how you would influence organisational delivery capability and provide expert support to project managers. Practise articulating your past experiences where you've successfully navigated complex stakeholder environments.
✨Showcase Continuous Improvement Mindset
Be ready to discuss how you’ve driven continuous improvement in previous roles. Have examples at hand that illustrate how you benchmarked organisational maturity or implemented improvement roadmaps. This will highlight your proactive approach and commitment to enhancing PMO processes.
✨Demonstrate Leadership and Mentorship Skills
Since this role involves leading and mentoring PMO teams, prepare to share your leadership philosophy. Think of specific instances where you fostered a high-performance culture or supported project managers in overcoming challenges. This will show that you’re not just a manager but a true leader.
