At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and improve the PMO for successful project delivery and governance.
- Company: Join a forward-thinking company in Stevenage 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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).
Equal Opportunity Statement: We are committed to ensuring that all job applicants are treated equally, without discrimination because of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, gender reassignment, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, disability or age.
Interim Head of Portfolio PMO. Job in Stevenage LilyLifestyle Jobs employer: United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia
At our Stevenage Head Office, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that fosters a high-performance culture and prioritises employee growth. With a hybrid working model, competitive daily rates, and a commitment to continuous improvement, we empower our team members to excel in their roles while providing robust support and development opportunities. Join us to be part of a dynamic environment where your expertise will directly influence the success of our strategic projects.
Contact Details:
United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Interim Head of Portfolio PMO. Job in Stevenage LilyLifestyle Jobs
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the industry, especially those who might know someone at the company you're eyeing. A friendly chat can sometimes lead to a referral, which is gold dust in the job market.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for the interview by researching the company and its projects. Understand their PMO strategies and be ready to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs. Show them you’re not just another candidate; you’re the one they need!
✨Tip Number 3
Practice makes perfect! Get a friend or mentor to do mock interviews with you. This will help you articulate your thoughts clearly and boost your confidence when it’s time to shine in front of the real interview panel.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Interim Head of Portfolio PMO. Job in Stevenage LilyLifestyle Jobs
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Interim Head of Portfolio PMO. Highlight your experience in managing complex portfolios and engaging with C Suite stakeholders, as these are key aspects of the job.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter:Your cover letter should tell us why you're the perfect fit for this role. Share specific examples of how you've led PMO functions and improved governance frameworks in previous positions.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills:Since this is a senior leadership role, emphasise your ability to mentor and develop teams. We want to see how you've fostered a high-performance culture in past 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 this exciting opportunity.
How to prepare for a job interview at United Cerebral Palsy of Georgia
✨Know Your PMO Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand the PMO function and its importance in delivering successful projects. Familiarise yourself with governance frameworks, quality standards, and delivery methodologies like Agile and waterfall. This will help you speak confidently about how you can enhance their PMO operations.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a senior leadership role, it's crucial to demonstrate your ability to lead and mentor teams. Prepare examples of how you've developed high-performance cultures in previous roles. Be ready to discuss how you would foster a service-oriented mindset within the PMO team.
✨Engage with C-Suite Stakeholders
Since this role involves influencing C-suite stakeholders, practice articulating your ideas clearly and concisely. Think of scenarios where you've successfully engaged with senior leaders and how you navigated complex discussions. This will show your capability to communicate effectively at all levels.
✨Prepare for Governance Discussions
Expect questions around governance frameworks and compliance. Be prepared to discuss how you've designed and implemented these in past roles. Highlight your experience with audits and assurance processes, as well as how you ensure adherence to organisational policies and regulatory obligations.
