PMO Manager, Foundational Transformation

Role purpose

• The PMO Manager, Foundational Transformation is a key member of the Portfolio Management Office (PMO) team, looking at our Foundational Transformation Initiatives, a set of initiatives focused on our core systems and processes are robust and efficient, enabling us to focus on where we can deliver the greatest value and supporting all our programming across Development and Humanitarian and in delivery through Partners. This role will also manage key PMO-owned governance forums across the portfolio.  

Reporting To: Head of Portfolio Management, Foundational Transformation

Work Pattern: Hybrid/Remote; flexible working options available

Contract: Permanent Contract

Grade: P4

Location: Any approved Save the Children office location. For a full list of locations that Save the Children International can hire in, please visit: Hiring Locations

Preferred Time Zone: Any

Salary: In accordance with our global compensation and benefits framework, location-specific salary scales and benefits will apply

Right to Work: The successful candidate must possess the unrestricted right to work in their preferred location for the duration of employment

International Travel Requirements: None

Budget Responsibility: None

People Management Responsibility: None

Accountabilities

• Work effectively across the portfolio of initiatives with the teams to ensure they are held to account for delivery against the priorities and associated plans and to support them to remove blockers as they arise, reaching out to senior stakeholders in support of the teams where needed
• Collaborate with in-department and other department leaders to define, prioritize, and develop projects including supporting the Change Request process where required. This could include hosting triage calls, monitoring change request tickets and chasing for updates as required
• Portfolio level planning and management of controls at a portfolio level– including ownership of the integrated plan and associated dependencies across the Transformation and IT department
• Ensure ongoing monitoring of delivery and reporting of progress including resourcing, benefits, budgets etc. identifying and escalating issues where needed and stepping in to provide hands on intervention and delivery support to the Project Manager and wider team where needed
• Actively manage interdependencies between initiatives, ensuring these are properly captured, monitored and content specific interventions and priorities are clearly defined and actioned
• Play a key role in ongoing improvements in the Portfolio Management space including improving existing project management office policies and processes.    
• Manage the preparation, facilitation and follow up for key governance and engagement forums including Transformation Steering Groups, Portfolio Progress meetings, stage gate reviews etc. As part of this, engage across multiple different stakeholders including Senior Leaders
• Train and coach Project Managers and Project Leads in the application of the Transformation Delivery Lifecycle and PMO controls to their project . In addition, train and coach Project Managers and Project Leads in the use of project management tooling, including the application of project management best practice using our tooling. Identify and implement opportunities for continuous improvement in project management tooling
• Manage and maintain PMO dashboards and reporting at both project/initiative and portfolio levels. Produce regular PMO reporting and dashboards. Support projects to develop project-specific dashboards and reporting. Identify and implement opportunities for continuous improvement in dashboards and reporting
• Provide ongoing guidance and support to the initiative leads and wider team members as required, acting as a sounding board for questions and escalating issues as they arise to the relevant leaders in the team

Experience and Skills

Essential

• Knowledge of project, programme, and portfolio management practices, standards, and methodologies with a minimum of five years of PMO experience in a senior analyst/manager role 
• Previous responsibility for managing a complex portfolio of transformation initiatives including system and non-system changes or at a minimum experience of leading a global transformation initiative as a Project Manager or equivalent
• Demonstrated experience working with global stakeholders across different levels of the organisation from a broad range of contexts including experience setting up and working with project governance structures 
• Experience of industry project management standards and holding project management teams accountable to those standards as well as coaching skills to help build the capabilities of others in the area of Project and Change Management 
• Demonstrable experience of acting as a ‘business partner’ to functional areas e.g. Supply Chain, Finance etc. 
• Experience of working in a fast-paced environment with high levels of change and quick turnaround times, whilst delivering to the highest standards 
• Ability to resolve complex project issues, with a balance of pragmatism and rigour and delivering interventions to support the resolution of issues 
• Confident user of standard Microsoft applications, including MS Project, Excel, PowerPoint, and SharePoint. Experienced in using work management tools such as Jira. Previous experience of using project planning tools such as Planview  

Desirable

• Non-profit sector knowledge/experience (especially international development projects)
• Second language – French, Spanish or Arabic

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• A degree or equivalent qualification in a related field such as Information Technology, Project Management, or Business Administration is desirable.

Desirable

• External Project Management accreditation