Head of Central PMO

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Trust as Head of Central PMO. We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader to establish and lead our newly created Central Programme Management Office, a key function within the Strategy & Transformation Directorate.

This is a pivotal role that will shape how the Trust oversees, assures and supports delivery of its strategic priorities and transformation programmes. The successful postholder will lead the development of a mature portfolio management approach, providing executive-level oversight of programme performance, benefits realisation, governance and reporting across the organisation.

Working closely with executive directors and senior leaders across the Trust, the postholder will provide strategic insight, challenge and assurance to support effective decision-making, helping to ensure programmes remain aligned to organisational priorities and deliver sustainable outcomes.

The successful candidate will bring significant experience of establishing and embedding PMO functions within complex organisations, together with expertise in portfolio management, programme governance, risk management, benefits realisation and performance reporting. They will be a confident and credible leader, capable of influencing at executive level and driving continuous improvement across a diverse portfolio of change initiatives.

Main duties of the job

As Head of PMO, you will establish a new function and shape how portfolio management is delivered across the Trust. You will work closely with executive directors, senior leaders and programme teams to help solve complex organisational challenges, inform strategic decision-making and ensure the Trust's transformation priorities remain on track.

A significant part of the role will involve engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, building strong relationships and influencing at senior levels. You will lead discussions at key governance forums, provide insight into programme performance and identify opportunities to strengthen delivery across the organisation.

You will also play a central role in developing innovative approaches to reporting, assurance and benefits realisation, using data and technology to provide clearer insight into progress and organisational performance. As the function grows, you will help develop capability, promote best practice and create a culture of continuous improvement across the Trust's change portfolio.

Job responsibilities

• Accountable for the establishment, performance and ongoing development of the Central PMO, ensuring it operates as a high-quality, sustainable function supporting delivery of the Trust's strategic priorities.
• Lead the development, implementation and ongoing review of Trust-wide portfolio management, programme governance, assurance and benefits realisation policies, standards and frameworks.
• Provide strategic leadership for portfolio oversight and assurance, translating corporate priorities into a coherent, deliverable and measurable portfolio of programmes.
• Maintain a single, integrated view of the Trust's strategic portfolio, ensuring clear visibility of delivery performance, risks, interdependencies and constraints.
• Provide independent oversight and assurance of portfolio performance, identifying risks early and leading escalation and recovery action where delivery is off-track.
• Lead the preparation and coordination of Transformation Board, ensuring output-focused, evidence-based discussion and effective executive challenge.
• Provide clear, accurate and timely portfolio reporting, assurance and performance insights to the Executive Leadership Team, Trust Board and its Committees, supporting effective decision-making and delivery of strategic priorities.
• Challenge and support Senior Responsible Officers (SROs), Programme Leads and Executive Directors to improve the pace, quality and sustainability of programme and project delivery, ensuring robust governance, risk management, benefits realisation and accountability across the portfolio.
• Lead on the development and implementation of benefits realisation frameworks, overseeing the identification, tracking and measurement of strategic benefits to ensure programmes deliver sustainable outcomes aligned to organisational priorities.
• Manage and develop the central project management function, including line and matrix management responsibilities where required.
• Ensure strategic programmes, projects and transformation initiatives are aligned with operational priorities and delivered without avoidable impact on safety, quality or patient experience.
• Promote continuous improvement and best practice in portfolio, programme and project delivery, providing expert advice to executive leaders as required.
• Act as a senior corporate leader for portfolio management and assurance, shaping Trust-wide expectations, standards and behaviours in relation to programme delivery, governance and benefits realisation.
• Drive digital enablement and the adoption of automation and AI-supported tools across the portfolio, improving efficiency, reducing manual effort and enhancing the quality and timeliness of management information.
• Analyse and resolve highly complex and often conflicting information relating to programme delivery, organisational risk, financial investment, workforce capacity, benefits realisation and external policy requirements, where there is no obvious solution and decisions may have significant organisational impact.

Person Specification

• Master's level qualification in a relevant subject, or equivalent level of specialist knowledge acquired through significant relevant experience and professional development.