Senior Manager, Project Management Office

Griffith University Employees, Location, Alumni; Brisbane; On-site; AUD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Griffith University in Brisbane is seeking a Senior Manager, Project Management Office to establish, lead and continuously enhance a divisional PMO supporting Corporate Services projects, including infrastructure, digital, and business transformation.

You will drive governance, portfolio planning, resource and financial oversight, and benefits realisation, working with executives and delivery teams to ensure investments align with Griffith's strategic objectives.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in project management, business, information technology, construction, engineering, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant qualifications and substantial senior leadership experience in complex project, program, or portfolio environments.
• Proven success in establishing, leading and maturing a Project Management Office (PMO) within a large organisation.
• Experience developing and implementing governance frameworks, portfolio management practices, reporting methodologies, performance measures, and assurance processes.
• Formal project, program, or portfolio management certification (PRINCE2, MSP, PMBOK, Agile, SAFe) is highly desirable.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills with senior executives, sponsors and governance bodies.
• Strong commercial, financial and strategic acumen with experience in project investments, budgeting and portfolio prioritisation.
• Ability to lead, coach and develop high-performing teams and foster accountability.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Corporate Services PMO with governance, delivery standards, reporting and accountability across the project portfolio.
• Support planning, prioritisation and approval processes, including business case development, benefits analysis and stage-gate reviews.
• Maintain an integrated portfolio roadmap showing schedules, resource requirements, dependencies, risks and decisions.
• Provide strategic reporting to CFO, executives and governance forums on portfolio performance and resource allocation.
• Deliver independent portfolio oversight and assurance by monitoring performance, outcomes and benefits realisation.
• Recommend governance improvements and interventions where projects require action.
• Implement and continuously enhance PMO tools, methodologies, templates and reporting frameworks.
• Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned and project maturity initiatives.

Skills

PMO leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Financial acumen

Strategic planning

Team leadership

Governance & reporting

Education

PM/Portfolio management certification (PRINCE2/MSP/PMBOK/Agile/SAFe)

Job description

Company Description

Every institution values excellence. What matters most is why. Griffith was created to be a different type of university. You’ll find we’re about leading research, academic excellence, and the transformative power of education. But what sets us apart is why those things matter and how you’ll achieve them.

Why?

Griffith brings together exceptional minds like yours from across the globe and from all walks of life. Here, we do incredible work, questioning and challenging, always in the pursuit of excellence.

Job Description

About the opportunity

The Senior Manager, Project Management Office is responsible for establishing, leading and continuously enhancing a divisional PMO that supports the successful delivery of Corporate Services led projects and programs. These initiatives include the University’s physical infrastructure projects, digital projects, business improvement and organisational change.

The role promotes a consistent, structured and best-practice approach to project and portfolio management through the implementation of governance frameworks, delivery methodologies, portfolio planning, resource and capacity management, financial oversight, and benefits realisation processes. Working collaboratively with Corporate Services executives, senior leaders, project sponsors and delivery teams, the Senior Manager provides strategic advice, oversight and assurance to support effective decision-making, strengthen project outcomes, and ensure investments align with the University’s strategic objectives and Corporate Services priorities.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the Corporate Services PMO, ensuring effective governance, delivery standards, reporting and accountability across the project portfolio.
• Support project planning, prioritisation and approval processes, including business case development, benefits analysis and stage-gate reviews.
• Maintain an integrated portfolio roadmap, providing visibility of project schedules, resource requirements, dependencies, risks and key decision points.
• Provide strategic advice and reporting to the Chief Financial Officer, Executive leaders and governance forums on portfolio performance, risks, priorities and resource allocation.
• Deliver independent portfolio oversight and assurance by monitoring project performance, financial outcomes, risks, change readiness and benefits realisation.
• Recommend corrective actions and governance improvements where projects require intervention, escalation or remediation.
• Implement and continuously enhance PMO tools, methodologies, templates and reporting frameworks to support effective project delivery and decision-making.
• Drive continuous improvement through lessons learned, post-implementation reviews and project maturity initiatives across Corporate Services.

About you

• Tertiary qualifications in project management, business, information technology, construction, engineering, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant qualifications and substantial senior leadership experience in complex project, program, or portfolio environments.
• Demonstrated success in establishing, leading and maturing a Project Management Office (PMO), managing complex project portfolios, or overseeing a comparable project governance and assurance function within a large, multifaceted organisation.
• Proven expertise in developing and implementing project governance frameworks, portfolio management practices, reporting methodologies, performance measures, and assurance processes that support the successful delivery of strategic initiatives and organisational objectives.
• Formal project, program, or portfolio management certification, such as PRINCE2, MSP, PMBOK, Agile, SAFe, or an equivalent industry-recognised qualification, is highly desirable.
• Exceptional stakeholder engagement, communication and influencing skills, with a demonstrated ability to build credibility, provide trusted advice, and influence senior executives, project sponsors and governance bodies to drive strategic outcomes, informed decision-making and organisational change.
• Strong commercial, financial and strategic acumen, including experience overseeing project investment decisions, resource allocation, budget management, benefits realisation and portfolio prioritisation in a complex organisational environment.
• Demonstrated ability to lead, coach and develop high-performing teams while fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, collaboration and delivery excellence across project and business functions.

Candidates must have full unrestricted Australian work rights and will be subject to a National criminal history check.

What we can offer

This is a full time, fixed term opportunity for 3 years based at Brisbane South (Nathan) campus. As Griffith is a multi-site university, you may be required to work across other locations.

Griffith University’s sites are located on the lands of the Yugarabul, Yuggera, Jagera, Turrbal, Yugambeh and Kombumerri peoples.

Salary

An attractive salary package will be negotiated with the preferred candidate, commensurate with skills, qualifications and experience.

Additional Information

Why join Griffith?

As a values-led organisation, at Griffith University, we’ve worked hard to create a dynamic and strong organisational culture. We offer:

• Wide range of Learning and Development opportunities
• Mix of on campus and work from home options available and a supportive work environment
• Salary packaging options and corporate health discounts
• Generous leave entitlements including paid parental leave and leave loading
• Support with future learning opportunities through our educational staff assistance scheme
• Opportunities for internal mobility
• Health Safety and Wellbeing initiatives - on campus Gym facilities

At Griffith, we’re committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all - whoever you are and wherever you’re from. If you require any accommodations, we welcome you to let us know so we can work with you to participate fully in our recruitment experience.

Griffith University values diversity, inclusion and flexibility and we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and people of all backgrounds to apply. For more information please visit our Equity, Diversity and Inclusion page. Our University is committed to fostering a safe, respectful and inclusive community for all. In alignment with the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence (2025), Griffith University includes a declaration as part of the recruitment journey to uphold the values and standards of our community. Griffith University also maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against all forms of modern slavery. For more information, please refer to Griffith’s Modern Slavery Policy.