Senior Manager, Project Management Office

Metrolinx; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Metrolinx is seeking a PMO Leader to manage the PRESTO PMO and drive standardized project management across multiple initiatives. The role requires coordinating with Finance, Vendor Management, Strategy and Program Management to deliver complex projects on time and within budget.

You will lead the development of PMO best practices, governance, and organizational readiness while mentoring a team of professionals in a collaborative, in-office environment at 20 Bay Street.

Qualifications

• Degree or equivalent in engineering, computer science, business administration or related discipline.
• Years of project management experience leading a PMO team.
• PMP or similar certification is an asset.
• Strong leadership and people management capabilities.
• Ability to define and drive business transformation and process improvements.

Responsibilities

• Lead the PRESTO PMO and ensure PMO processes are defined and followed.
• Develop and implement PMO strategies, tools and practices.
• Collaborate with Finance, Vendor Management, Strategy and Programs to ensure adherence to procedures.
• Oversee risk management processes and ensure timely project updates to stakeholders.
• Lead end-to-end delivery of strategic projects with scope, schedule, budget, and outcomes.

Skills

PMO leadership

Project management

Stakeholder management

Risk management

Communication

Education

Engineering

Computer science

Business administration

Job description

Metrolinx is connecting communities across the Greater Golden Horseshoe. Metrolinx operates GO Transit and UP Express, as well as the PRESTO fare payment system. We are also building new and improved rapid transit, including GO Expansion, Light Rail Transit routes, and major expansions to Toronto’s subway system, to get people where they need to go, better, faster and easier. Metrolinx is an agency of the Government of Ontario.

At Metrolinx, equity, diversity and inclusion are essential to living our values of serving with passion, thinking forward and playing as a team.

PRESTO is an electronic transit fare payment system in the Greater Toronto, Hamilton and Ottawa areas that eliminates the need for tickets, passes and cash. PRESTO serves more than 5 million customers across 11 transit agencies and processes over $2.5 billion in fares through 67 million boardings per month (pre-pandemic). Today, PRESTO offers one of the most globally advanced fare payment systems in the world having delivered new ways to pay for customers, including real time PRESTO Contactless with credit and Interac debit and PRESTO in Mobile Wallet across its transit agency clients, including the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). Enhancing the customer experience through continuous improvement while working with our transit agency clients to support their needs, and maintaining a system that performs exceptionally, continue to drive PRESTO toward making transit better for all.

This role is an in‑office position based at our 20 Bay Street location. Our team is highly collaborative, and much of our work benefits from in‑person co‑creation, relationship‑building, and hands‑on partnership with leaders across the organization.

What will I be doing?

• Manages the PRESTO Project Management Office (PMO) by ensuring project management processes are defined, documented and adhered to by project staff and PRESTO personnel as appropriate:
  • Lead and advise on implementation and application of project management processes for the successful delivery of projects. This includes advising on application of delivery methodologies, and alignment to the project lifecycle as defined by PRESTO.
  • Responsible for the development and implementation of comprehensive strategies, methodologies, tools and techniques for the PMO excellence and continuous improvement. This includes contributing to the development of standardized PMO tools and practices for Metrolinx.
  • Advise and collaborate with PRESTO business areas (e.g. Finance, Vendor Management, Strategy, Program Management) to ensure understanding and adherence to PMO agreed procedures.
  • Ensure project risk management processes and tools are defined to ensure risk management is being conducted according to PRESTO and Metrolinx risk management practices and policies.
  • Ensure project management tools and processes are defined and being applied on all projects and stakeholders receive project schedule updates in a timely and appropriate manner.
  • Manage project management resource planning through close coordination with PRESTO business areas and stakeholders.
• Leads the development and implementation of PMO plans and strategies to maximize effectiveness and value of the project management function, while minimizing risk to Metrolinx. Communicates expectations and obligations to executives and managers, monitors and reports on performance to optimize value and support continuous improvement initiatives; provides approval and/or recommendations for approval on recommended changes or enhancements to the PMO.
• Lead end-to-end delivery of strategic, complex projects with accountability for scope, schedule, budget, and outcomes. Collaborate with business, technology, and vendor partners to manage risks, dependencies, and stakeholder expectations. Establish project governance, reporting, and organizational readiness plans to ensure successful implementation and adoption.
• Designs and advances project management best practices by:
  • Providing senior leadership oversight on the execution of projects, and provide identification and assessment of significant project issues and risks for management review
  • Providing thought leadership in identifying key areas of concerns and developing processes and tools to enhance project management practices
  • Engaging senior management and business unit leadership in frequent project management discussions to allow identification and implementation of consistent and effective approaches to project management activities for successful delivery of business and client objectives
• Lead integrated delivery planning and release coordination across multiple projects, teams, and external partners. Manage dependencies, capacity, risks, and priorities to ensure successful and predictable delivery outcomes. Establish governance, reporting, and planning processes that enable informed decision-making and organizational alignment.

What Skills and Qualifications Do I Need?

• Completion of a degree in engineering, computer science, business administration or management, or a related discipline – or a combination of education, training and experience deemed equivalent
• Demonstrated years’ experience in project management roles as a Project Management Office lead managing a team of professional staff, plus demonstrated years working in a project environment in a relevant field of expertise.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) or another industry recognized project management certification is an asset.
• Experienced people manager and leader, being able to motivate, develop and manage a professional team
• Business transformation and process definition
• Problem solving and analysis, and risk management, to contain and resolve projects conflicts, risks and roadblocks and guide project management staff to develop alternate methods and solutions
• Oral/written/presentation skills to ensure that project stakeholders and senior management receive timely and accurate information regarding project progress and performance, and escalated client issues

Don’t Meet Every Requirement?

If you’re excited about working with Metrolinx but your past experience doesn’t quite align with every qualification of this posting, we encourage you to apply. You just might be the right candidate for this or other roles. We are always looking for great talent to join our team.

We invite all interested individuals to apply and encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities, including those who identify as Indigenous, Black, racialized, women, people with disabilities, and people with diverse gender identities, expressions and sexual orientations.

Accommodation:

Metrolinx is an equal opportunity employer and committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We are also committed to offering reasonable accommodation to job applicants in accordance with applicable legislation. If you require assistance or an accommodation at any point during the hiring process, please contact us at: 416-202-5601 or email [e-mail].

All applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Please be advised that a Criminal Record Check may be required of the successful candidate. Candidates must be in their current role for 12 months prior to applying for another role and each applicant must be in good standing (not participating in a Performance Improvement Plan). Please review all provisions of the policy before submitting your application. Should it be determined that any background information provided is misleading, inaccurate or incorrect, Metrolinx reserves the right to discontinue with the consideration of your application.

WE ARE AN EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE EMPLOYER.