Enterprise PMO Lead

Hollybank Trustees Ltd; Ilkley; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

SmartSearch, a leading IT and PMO-focused tech company, is seeking an Enterprise PMO Lead on a 15-month maternity cover contract in a hybrid Ilkley-based setting. You will drive governance, strategic planning, portfolio reporting and benefits realisation across a transformational change portfolio, reporting to the Head of Portfolio.

The role requires strong experience in PMO, strategic planning, and senior stakeholder engagement, with expertise in Monday.com and Agile/SAFe approaches.

Qualifications

• Experience leading or operating within a PMO, Portfolio Office or Change Office environment.
• Experience establishing governance, reporting and assurance frameworks across strategic change portfolios.
• Proven experience facilitating strategic planning, prioritisation and QBR processes.
• Strong portfolio reporting, benefits management and investment governance expertise.
• Experience producing executive and Board-level reporting and managing tools such as Monday.com.
• Strong analytical, facilitation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and challenge senior leaders.
• Experience in a SaaS, technology or high-growth business.
• Knowledge of Agile, SAFe, Lean Portfolio Management or DSDM approaches.
• Experience implementing PMO, reporting or portfolio management tooling.

Responsibilities

• Facilitate the enterprise annual strategic planning process and Quarterly Business Reviews.
• Partner with Executive and Senior Leadership teams to align strategic priorities, define the delivery initiatives and measurable outcomes.
• Monitor progress against strategic goals, cross-functional dependencies and track agreed decisions and actions.
• Continuously improve planning, review and prioritisation processes to strengthen accountability and benefits realisation.
• Own the enterprise portfolio reporting framework, executive dashboards and the single source of truth for portfolio performance.
• Own and continuously improve the portfolio management and reporting capability in Monday.com, including data quality, adoption, workflows and automation.
• Produce concise reporting for the Head of Portfolio, ELT, Board and governance forums, covering delivery, risks, dependencies, investment and benefits.
• Analyse trends and performance indicators to provide forward-looking insight and recommendations.
• Maintain and improve the enterprise change governance framework, reporting standards and controls.
• Lead the development with a ‘fit for purpose’ mindset the PMO methodologies, standards, templates, controls and the PMO maturity roadmap.
• Coordinate governance forums, investment reviews and stage-gate processes.
• Provide constructive challenge and high-quality information to support effective investment and governance decisions.
• Actively support projects and project managers with PMO support and analysis needs.
• Promote a culture of agility with an outcome focus, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Proactive and self-starting.
• Able to facilitate strategic discussion and workshops with senior leaders.

Skills

PMO leadership

Stakeholder management

Strategic planning

Data analysis

Facilitation

Agile methods

Tools

Monday.com

Job description

Location: Hybrid / Ilkley LS29 8FL, UK
job type: Fixed term / Full-time
Sector and subsector: IT | Project Management & Business Intelligence
Salary: Competitive salary

SmartSearch’s distinctive Anti-Money Laundering verification software protects our clients by offering the most advanced and comprehensive features available from an AML provider.

SmartSearch has grown rapidly by fostering an incredibly collaborative and supportive culture. As we continue our ambitious growth plans, we will strive to remain a truly exciting, rewarding, and unique place to work.

HOW WILL YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

The Enterprise PMO Lead is responsible for leading and continuously improving the governance, strategic planning, portfolio reporting and assurance that enable successful delivery of the organisation's transformational change portfolio.

Reporting to the Head of Portfolio, the role owns the Quarterly Business Review (QBR) framework, enterprise portfolio reporting, PMO standards, governance controls, benefits management and portfolio management tooling. Acting as a critical link between strategy and execution, the role provides leadership with trusted insight into strategic progress, portfolio performance, investment value and delivery confidence.

Please note: This role is a 15 month Maternity Cover contract.

VARIED DAY TO DAY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Planning and QBR Management

• Facilitate the enterprise annual strategic planning process and Quarterly Business Reviews.
• Partner with Executive and Senior Leadership teams to align strategic priorities, define the delivery initiatives and measurable outcomes.
• Monitor progress against strategic goals, cross-functional dependencies and track agreed decisions and actions.
• Continuously improve planning, review and prioritisation processes to strengthen accountability and benefits realisation.

Portfolio Reporting and Insights

• Own the enterprise portfolio reporting framework, executive dashboards and the single source of truth for portfolio performance.
• Own and continuously improve the portfolio management and reporting capability in Monday.com, including data quality, adoption, workflows and automation.
• Produce concise reporting for the Head of Portfolio, ELT, Board and governance forums, covering delivery, risks, dependencies, investment and benefits.
• Analyse trends and performance indicators to provide forward-looking insight and recommendations.

Governance, Assurance and Controls

• Maintain and improve the enterprise change governance framework, reporting standards and controls.
• Lead the development with a ‘fit for purpose’ mindset the PMO methodologies, standards, templates, controls and the PMO maturity roadmap.
• Coordinate governance forums, investment reviews and stage-gate processes.
• Provide constructive challenge and high-quality information to support effective investment and governance decisions.

Stakeholder Engagement and Leadership

• Actively support projects and project managers with PMO support and analysis needs.
• Promote a culture of agility with an outcome focus, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Proactive and self-starting.
• Able to facilitate strategic discussion and workshops with senior leaders.

Benefits Management and Portfolio Performance

• Own the benefits management framework and associated reporting processes.
• Ensure initiatives have defined outcomes, success measures and accountable benefit owners.
• Track forecast and realised benefits, and monitor performance against strategic objectives, business cases and investment expectations. Work closely with Finance on business case creation and financial benefit tracking.

WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR IN A CANDIDATE?

• Experience leading or operating within a PMO, Portfolio Office or Change Office environment.
• Experience establishing governance, reporting and assurance frameworks across strategic change portfolios.
• Proven experience facilitating strategic planning, prioritisation and QBR processes.
• Strong portfolio reporting, benefits management and investment governance expertise.
• Experience producing executive and Board-level reporting and managing tools such as Monday.com.
• Strong analytical, facilitation and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence and challenge senior leaders.
• Experience in a SaaS, technology or high-growth business.
• Knowledge of Agile, SAFe, Lean Portfolio Management or DSDM approaches.
• Experience implementing PMO, reporting or portfolio management tooling.

WHAT IS LIFE LIKE AT SMARTSEARCH?

• We are a multi-award winning Tech company with an aspirational mentality
• Some of our most recent recognitions include: named in the renowned RegTech100 list for 2024, listed in the Top 100 Fasted Growing Tech Companies by Northern Tech Awards 2024 as well as being named Technology Provider of the Year by Corporate Finance Awards 2024
• We have been Great Place To Work Certified since 2022
• There are excellent progression opportunities due to our growth and you will have personal development goals, regular feedback and support
• We are a diverse and inclusive team committed to promoting Diversity & Inclusion and Social Responsibility. Through our DE&I group, charitable initiatives and support for local schools, we actively foster a positive Impact on our community

COMPANY BENEFITS

• 25 days holiday rising to 30 with each year of service
• Private Medical Insurance covering dental and optical
• Company pension scheme
• Life Assurance – 4x your annual salary
• 1 day paid volunteering per year
• Enhanced maternity / paternity offerings
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Cycle to work scheme