Head of PMO IT

DS Smith; Greater London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading packaging company in Greater London is seeking a Head of I&T PMO to drive transformation and innovation in project management. This role involves leading the PMO, ensuring governance processes are in place, aligning IT projects with organizational goals, and fostering an environment of continuous improvement. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in IT project management, strong leadership capabilities, and a solid educational background. This position offers a unique opportunity to influence project execution excellence across the organization.

Benefits

Comprehensive training and development program

Opportunities for professional growth

Inclusive company culture

Qualifications

• Proven track record of successful IT project delivery.
• Extensive experience in a leadership role within PMO.
• Knowledge of IT infrastructure and software development processes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the I&T Project Management Office and ensure effective governance processes.
• Develop and implement PMO governance frameworks and standards.
• Oversee alignment of project portfolios with business objectives.

Skills

Decision-making

Conflict management

Project management methodologies (Agile, Waterfall)

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic planning

Time management

Attention to detail

Education

Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration or a related field

Advanced degree (MBA, Masters in Project Management)

Tools

MS Project

Planview

Kanban boards

Job description

About the role

The Head of I&T PMO is responsible for leading the I&T Project Management Office.

The role is a leadership role in that it drives transformation and innovation in how the PMO operates—challenge status quo and legacy processes; actively simplify bureaucracy and streamline governance for faster delivery cadence; empower project managers and teams to take calculated risks and embrace new ways of working; lead by example—get in the detail with project teams when needed to overcome blockers; have a relentless focus on delivering business value and outcomes, not just outputs.

In practical terms this role involves managing the multi‑year portfolio of I&T projects tracking alignment with DS Smiths Objectives and Key Results (OKRs), project health, deliverability and ability for the portfolio to flex with emerging demand and changing priorities. The Head of I&T PMO will establish and maintain project management standards, provide community guidance and support to multiple IT Delivery leads and project managers. The Head of I&T PMO is responsible for leading the Project Management Office and ensuring effective governance processes and standards are in place for managing the I&T project portfolio across the organisation. This role will drive project execution excellence, optimise resource utilisation and provide transparency into project health, risks and dependencies.

The role reports to the Group Chief Technology Officer.

Key Accountabilities & Responsibilities

PMO Leadership

Lead and inspire a collaborative community of IT Delivery Partners and project managers fostering a culture of continuous learning, knowledge sharing and project management excellence.

Champion the adoption of industry best practices and drive innovation in project management methodologies across the federated IT community.

Develop and implement robust I&T PMO governance frameworks, policies, procedures and standards to ensure consistency and accountability.

Represent I&T as a strategic partner in the DS Smith Enterprise Portfolio Management community, advocating for IT’s interests and aligning with enterprise objectives.

I&T Project Portfolio Management

Oversee and align the Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) for Group I&T with divisional IT priorities, ensuring seamless integration and strategic alignment.

Own and actively manage the IT project portfolio, ensuring alignment with business objectives, OKRs and strategic priorities.

Establish data‑driven project prioritisation methods based on strategic importance, resource availability, risk assessment and value creation.

Proactively monitor, report and intervene on project portfolio performance, including budget, schedule, scope, risk and benefits realisation.

Project Governance

Continuously challenge and drive improvements in the strategic alignment, health and deliverability of the project portfolio, fostering a culture of excellence.

Establish and enforce robust project governance frameworks, including stage‑gate checks to ensure accountability and transparency.

Ensure strict compliance with industry‑leading project management methodologies, best practices and standards.

Conduct regular project reviews, audits and health checks to ensure adherence to standards and identify areas for improvement.

Develop data‑driven insights into project health and performance, driving continuous improvement and informed decision‑making.

Stakeholder Management

Collaborate and build strategic partnerships with I&T leadership and business stakeholders to define project priorities, objectives and success criteria.

Proactively communicate project status, risks, issues and key performance indicators to stakeholders, fostering transparency and trust.

Resource Management

Develop and implement effective resource allocation strategies across projects, optimising resource utilisation as part of the I&T delivery lifecycle.

Proactively identify and address resource constraints, conflicts and capacity challenges across the portfolio, ensuring timely mitigation and resolution.

Develop and maintain a comprehensive resource capacity plan at the portfolio level, enabling informed decision‑making and resource optimisation.

Risk Management

Establish and embed robust approaches to identify, assess and mitigate project risks, fostering a culture of proactive risk management.

Develop comprehensive risk management strategies and contingency plans to mitigate potential risks and ensure project success.

Ensure project teams are equipped with the necessary knowledge, tools and resources to effectively manage risks at the project level.

Conduct regular risk assessments at the portfolio level, providing suitable mitigations and ensuring alignment with enterprise risk management practices.

Performance Measurement

Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for project success, aligned with business objectives and industry best practices.

Implement comprehensive metrics to measure project performance, PMO effectiveness and value creation for the organisation.

Provide regular data‑driven performance reports to senior management, highlighting achievements, challenges and opportunities for improvement.

I&T Delivery Lifecycle

Act as the custodian of the I&T delivery lifecycle, managing its continuous improvement as a collaborative exercise with the community of I&T Delivery Leads, PMs and other roles.

Ensure accountable ownership for all parts of the lifecycle from idea generation through development, testing and deployment.

Publish and promote the I&T delivery lifecycle for maximum accessibility, ease of use and adoption across the federated IT community.

Manage and maintain the tools, templates and resources supporting the I&T delivery lifecycle.

Adapt and evolve the lifecycle to accommodate various delivery methods, including Waterfall, Innovation, Agile and emerging methodologies.

Training and Development

Establish a comprehensive training and development program for project managers, fostering a culture of continuous learning and professional growth.

Promote knowledge sharing, best practices and lessons learned within the PMO and across the federated IT community.

Stay current with industry trends, advancements and emerging best practices in project management, ensuring the organisation remains at the forefront of innovation.

Tooling

Act as IT business system lead / super user for Planview EPPM tooling.

Provide onboarding for the growing community of Planview users within IT.

About you

Strong decision‑making and problem‑solving capabilities.

Proficiency in conflict management and negotiation.

Deep understanding of project management methodologies (e.g. Agile, Waterfall).

Exposure to managing large‑scale IT projects and programs.

Ability to align IT projects with organisational goals.

Ability to take a helicopter view of a portfolio to spot trends, opportunities and risks.

Competence in strategic planning and execution.

Understanding of business models, operating models, processes and financial management.

Ability to assess and manage project risks and benefits.

Commercial acumen including Opex/CAPEX treatment.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills to share vision, plans and governance.

Proficiency in stakeholder engagement and management—including to senior executives, business leaders, IT leadership and delivery teams.

Strong organisational and time management skills.

Attention to detail and ability to gather sufficient knowledge of a large portfolio of projects.

Familiarity with IT infrastructure and software development processes.

Ability to leverage project management tools and software, including MS Project, Planview and Kanban boards.

Ability to understand a complex portfolio of projects that span geographies and divisions, and form insights from modern data analysis of the portfolio.

Qualifications

Educational Background

Bachelors degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration or a related field.

Preferred

Advanced degree (e.g. MBA, Masters in Project Management) is often preferred.

Certifications

Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent certification.

ITIL, PRINCE2 or other relevant certifications.

Experience

Extensive experience in IT project management with a proven track record of successful project delivery.

Experience in a leadership role within a PMO or similar environment.

To fulfil our purpose of redefining packaging for a changing world we aim to build a diverse, motivated and engaged workforce. Our goal is to create a culture of inclusion where everyone is treated fairly, differences are valued and everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed. We welcome all candidates to apply, even those not meeting all criteria.