Operations PMO Lead

Totara Learning; Greater London; Remote; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Totara Learning is seeking an Operations PMO Lead to own and drive a portfolio of operational, systems, and change projects across the UK, Australia, and the US. You will lead a small, globally distributed team of PMs, coach them, and work hands-on to ensure delivery from scoping to BAU handover.

You will develop project plans, manage risks, and provide concise portfolio reporting to the COO while embedding continuous improvement and effective governance across regions.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering and handholding projects from scoping to BAU handover.
• Proven hands-on delivery in SaaS, tech or digital services environments.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management at executive level.

Responsibilities

• Own and run a portfolio of operational, systems, and change projects from scoping through to BAU handover.
• Lead a small, globally distributed team of Operations Project Managers across time zones.
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, risk registers, and stakeholder reporting to a high standard.
• Manage risks, issues, dependencies, and escalation paths to maintain delivery velocity.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to align scope, priorities, and delivery requirements across concurrent workstreams.
• Ensure on-time delivery within scope with clear ownership and structured handover into BAU.
• Provide hands-on delivery alongside the team and champion continuous improvement.

Skills

Project management

Leadership

Coaching

Portfolio management

Risk management

Stakeholder reporting

Cross-functional collaboration

Operations systems

Process design

Data-driven decisions

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Operations/Technology Management

Tools

PMO systems

Capacity planning tools

CRM

Operational platforms

Job description

• Reporting to the COO, the Operations PMO Lead line manages a small team of Project Managers across the UK, Australia, and the US, providing day-to-day leadership, coaching, and portfolio oversight. Critically, they also carry a personal project load — working hands‑on alongside the team to plan and deliver operational, systems, and change projects that enable the business to scale
• This role delivers projects, not just oversees them. The Operations PMO Lead is expected to personally own and run a project portfolio with the same rigour expected of the wider team
• Own and run a portfolio of operational, systems, and change projects from scoping through to BAU handover
• Develop and maintain project plans, timelines, risk registers, and stakeholder reporting to a consistently high standard
• Manage project risks, issues, and dependencies — escalating where necessary, resolving wherever possible
• Coordinate cross-functional teams to align scope, priorities, and delivery requirements across concurrent workstreams
• Ensure projects are delivered on time, to scope, with clearly defined ownership and a structured handover into business‑as‑usual
• Be visible and hands‑on in delivery — this role is not above the coordination, documentation, or administrative work that makes projects succeed
• Lead a small, globally distributed team of Operations Project Managers — creating an environment where standards are high, support is genuine, and people grow
• Line manage Operations Project Managers across the UK, Australia and US: regular 1:1s, clear expectations, and active coaching
• Build and maintain a consistent approach to delivery across the team — methodology, documentation standards, reporting cadence, and quality bar
• Maintain visibility of the team’s collective portfolio, identifying capacity constraints, sequencing issues, and prioritisation calls
• Spot development needs and performance issues early, acting on both with directness and care
• Contribute to recruitment and onboarding of future PM hires as the team scales
• Lead by example — the standard the team works to should be visible in your own work, not just communicated in words
• Support the implementation and embedding of new business systems and tools that improve operational efficiency
• Collaborate with cross‑functional teams to document and refine business processes, ensuring they are scalable, consistent, and measurable
• Contribute to capacity and resource planning efforts to ensure operational readiness for key initiatives
• Identify operational blockers and work with teams to implement practical, evidence‑based improvements
• Provide the COO with clear, concise visibility of the team portfolio — progress, risks, capacity, and outcomes — without requiring it to be chased
• Develop and maintain a reporting framework that gives stakeholders the right information at the right level, without creating unnecessary overhead for the team
• Contribute to post‑acquisition integration activities, ensuring aligned processes, systems, and delivery models
• Support ad‑hoc operational initiatives and special projects at the direction of the COO
• Champion continuous improvement by embedding good project management practice across teams and functions
• What Success Looks Like:
• Projects are delivered on time, within scope, and successfully embedded into BAU — by you personally and across your team
• The COO has reliable, proactive visibility of the portfolio without needing to request it
• The PM team is well‑led, well‑developed, and operating to a consistently high standard across all three regions
• Stakeholders across the business experience the function as organised, accountable, and easy to work with
• The team’s capability and reputation grows in line with the pace and ambition of the business

This is a role for someone who leads by example, is energised by getting things done, and has no interest in being above the detailThe person who thrives here is as likely to be found owning a project kickoff or working through a risk register as they are in a team catch‑up or a portfolio planning conversationExperience supporting post‑acquisition integration activities is advantageousProven hands‑on project and programme management experience in SaaS, tech, or digital services — with a demonstrable track record of personally delivering, not just governingExperience coordinating system implementations, migrations, or operational change projectsComfortable managing a small, globally distributed team across multiple time zones without sacrificing the pace or quality of your own delivery workStrong understanding of operational systems, business tools, and scalable process designExperience managing or mentoring project managers, with the ability to hold standards high while developing people effectivelyExcellent communication at all levels — able to give a COO a crisp portfolio update and a PM clear, actionable feedback in the same working dayExceptional project planning, coordination, and risk management — able to run multiple complex projects simultaneously without losing grip on the detailStrong people leadership: direct, fair, and genuinely invested in developing the capability of the teamFamiliarity with delivery and project tools — PMO systems, capacity planning tools, CRM, and operational platformsHigh personal standards for documentation, reporting, and process quality — and the ability to instil those standards in others without bureaucracyAnalytical and data‑driven approach to decisions, performance tracking, and continuous improvementA genuine bias toward action: this is a role for someone who gets things done, not someone who manages the process of getting things doneComfortable creating structure in ambiguous environments rather than waiting for it to be providedBachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations, Technology Management, or a related field — or equivalent professional experienceProject management certifications (e.g. PRINCE2, PMP, Lean Six Sigma, ITIL) are advantageous but not essential. Delivery track record matters more than credentialsAt Totara, we believe diverse perspectives make us stronger. We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and experiences. If you’re excited about this opportunity but don’t meet every requirement, we’d still love to hear from you. We hire based on skills, leadership, potential and the unique experiences people bring to our team