PMO Manager

Weightmans Llp; Liverpool; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading law firm in Liverpool seeks a PMO Manager to establish and lead the IT Project Management Office. Responsibilities include managing the project portfolio, developing project management frameworks, and ensuring resource allocation aligns with strategic goals. The ideal candidate has strong leadership skills, experience in a matrixed environment, and knowledge of project management methodologies like PRINCE2 and Agile.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in establishing best practice frameworks and documentation.
• Experience in setting up and running a PMO in a matrixed organisational environment.
• Strong knowledge of project and portfolio management methodologies like PRINCE2, MSP, Agile.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement standardised project management methodologies.
• Build and maintain a centralised portfolio of projects and programmes.
• Establish governance structures to oversee project performance and risks.

Skills

Project management methodologies

Stakeholder management

Strategic thinking

Job description

Overview

Weightmans' IT team plays a pivotal role in the firm's innovation strategy, enabling digital transformation across departments. The PMO manager will be responsible for establishing and leading the IT Project Management Office, managing our project portfolio, and matrix managing project and workstream delivery leads to ensure an effective oversight and delivery of our IT portfolio. This role involves designing and implementing the project management framework, developing and embedding a robust business case and prioritisation process, and overseeing portfolio management to ensure optimal resource and budget allocation and strategic alignment. This position sits in the Strategic Planning and Governance practice alongside the architecture, testing, IT relationship management and IT vendor management practices. The role holder should demonstrate confidence and experience in establishing best practice frameworks and documentation, ensuring these are adopted by matrixed teams as well as day to day management of their specialism.

Responsibilities

• Project Management Framework
• Define and implement standardised project management methodologies, tools, and templates.
• Ensure gated project lifecycle phases are in place for effective planning, execution, and closure.
• Provide training and mentoring to project/delivery managers and stakeholders on best practices.
• Business Case and Prioritisation Framework
• Develop a structured approach for creating and evaluating business cases, including cost, value, and resource metrics.
• Facilitate prioritisation workshops with senior stakeholders to align project selection with strategic goals.
• Maintain transparency and consistency in decision-making across all initiatives.
• Portfolio Management
• Build and maintain a centralised portfolio of projects and programmes.
• Monitor resource demand and availability, ensuring capacity aligns with delivery expectations.
• Provide portfolio-level reporting, dashboards, KPIs, and strategic insights appropriate for executive leadership.
• Support investment decisions and risk management through robust governance processes.
• Governance and Reporting
• Establish governance structures to oversee project performance, risks, and benefits realisation.
• Maintain RAID logs at portfolio level and ensure regular updates across all projects.
• Lead monthly and quarterly reporting cycles to senior leadership and governance boards.
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Act as a strategic partner, ensuring project delivery meets stakeholder expectations.
• Collaborate with architecture, testing, delivery and vendor management teams to ensure integrated delivery.
• Team Leadership
• Build and lead a high-performing PMO team, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Provide coaching and development opportunities for team members.
• Proven experience in setting up and running a PMO in a matrixed organisational environment.
• Strong knowledge of project and portfolio management methodologies (e.g., PRINCE2, MSP, Agile, MoP or demonstrable experience).
• Excellent strategic thinking, governance design, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience in business case development and prioritisation frameworks.
• Strong leadership and communication capabilities with the ability to bring calm whilst progressing maturity.
• Able to balance pragmatism, agility and business need, with the need for governance.