PMO Manager

TRL; Wokingham; Hybrid; GBP 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

TRL is seeking an experienced PMO Manager to lead our PMO and drive governance, delivery excellence and portfolio performance. You will turn complex project data into meaningful business insight and strengthen portfolio governance across the organisation.

You will oversee day-to-day PMO operations, ensure governance controls are applied, and report portfolio performance to senior stakeholders. Deputy to the Head of Programme Management when required.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading and developing PMO teams.
• Significant experience in a Project Management Office environment with governance, assurance, and portfolio controls.
• Strong experience producing portfolio reporting, executive dashboards, and MI for senior leaders.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities for identifying trends, risks and improvements.
• Experience conducting health checks, audits, assurance reviews, and compliance assessments.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the PMO team, fostering accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Ensure consistent application of governance frameworks, methodologies, standards and controls.
• Produce executive-level reporting, dashboards and portfolio insights for strategic decisions.
• Analyse project, resource, risk and financial performance data to identify trends and opportunities.
• Lead governance forums, including stage-gate reviews and change control processes.
• Conduct portfolio health checks, assurance reviews and compliance assessments.
• Drive PMO process improvements, reporting capabilities and organisational maturity.
• Champion data quality, governance and transparency across the portfolio.
• Build strong relationships with Project Managers, Finance and senior stakeholders.
• Support PMO transformation initiatives to enhance delivery capability and forecasting accuracy.
• Act as deputy to Head of Programme Management when required.

Skills

Governance expertise

Stakeholder management

Analytical skills

PMO leadership

Education

PMO qualification (P3O/MSP)

Job description

Location: Hybrid / Wokingham, UK job type: Permanent / Full-time Sector and subsector: Business Operations | Project Management Salary: Negotiable salary

About Us

TRL is a world-leading provider of software and services for the transport and mobility sectors. We are on a mission to create cleaner, more efficient, and universally accessible transportation. We believe that safe, reliable transport should be a right for everyone, regardless of their background.

The Opportunity

We are looking for an experienced and motivated PMO Manager to lead our Project Management Office function and play a key role in driving governance, delivery excellence, and portfolio performance across the organisation.

This is an exciting opportunity for an established PMO professional who thrives on turning complex project data into meaningful business insight, improving organisational maturity, and ensuring the successful delivery of strategic initiatives. Working closely with senior leaders, project managers, and business stakeholders, you will be instrumental in strengthening portfolio governance, enhancing reporting capabilities, and driving continuous improvement across our project delivery framework.

About the Role

As PMO Manager, you will oversee the day-to-day operation of the PMO, ensuring projects are governed effectively, delivery controls are consistently applied, and portfolio performance is accurately reported. You will lead and develop the PMO team while acting as a trusted advisor to senior stakeholders, providing insight, challenge, and recommendations to support informed decision-making.

You will also act as deputy to the Head of Programme Management, providing leadership continuity and ensuring effective governance across the portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the PMO team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure the consistent application of project governance frameworks, methodologies, standards, and controls.
• Produce executive-level reporting, dashboards, and portfolio insights to support strategic decision-making.
• Analyse project, resource, risk, and financial performance data, identifying trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Lead governance forums, including stage-gate reviews and change control processes.
• Conduct portfolio health checks, assurance reviews, and compliance assessments.
• Drive improvements in PMO processes, systems, reporting capabilities, and organisational maturity.
• Champion data quality, governance compliance, and transparency across the project portfolio.
• Build strong relationships with Project Managers, Finance teams, functional leaders, and senior stakeholders.
• Support organisational change and PMO transformation initiatives that enhance delivery capability and forecasting accuracy.
• Act as deputy to the Head of Programme Management when required.

About You

We're looking for a confident and experienced PMO leader who combines strong governance expertise with excellent stakeholder management and analytical skills.

You will have:

• Proven experience leading and developing PMO teams.
• Significant experience within a Project Management Office environment, including governance, assurance, and portfolio controls.
• Strong experience producing portfolio reporting, executive dashboards, and management information for senior leaders.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to identify trends, risks, and improvement opportunities.
• Experience conducting project health checks, audits, assurance reviews, and compliance assessments.
• A track record of driving PMO maturity, process improvement, and delivery excellence.
• Experience of project management tools and reporting systems.
• The ability to manage multiple priorities within a fast-paced environment while maintaining high governance standards.
• A recognised PMO qualification such as P3O, MSP, or an equivalent certification.

Why Join Us?

This role offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on how projects and programmes are delivered across the organisation. You'll work with senior leaders, influence strategic decision-making, and play a key role in strengthening our project delivery capability while developing a high-performing PMO function.

If you're passionate about governance, continuous improvement, and helping organisations to deliver successful change, we'd love to hear from you.