Senior PMO Manager

Scottish Government; Galashiels; Hybrid; GBP 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible and hybrid working options

Two days on-site minimum

Wellbeing and inclusive culture

Job summary

Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) is seeking a Senior PMO Manager to lead the PMO across portfolios, programmes and projects, setting standards and providing assurance to SPPA SROs.

You will coordinate governance, risk, benefits management and assurance activities, while supporting delivery and the Heads of Programme Delivery. Hybrid working is available with on-site presence as required.

Qualifications

• Governance expertise defining roles, responsibilities and controls.
• Benefits management to map and track expected outcomes and value.
• Risk and issue management to identify, monitor and respond to issues.

Responsibilities

• Ensure governance structures are in place with timely, meaningful reports.
• Support project teams on planning, forecasting, change control and milestone tracking.
• Embed high standards of portfolio, programme and project management across SPPA.
• Lead portfolio, programme and project assurance activities (Gateway/audit).
• Advise the Chief Transformation Officer and Chief Operating Officer on emerging issues.
• Foster cohesion and resilience within the PMO and support development of Band B staff.

Skills

Governance

Benefits management

Risk & issue management

Education

APM PMQ or P3O qualification

Job description

Ready to lead PMO excellence delivering secure pensions for Scotland’s key services?

The Scottish Public Pensions Agency (SPPA) administers pensions for Scottish Teachers, Police, Firefighters' and National Health Service employees on behalf of the Scottish Government. We’re responsible for protecting the financial futures of over half a million people - that’s around 1 in 10 people in Scotland. If you’re looking for meaningful work, a supportive environment and a career with purpose, you’ll find it at the SPPA. Our office is based in Tweedbank in the Scottish Borders, the train station is a short two-minute walk away and offers regular services to and from Edinburgh Waverley, making it a convenient and well-connected location for commuters. The surrounding area offers access to green space, walking routes and a strong sense of local community, supporting wellbeing both in and outside of work. Our modern office building is designed to support flexible and collaborative working, with spaces for teamwork, quiet focus and hybrid working. Colleagues benefit from a comfortable, welcoming environment that reflects our commitment to wellbeing and inclusion.

The Senior PMO Manager is responsible for ensuring the PMO delivers the critical services needed to guide SPPA portfolios, programmes and projects from inception to closure – by setting standards, co-ordinating and supporting delivery and providing assurance to SPPA SROs. In doing so, the postholder will lead the PMO and be a role model for portfolio, programme and project success across the SPPA.

Responsibilities

• Ensure appropriate governance arrangements are in place and are operating smoothly, with SROs and relevant groups receiving meaningful and timely reports which support effective decision making and delivery of measurable benefits and improvements.
• Act as a role model for portfolio, programme and project hygiene, providing support to project teams on planning, resource forecasting, change control, milestone management and risk, and issue and dependency identification and management. Ensure standardised documentation is accurate, high quality, relevant and timely.
• Develop a suitable library of tools and processes in areas such as RAID, quality and benefits management and work closely with project teams to embed high standards of portfolio, programme and project management across the SPPA. Provide constructive challenge to ensure delivery of milestones and achievement of outcomes.
• Lead and coordinate portfolio, programme and project assurance activities (e.g. Gateway and audit) and contribute to the management of related frameworks and standards.
• Support the Head of Programme Delivery in preparing timely and meaningful advice to the Chief Transformation Officer and Chief Operating Officer, ensuring emerging issues and risks are escalated as required.
• Build cohesion and resilience within the PMO, supporting the personal development of Band B team members and ensuring they contribute fully.

Qualifications

Senior PMO Managers must have a professional level qualification, such as APM’s PMQ or Axelos’ P3O qualifications.

Proof of qualifications will be checked at the assessment stage.

Success profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of behaviours, experience and technical criteria (if applicable) the candidates will be assessed on.

Experience

(Lead Criteria) - You must have experience of managing or leading in a PMO for complex projects and defining and maintaining standards for any element of delivery.

Technical / Professional Skills:

1. Governance - Expert - Governance is the ability to clearly define roles, responsibilities and accountabilities and establish controls and approval routes appropriate to each stage of the project to monitor project progress and compliance.
2. Benefits Management - Expert - Benefits management is the ability to identify, quantify, map and track project benefits to justify investment in the project, and to provide assurance that the benefits identified can be realised.
3. Risk & Issue Management - Expert - Risk and issue management is the ability to systematically identify and monitor risks and issues, planning how to mitigate / respond to those risks and issues and implementing the responses.

Behaviours:

1. Changing and Improving - Level 4
2. Leadership - Level 4

Find out more about what the different levels for the behaviours mean in our candidate guide.

About Us

At the SPPA, we are committed to The Fair Work Framework

This means offering:

• Security and stability
• Flexible and hybrid working options
• Opportunities to learn and develop
• A respectful and inclusive working environment

At the SPPA we want our workforce to be representative of Scottish society and we strive to be a workplace where people are welcomed and valued for the contribution they make.

We support flexible working and encourage applications from people from all backgrounds, including those starting their careers, changing careers, or returning to work.

We are committed to removing any barriers to applying for our jobs and aim to offer support and make reasonable adjustments to allow full participation in the recruitment process.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service observing the Civil Service Code and working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer.

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules.

You can also find out more about careers at the SPPA here - SPPA Careers | SPPA (pensions.gov.scot)

Working Pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options, with two days minimum working on site at SPPA. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Security Checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide.

Sponsorship

Skilled Worker sponsorship is not available for this role. As a result, we are unable to appoint candidates who require Skilled Worker sponsorship now or in the future. Applicants must have an existing and ongoing right to work in the UK.

Equality Statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further Information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website.

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

We will hold a reserve list for this post for 12 months.

Apply Before: 27 September 2026 (23:59)