PMO Lead

Chanelle Pharma; Loughrea; Hybrid; EUR 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Chanelle Pharma in Ireland is seeking a PMO Lead to drive execution of a portfolio of strategic initiatives reporting to the EVP, Head of Corporate Development. This highly visible role requires strategic judgment, disciplined execution, and the ability to influence senior stakeholders.

You will manage a team of 3–5 project managers, oversee governance, monthly board updates, and bi-weekly portfolio reviews, while advancing PMO capabilities and tool adoption.

Qualifications

• 8+ years of project, programme, or portfolio management experience.
• Experience managing and developing project managers.
• Strategy or transformation consulting background or in-house project leadership in pharma/medtech.
• Experience engaging with Executive Committees and Boards is advantageous.
• Health & Safety requirements (eg. Manual Handling Training).

Responsibilities

• Partner with the EVP and Executive Committee to align the project portfolio with evolving corporate priorities.
• Oversee the integrated portfolio of strategic projects, managing interdependencies, competing priorities, and delivery risks.
• Establish and drive a rigorous execution cadence through rolling 90-day milestone cycles.
• Hold project sponsors and managers accountable for timely planning, ownership, and delivery against milestones and budgets.
• Identify bottlenecks and drive cross-functional problem-solving to maintain momentum.
• Maintain governance with bi-weekly portfolio reviews and monthly Executive Committee reporting.
• Lead monthly Board updates and provide clear recommendations to enable timely decisions.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of 3–5 Project Managers.
• Support recruitment, capability development, and PMO tooling improvements.
• Personally lead selected high-priority strategic initiatives as directed.

Skills

Strategic judgement

Influence leadership

Execution excellence

Analytical rigour

Executive communication

Tools

Monday.com

Jira

Azure DevOps

Job description

Basic Role Summary

Chanelle Pharma is undertaking an ambitious, enterprise-wide transformation following its acquisition by Exponent Private Equity in 2024. The programme spans digital transformation, operational excellence, geographic expansion, and organisational development.

We are seeking an exceptional PMO Lead to drive the execution of our most strategically important initiatives. The ideal candidate will be proactive, intellectually curious, and a results-oriented leader who combines the analytical discipline of a strategic consultant with the pragmatism and determination required to deliver meaningful organisational change.

Reporting directly to the EVP, Head of Corporate Development, this role will oversee a portfolio of approximately 15 high-impact, cross-functional initiatives, working closely with the Executive Committee, senior business leaders, and external partners.

This is a highly visible leadership position requiring strategic judgement, disciplined execution, and the ability to influence stakeholders at every level. The successful candidate will be instrumental in translating corporate priorities into measurable business outcomes.

Location:

Loughrea, Galway (Hybrid: 2–4 days on-site per week following completion of an initial 6 month period). Occasional international travel required.

As our PMO Lead, your key responsibilities will be as follows:

• Strategic Portfolio Leadership

  • Partner with the EVP and Executive Committee to align the project portfolio with evolving corporate priorities, ensuring resources and management attention are directed towards the highest-impact initiatives.

  • Oversee the integrated portfolio of strategic projects, managing interdependencies, competing priorities, and delivery risks.

• Execution & Performance Management

  • Establish and drive a rigorous execution cadence through rolling 90-day milestone and resource planning cycles.

  • Hold project sponsors and managers accountable for timely planning, clear ownership, and delivery against agreed milestones, budgets, and objectives.

  • Proactively identify bottlenecks, challenge underperformance, and drive cross-functional problem-solving to maintain momentum.

• Governance & Executive Reporting

  • Maintain a consolidated, fact-based view of portfolio performance, including milestones, financial budgets, risks, and expected versus realised business impact.

  • Lead bi-weekly portfolio stakeholder reviews, monthly Executive Committee reporting, and preparation of monthly Board updates.

  • Provide clear recommendations, elevate critical issues, and facilitate timely executive decisions.

• Team Leadership & Development

  • Lead, coach, and develop a team of 3–5 Project Managers, ensuring consistently high standards of project delivery.

  • Support recruitment, capability development, and continuous improvement of PMO methodologies and tools.

  • Personally lead selected high-priority strategic initiatives as directed by the Executive Committee.

Qualifications and Experience:

• 8+ years of experience in project, programme, or portfolio management, including complex, cross-functional transformation initiatives.

• Demonstrated experience managing and developing project managers.

• Relevant backgrounds include strategy or transformation consulting (e.g., McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Deloitte, EY) or in-house project leadership within pharmaceutical, medtech, or similarly complex industries.

• Experience engaging directly with Executive Committees and Boards is advantageous.

• Health & Safety requirements (eg. Manual Handling Training)

Skills and Competencies:

• Strategic Judgement: Ability to connect corporate priorities with practical execution and critically challenge plans and assumptions.

• Influence & Leadership: Exceptional stakeholder management skills, with the confidence to challenge senior executives and mobilise teams without direct authority.

• Execution Excellence: Strong command of portfolio governance, project delivery, prioritisation, risk management, and issue resolution.

• Analytical Rigour: Structured problem-solving, commercial awareness, and the ability to translate complex information into actionable insights.

• Executive Communication: Clear, concise communication and reporting skills, with the ability to distil complexity into decisions.

• Technical Proficiency: Strong working knowledge of project management platforms such as Monday.com, Jira, Azure DevOps, or equivalent tools.

Applicants from diverse backgrounds, including those returning after a career break or with transferable skills from non-traditional career paths, are encouraged to apply. We value varied experiences and are committed to fostering an inclusive environment that supports individuals with disabilities.