PMO Manager

Socket.dev; Wakefield (MA); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

On-site in Wakefield

Competitive compensation

Job summary

Optikos, located in Wakefield, MA, is seeking a PMO Manager to lead the Technical Program Management team and drive standard methodologies across the organization. The role focuses on leadership, coaching, and alignment of programs with business priorities and objectives.

You will oversee cross-functional initiatives, ensure effective planning, risk management, and delivery of outcomes, and report to the Chief Product and Program Officer.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 5-7 years leading and developing a TPM team.
• Experience managing complex cross-functional programs in technical environments.
• Strong governance, budgeting, and resource planning skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead, manage, and develop the Technical Program Management team with clear expectations and performance standards.
• Provide oversight for complex cross-functional programs from initiation to delivery.
• Ensure program roadmaps, schedules, resource plans, milestones, and metrics are in place.
• Monitor program health, risks, dependencies, and issues with timely escalation and resolution.
• Coordinate dependencies across Engineering, Operations, Finance, Product, and Business Development.
• Provide executive leadership with status updates and resource requirements.

Skills

People leadership

Program management

Cross-functional collaboration

Hybrid: Agile/Waterfall

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business/Engineering

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

Microsoft Project

Jira

Smartsheet

Job description

Description

PMO Manager leads and develops the Technical Program Management (TPM) team, establishing standards, processes, and best practices that drive consistent and effective program execution across the organization. This role provides leadership, Technical coaching, and direction to TPMs while ensuring alignment of programs with business priorities and organizational objectives.

In addition to leading the TPM function, this role provides program management oversight for key cross-functional initiatives, ensuring effective planning, risk management, resource coordination, and delivery of expected outcomes. The PMO Manager reports directly to the Chief Product and Program Officer.

Roles and Responsibilities:

TPM Team Leadership

• Lead, manage, and develop the Technical Program Management team, establishing clear expectations, priorities, and performance standards.
• Coach and mentor TPMs to strengthen program leadership, decision-making, communication, and execution capabilities.
• Establish and maintain program management methodologies, processes, tools, and best practices across the organization.
• Drive consistency, accountability, and continuous improvement across the TPM function.
• Evaluate team capacity, resource needs, and organizational priorities to effectively allocate TPM resources.
• Support hiring, onboarding, performance management, and professional development of TPM team members.

Program Management Oversight

• Provide oversight and guidance for complex, cross-functional programs from initiation through execution and delivery.
• Ensure TPMs develop effective program roadmaps, schedules, resource plans, milestones, and performance measures.
• Monitor program health, risks, dependencies, and issues, ensuring timely escalation and resolution.
• Coordinate cross-functional dependencies and promote collaboration across Engineering, Operations, Finance, Product, and Business Development.
• Ensure programs remain aligned with business objectives and are delivered on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Provide executive leadership with clear visibility into program status, risks, resource requirements, and key decisions.

Operational and Strategic Leadership

• Analyze program performance and identify opportunities to improve organizational efficiency, execution, and accountability.
• Establish meaningful program metrics and reporting to measure performance and outcomes.
• Partner with senior leadership on capacity planning, resource allocation, and long-term program priorities.
• Identify organizational barriers to successful program execution and implement solutions.
• Promote a culture of ownership, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across the program management organization.

Skills and Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Program Management, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 5-7 years of proven experience leading and developing a team of Technical Program Mangers.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex, cross-functional programs in a technical or engineering environment.
• Strong people leadership, coaching, and performance management skills.
• Strong understanding of program governance, resource planning, budgeting, and financial management.
• Strategic thinking with strong organizational, prioritization, and decision-making skills.
• Deep understanding of program and project management methodologies, including Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid approaches.
• Strong risk management, problem-solving, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to influence and collaborate effectively across functions and organizational levels.
• Excellent written, verbal, and executive communication skills.
• Proficiency with program and project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Jira, Asana, or Smartsheet.
• PMP, PgMP, Agile/Scrum, or similar certification preferred.

About Optikos:

For over 40 years, Optikos® has provided innovative applications of optical technology, both products and services, to commercial, government, and consumer products organizations worldwide. The Optikos engineering team is the largest independent optical engineering group in the world, managing all aspects of instrument design, including optics, mechanics, electronics, and software systems, in addition to our in-house IQ Lab™ Services to benchmark and assess the performance of customer lens or camera systems. We develop innovative products in the life sciences, aerospace and defense, industrial, and consumer markets, and our experience with a wide variety of applications has enabled our staff to generate creative solutions to some of the most challenging optical problems. Our team continues to improve existing metrology product lines and develop new products that Optikos manufactures and installs around the globe. Our headquarters is centrally located right outside the Boston medical and tech hub in Wakefield, Massachusetts.

This in-office position is located in the Wakefield, Massachusetts facility. We offer competitive compensation packages along with a challenging and stimulating environment.

Optikos is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status or any other characteristic protected by law. We do not sponsor employment visas for this position.

If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application or interview process, please contact HR at [e-mail]. We provide accommodations as required by law.

US citizenship or permanent residency visa required. We do not sponsor employment visas for this position.