Director - Project & Portfolio Management Office

Twinings Ovaltine; South Africa; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading global beverage company is seeking a Director for their Project & Portfolio Management Office in South Africa. This role involves overseeing a significant IT transformation and managing a diverse portfolio of projects. The ideal candidate should have strong leadership skills, excellent communication abilities, and experience in setting up PMO functions. Opportunities for hybrid working are available.

Qualifications

• Capable communicator across technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrable leadership in project and programme management.
• Adept at building relationships across teams.

Responsibilities

• Define and communicate a vision for the PMO function.
• Lead project managers to ensure effective project management.
• Establish and manage portfolio management processes.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Project & Programme delivery experience

Experience in setting up PMO functions

Knowledge of project methodologies

Understanding of operational and strategic PMO elements

Managing diverse global teams

Effective communication and stakeholder engagement

Dynamic and resolute outcome producer

Education

Relevant degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Smartsheet

HarvestApp

SharePoint

Microsoft Teams

Job description

Director - Project & Portfolio Management Office

Application Deadline: 10 October 2025

Department: BizTX

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: South Africa

Description

Great People Work Here

BizTX: Co-Creating WOW Through Digital Innovation

It’s an exciting time to be part of BizTX at Twinings Ovaltine. At the heart of this iconic brand, we’re on a mission to drive exponential growth and productivity through cutting-edge technology to transform the business globally.

We’re not here to simply provide IT services. We’re technology leaders and strategic partners, co-creating innovative solutions that help the business run, grow, and transform. Everything we do is guided by our commitment to ‘WOW’ our consumers, customers and colleagues. WOW experiences, WOW solutions, and WOW impact.

Our people think differently. We have an exponential mindset that helps us push boundaries and shape what’s next. The future at Twinings Ovaltine is full of possibility and we’d love you to be a part of it.

Role Purpose

The Director – Project & Portfolio Management Office is responsible for overseeing and developing our IT PMO capability.

Twinings Ovaltine is investing heavily technology driven transformation. We are part way through our SAP S/4Hana Transformation Programme and have several other major business transformation programmes in early phases of development. We also have a large portfolio of smaller projects that are in flight or in planning stages and which cover the full range of technology led projects, covering everything from SAP to infrastructure, cyber security & marketing technology.

Our PMO function has a good foundation but needs to rapidly expand from an SAP centric capability based on a waterfall methodology, to one that can deploy our project managers to lead smaller IT projects and agile projects & programmes in the marketing technology & other areas. We also need to establish the PPM capabilities required to effectively prioritise, plan and monitor the execution of this diverse portfolio of digital transformation initiatives.

We need a capable and experienced Programme Management professional to lead our team of project managers and PMO professionals and further develop our PMO function into a world class capability. Provide our executive team with the visibility & control they need to effectively manage & prioritise our transformation agenda.

Location & Travel: The role is ideally a Cape Town based role, although Hybrid/Remote working may be considered for the right candidate. Infrequent international travel will be required.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and communicate a clear vision, strategy, and roadmap for the PMO function
• PMO
  • Methodology and Framework – Define, maintain, and continuously improve the project and program delivery methodology to ensure alignment with enterprise standards.
  • Governance and Controls – Ensure all programs and projects adhere to the defined controls, including stage gates, reporting cadences, and exception management.
  • Tooling and Process – Own the configuration, management, and training for program delivery tools (e.g. Smartsheet, HarvestApp, SharePoint, Teams, etc.)
  • Audit Assurance – Conduct or support internal and external audits to ensure compliance with delivery processes, documentation, and governance standards.
• Project & Programme Management
  • Lead the team of project managers to ensure consistent and effective project management disciplines are deployed across our project portfolio
  • Ensure the team manages the delivery of individual projects to defined scope, timeline, quality, and budget, while managing risks, issues, and stakeholders
  • Coordinate the delivery of interrelated projects and programmes to achieve overarching strategic outcomes, benefits, and business change.
• Portfolio Management
  • Establish and manage an effective portfolio management process & capability
  • Engage with senior business & IT leaders to obtain buy-in to establish PPM principles & procedures
  • Monitor compliance with the PPM processes & ensure accuracy of information
  • Provide visibility and control over all active projects and programs, supporting prioritization, resource allocation, value alignment, and effective organisational risk management.
  • Plan, monitor, and control financials across the delivery portfolio, ensuring accuracy of forecasts and alignment with approved funding.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Excellent communication skills and the ability to challenge and influence senior business & IT stakeholders will be critical to succeed in this role.
• Demonstrable Project & Programme delivery experience including SAP programmes
• Experience in setting up and running PMO functions
• In depth knowledge of Project, Programme & Portfolio management disciplines & methodologies
• Deep understanding of both the operational and strategic elements of PMO functions
• Up to date knowledge on the latest thinking and innovations in this space and the vision and leadership skills required to build these into our organisation
• Capable communicator across technical and non-technical audiences, including senior leadership.
• Adept in managing diverse, global teams within complex and challenging environments.
• Relationship builder – internal and external.
• Effective communication, presentation, and stakeholder engagement.
• Dynamic, resolute, and effective in producing cross-departmental outcomes.

Behaviours

• Committed to the company’s vision.
• Exudes credibility and initiative.
• Values ongoing development and promotes a mindset geared toward growth.
• Capable of managing ambiguity and competing priorities.
• Challenges norms with a forward-thinking mindset.
• Skilled, motivated, and culturally aware.

LEADERSHIP MINDSET – OUR NON-NEGOTIABLES

We are…

• Lifelong learners – we learn, always: Curiosity is our superpower. We grow through reflection, feedback, and a hunger to improve.
• Safe, not soft – we lead with courage and care: We foster psychological safety without lowering the bar. We challenge, support, and hold each other to high standards.
• Accountable to our word – we do what we say: Our promises are not just intentions – they’re commitments. We act with integrity, even when no one is watching.
• Empowered voices – we speak up and listen deeply: Everyone has a voice here. We value diverse perspectives and honest conversations that move us forward.
• Intentional and structured – We move with purpose: We think clearly, plan deliberately, and execute with discipline. Structure gives our ideas power.
• Agile and decisive – we act fast and smart: We adapt quickly, make clear decisions, and move forward with confidence, knowing progress favours the bold.
• WOW makers – we create magic, together: We push boundaries, dream big, and co-create extraordinary experiences through digital innovation.
• Better than yesterday – progress is personal: grow every day. I reflect, improve, and raise my bar – because excellence begins with me.

Underpinned by…

• The Exponential Mindset - How we think shapes how we work: We operate with an exponential mindset – bold, curious, and 10X-driven.