Senior PMO Manager - #2117586

Contract: 6-Month Contract
Day Rate: £500 - £550 per day (Inside IR35)
Location: London, Manchester or Bristol (London/Manchester preferred)
Working Pattern: Hybrid, approximately 2 days per week onsite with flexibility
Security Clearance: BPSS required. Candidates must be eligible for SC clearance and can start on BPSS while SC is being processed.

We are seeking an experienced Senior PMO Manager to play a key role in establishing and embedding a new Programme Management Office (PMO) capability within a growing Products & Services Directorate of approximately 250 employees.

This directorate has previously benefited from a successful PMO function that supported significant organisational growth, including the onboarding of over 100 contingent workers and engagement with Managed Service Providers (MSPs). As the PMO function is re-established, you will work closely with the Lead PMO Manager, Business Operations team, Finance, and senior stakeholders to implement robust governance, reporting and delivery frameworks.

This is a hands-on opportunity for a proactive PMO professional who thrives in evolving environments, can work independently, and is comfortable contributing to wider business operations activities when required.

• Support the establishment and continuous development of the PMO function.
• Design and implement effective PMO governance, processes, controls and ways of working.
• Maintain programme and portfolio plans, RAID logs, dependency tracking and governance artefacts.
• Produce high-quality management information, reporting and dashboards to support decision-making.
• Work collaboratively with Senior Civil Service (SCS) stakeholders, Business Operations teams, Finance and delivery teams.
• Support the development and production of business cases and investment proposals.
• Coordinate cross-functional activities, ensuring actions, risks, issues and dependencies are effectively managed.
• Support resource planning, workforce management and supplier-related activities where required.
• Identify and implement opportunities to improve PMO processes, governance and reporting.
• Take ownership of key deliverables and contribute beyond traditional PMO responsibilities to support wider business objectives.

• 2 to 3+ years' experience operating as a Senior PMO Manager or in an equivalent senior PMO role.
• Proven experience establishing, building or significantly improving PMO functions.
• Strong expertise in PMO governance, programme planning, reporting and coordination.
• Demonstrable experience developing and supporting business cases.
• Excellent stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence and engage at senior levels.
• Experience producing meaningful management information and reporting packs.
• Ability to work autonomously with minimal supervision.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to bring structure and clarity to ambiguous environments.
• Resilient and adaptable, with experience operating in fast-paced and changing organisations.
• Hands-on approach and willingness to support wider business operations activities when required.

• Previous experience within Central Government or Local Government environments.
• Experience working within digital, product-led or multidisciplinary delivery teams.
• Knowledge of resource management, contingent workforce planning and supplier management.
• PMO qualifications such as PMO Essentials or similar certifications.
• Experience supporting large-scale organisational growth or transformation programmes.

Candidates are likely to come from backgrounds such as:

• Senior PMO Manager
• PMO Manager
• Programme Office Manager
• Lead PMO Analyst
• Senior PMO Analyst
• Delivery Manager with significant PMO experience

You will be a self-starter who enjoys creating structure, improving governance and enabling successful delivery across complex programmes and organisational functions.

You will join a Business Operations team of five, working closely with a Finance team of three and supporting the newly formed PMO capability. Whilst the wider Products & Services Directorate consists of approximately 250 employees, the PMO team itself will remain relatively lean.

As a result, this role is well suited to someone who enjoys taking ownership, influencing across multiple functions and delivering value in a less structured, highly collaborative environment.