Head of PMO Controls

With the scale of increase in AMP8 investment, there is a once in a generation opportunity to establish a central AO&CD PMO that will drive greater visibility, end-to-end control and oversight of all capex investment, and build capability.

What you’ll be doing as Head of PMO Controls:
Scope of the Role:
The Asset, Operations & Capital Delivery (AO&CD) Portfolio Management Office (PMO) is designed as a ‘hub and spoke’ delivery model.

This model enables the ‘Hub’ PMO to provide critical delivery and enabling PMO services and the ‘Spoke’ PMOs in Asset Management & Engineering (AM&E), Capital Delivery (CD) and Renewals & Logistics (R&L) to drive standardised delivery across the AO&CD Project Lifecycle and enable the AMP8 Strategic Sponsor delivery model.
This role is part of the ‘Hub’ PMO leadership team.

Purpose of the Role:
You will set up and establish the Portfolio Controls function. You will be a key enabler for realising the benefits of the Strategic Sponsor delivery model.

Key Responsibilities:

• Develop, set-up & implement the Portfolio controls framework, disciplines and integrated function to manage the Strategic Programmes. Scope and Integration; Planning and Scheduling; Cost Estimating; Cost Control; Risk Management; Performance and reporting.
• Lead the specialist controls teams to develop and implement integrated processes, procedures and work instructions, ensuring standardised ways of working and consistency of delivery across the sponsorship model, hub and spoke PMOs.
• Lead the team to develop and establish robust and integrated, schedule and cost baseline for the delivery of clearly defined Strategic Programme scope.
• Establish and drive the performance data model for the strategic programmes against the established baseline, risk and opportunities.
• Establish and drive standardised ways of working in the sponsorship model, hub and spoke PMOs through training, coaching, recruitment and structured continuous improvement.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing PMO cross discipline Controls teams, ensuring that the team’s skills align with the demands of modern infrastructure P3M management.

What you should bring to the role:

• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of complex capital projects and major programmes through lifecycle to benefits realisation.
• Set up and delivery of frameworks, processes, standards and assurance within a complex portfolio environment.
• Set up and delivery of project control disciplines within a complex portfolios and programmes.
• Strong senior leadership skills to manage, influence, motivate teams and lead change in and outside of PMO Hub
• Proficiency in project management methodologies and tools (EVM, risk management, scheduling software).
• Ability to make risk-based decisions where the parameters are unclear, and judgement is needed.
• Experience of leading and managing multidisciplinary teams.
• Delivery of activities to build capability, improve efficiency and increase maturity
• Ability to think strategically, anticipating and managing high-level risks and uncertainties. Identifying and implementing solutions in collaboration with teams.
• Good understanding of corporate systems (SAP/P6)
• Good understanding of the concepts and principles associated with multiple disciplines; cost planning, scheduling, risk management and change control to enable the leadership, coaching and mentoring of the Portfolio Controls function.
• Degree or equivalent in Project Management, Engineering, Business Management, Commercial or Finance related subject
• APM qualification – APM PPQ, APM PMQ or APM Major Project, CHPPM
• Experience of P3M
• Experience of IT solutions required to manage, control and report on project, programme and portfolio scope, schedule, resource requirements, budgets, risks, opportunities and issues, benefits, and quality.
• Change management.

Ideally you will also be able to demonstrate:

• In-depth experience of managing complex capital projects or major programme through lifecycle
• Experience of leading change in a complex organisation

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive salary from £80,000 to £110,000 per annum depending on experience
• Annual Leave - 26 days holiday per year increasing to 30 with the length of service (plus bank holidays)
• Car Allowance
• Annual Bonus
• Private Medical Health Care
• Access to lots of benefits to help you take care of you and your family’s health and wellbeing, and your finances – from annual health MOTs and access to physiotherapy and counselling, to Cycle to Work schemes, shopping vouchers and life assurance.

Find out more about our benefits and perks

Who are we?
We’re the UK’s largest water and wastewater company, with more than 16 million customers relying on us every day to supply water for their taps and toilets. We want to build a better future for all, helping our customers, communities, people and the planet to thrive. It’s a big job and we’ve got a long way to go, so we need help from passionate and skilled people, committed to making a difference and getting us to where we want to be in the years and decades to come.

Learn more about our purpose and values

Working at Thames Water
Thames Water is a unique, rewarding and diverse place to work, where every day you can make a difference, yet no day is the same. As part of our family, you’ll enjoy fast-tracked career opportunities, flexible working arrangements and excellent benefits.
Whether you’re interested in a role in one of our call centres or science labs, we’re looking for people like you with real passion and a burning desire to make things better.

So, if you’re looking for a sustainable and successful career where you can make a daily difference to millions of people’s lives while helping to protect the world of water for future generations, we’ll be here to support you every step of the way. Together, we can build a better future for our customers, our region and our planet.

Real purpose, real support, real opportunities. Come and join the Thames Water family. Why choose us? Learn more.

Our overarching aim is to ensure that Thames Water is great, diverse and inclusive place to work. We welcome applications from everyone and offer extra support for those who need it throughout the recruitment process. Our aim is to remove any real or perceived barriers to success, so if you need assistance, we’re here to help and support.

When a crisis happens, we all rally around to support our customers. As part of Team Thames, you’ll have the opportunity to sign up to support our customers on the frontline as an ambassador. Full training will be given for what is undoubtedly an incredibly rewarding experience. It’s also a great opportunity to learn more about our business, meet colleagues and earn some extra money along the way.

Disclaimer: due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may close the advert earlier than the advertised date, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.