Delivery PMO Lead

For over 20 years, Waystone has been at the cutting edge of specialist services for the asset management industry - partnering with institutional investors, investment funds and asset managers. We work with our clients to help build, support, and protect investment structures and strategies worldwide.

Our success depends upon our ability to attract and retain the best, most diverse talent and provide our employees with a broad spectrum of professional development opportunities. Our workplace environment is an inclusive one, where employees can be themselves, reach their potential and drive business results.

All Waystone employees are expected to demonstrate our core competencies as outlined below. The role Associate has unique requirements and duties; however, these responsibilities are to be executed within the organization's framework of core values. Waystone expects all employees to be high performing, self-motivated, learners and leaders.

Summary: The Delivery PMO Lead is responsible for overseeing the successful execution of the Digital & Data portfolio of change projects for the organization. The role ensures that all change is delivered on time, within scope, and within budget, while adhering to the company's project management methodologies and governance standards.

The Delivery PMO Lead will perform a hands-on role providing strategic guidance, tools, processes, and support for project managers and delivery leads and their cross-functional teams to ensure projects are effectively managed from initiation to completion. This position is crucial for aligning project delivery with strategic organizational goals and driving operational efficiency across the project portfolio.

This dynamic individual applies their valuable experience in a fast-paced global organisation and is a key contributor to the digital and data landscape of this company, strengthening our business and clients' experience.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• PMO Framework & Governance:
  • PMO Governance: Implement best practice PMO frameworks, processes, and standards for project delivery, ensuring consistency across all projects.
  • Standardization: Define and enforce project management methodologies, best practices, and standards across the organization (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid).
  • Project Management Tools: Oversee the selection and use of project management tools (e.g., Jira, MS Project, Asana, Smartsheet) to track project progress, resources, and budgets.
  • Compliance and Audits: Ensure adherence to internal policies, regulations, and compliance standards. Conduct regular audits of project processes and deliverables.
• Project Delivery Support:
  • Project Planning and Execution: Provide guidance and support to project managers and delivery leads during the project planning and execution phases. Ensure projects follow established timelines, scope and budgets.
  • Risk and Issue Management: Identify and mitigate risks and issues that may impact project delivery. Support project managers and delivery leads in developing risk management plans and solutions.
  • Change Management: Manage changes to project scope, timelines, and resources, ensuring all changes are properly documented and approved.
  • Project Reporting: Create and deliver regular project performance reports to senior management and stakeholders, including project health, risks, issues, and milestones.
  • Resource Allocation: Ensure that projects are adequately resourced and assist in resource planning and allocation to avoid conflicts across the portfolio.
• Portfolio Management:
  • Project Portfolio Oversight: Oversee the project portfolio to ensure alignment with strategic goals and priorities. Ensure that the portfolio of projects is balanced, and resources are allocated efficiently.
  • Prioritization: Assist leadership in prioritizing projects based on business value, strategic objectives, and available resources. Ensure that resources are utilized effectively.
  • Project Performance Metrics: Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) for project success, such as timelines, budgets, resource utilization, and quality. Monitor overall portfolio health and report progress to stakeholders.
• Continuous Improvement:
  • Process Optimization: Continuously review and improve PMO processes and tools to enhance portfolio delivery efficiency and effectiveness. Proactively identify opportunities for improvement across project management practices.
  • Lessons Learned: Ensure that lessons learned and retrospective activities from completed projects are documented and shared across teams to improve future project delivery and avoid past mistakes.
  • Training and Development: Provide ongoing training, mentorship, and support to project managers, delivery leads and team members on project management best practices, tools, and techniques.
• Stakeholder Management and Communication:
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Act as the point of contact for senior management, business leaders, and external stakeholders, providing updates on the portfolio status, risks, and issues.
  • Communication Plans: Develop and maintain clear communication channels and plans to ensure that all stakeholders are informed of project status, deliverables, risks, and challenges.
  • Cross-functional Collaboration: Collaborate with other departments, such as IT, finance, HR, and business operations, to ensure alignment and smooth project delivery across the organization.
• Budget and Financial Management:
  • Budget Oversight: Monitor project budgets, track expenditures, and ensure that projects stay within financial limits. Work with project managers to forecast costs and manage budgets effectively.
  • Cost Management: Assist with cost-benefit analysis and help identify areas for cost optimization within projects.

Experience:

• Significant experience, ideally within the funds industry (preferred) or broader financial services industry, in highly regulated environments.
• Significant experience in project management or PMO roles, with a proven track record of delivering complex projects, using established methodologies like agile, waterfall and hybrid.
• Experience working in cross-functional teams and managing multiple projects simultaneously.
• Strong proficiency & experience in project management tools such as Jira, MS Project, Asana, Smartsheet, Trello, or similar tools.
• Familiarity with project portfolio management (PPM) tools such as Clarity, Planview, or Microsoft Project Online.
• Knowledge and experience of budgeting and financial management for projects, including cost tracking and resource allocation.
• Strong knowledge and experience of risk management, change management, and quality management practices.

Skills & Attributes:

• Strong communication skills (both written and verbal), with the ability to engage and influence senior executives and business stakeholders.
• Ability to manage conflicting priorities and work under pressure to meet deadlines.
• Problem-solving skills, with the ability to anticipate issues and resolve conflicts in a collaborative manner.
• Adaptability: Ability to adjust plans and processes based on changing business needs or priorities.
• Team-Oriented: Strong team player who collaborates effectively with cross-functional teams.
• Analytical: Ability to analyze project data and provide actionable insights for improvement.
• Detail-Oriented: Meticulous in ensuring projects are delivered accurately, on time, and within scope.

Qualifications:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent certification is strongly preferred
• Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) or ScrumMaster (CSM) certification is a plus