PMO Manager

About the role

Location: Cape Town Working Practices: Hybrid | Mondays and Thursday in office and remaining days remote Contract Type: Permanent Working Hours: 10H00 - 18H30 SAST Reports to: Head of Project Management Position Summary The PMO Manager oversees a portfolio of Project Managers, ensuring projects are delivered on time, on budget, and to the highest standard. This is a leadership role within the PMO function, responsible for governance, strategic alignment, and portfolio oversight. The role requires someone with deep delivery expertise who can balance operational rigour with client-centric outcomes. The PMO Manager drives consistency, fosters collaboration across teams, and ensures that delivery excellence scales with the business. They also provide coaching and guidance to Project Managers, empowering them to grow while maintaining accountability for portfolio-level outcomes. Key Responsibilities Portfolio & Delivery Oversight Oversee a portfolio of Project Managers, providing leadership, guidance, and oversight across multiple concurrent projects Govern and drive portfolio-level delivery outcomes, ensuring consistency in standards and processes Act as escalation point for complex client or project challenges, supporting Project Managers in resolution Lead portfolio-level reporting on delivery health, risk, and outcomes for senior leadership Strategic & Financial Management Drive strategic alignment between delivery, client expectations, and business objectives Monitor and manage utilisation trends, resource forecasting, and financial performance across the delivery portfolio Ensure portfolio delivery supports broader organisational strategy and growth objectives Team Leadership & Development Provide coaching and mentorship to Project Managers, building their capability and leadership presence Support Project Managers in professional growth, performance development, and delivery excellence Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement Cultivate a positive and collaborative team community culture that promotes retention, alignment with company values, and active engagement. Cross-Functional Collaboration Collaborate with cross-functional leaders (e.g., Sales, Learning, Production, etc.,) to ensure seamless delivery handovers and client satisfaction Act as a trusted partner in client engagements, supporting relationship-building and expectation management Champion continuous improvement in delivery practices, tools, and systems Innovation & Continuous Improvement Advocate for innovation in delivery models, processes, and methodologies Lead initiatives that enhance efficiency, scalability, and quality of delivery outcomes Identify and mitigate systemic delivery risks while implementing best practices across teams What does success look like? Within 3 months: Establishes strong working relationships with Project Managers and implements clear reporting cadence on delivery health Within 6 months: Portfolio-level delivery outcomes consistently meet agreed client and business standards (scope, time, budget, quality) Within 9 months: Measurable improvements in client satisfaction and cross-functional alignment are evident Within 12 months: 80%+ of direct reports meet or exceed their individual delivery performance objectives Beyond 12 months: Recognised as a trusted delivery leader who enables scale, improves client relationships, and strengthens delivery culture across the organisation Experience 7-10 years' experience in project or programme management, including 3+ years in a leadership role Proven track record of leading teams of Project Managers and delivering complex, multi-workstream projects Strong portfolio management and governance experience, with a focus on risk management and resource optimisation Experience in client-facing consultancy, communication, and executive stakeholder management Financial management capability, including forecasting, utilisation monitoring, and budget oversight Proficiency with delivery/project management tools (e.g., Kantata, Jira, Monday.com, Asana) Experience in digital, media, or creative delivery environments (preferred) Skills & Competencies Delivery governance and portfolio oversight Financial and resource management with strategic forecasting ability Executive-level communication and client engagement skills Strong cross-functional collaboration and influence Coaching, mentoring, and leadership presence to grow Project Managers Problem-solving and risk mitigation in complex delivery contexts Systems thinking and change advocacy, driving continuous improvement Growth mindset and innovation in delivery practices Company Information OES is a vibrant and values-led organisation, and we are passionate about enhancing lives through education. We work with university partners, training institutes, and professional bodies worldwide, to develop and enable immersive and engaging learning experiences. We empower our teams to be student-focused, innov