PMO Lead

Purpose

This is a newly created role responsible for establishing, implementing, and running a Program Management Office (PMO) function for Operations. The successful candidate will build this capability, creating the processes, tools, governance frameworks, and reporting mechanisms required to deliver holistic portfolio visibility across the company Operations network.

The PMO Lead will serve as the central point of coordination for a defined portfolio of strategic and business-critical projects, ensuring that senior leadership has a clear, consistent, and actionable view of project performance, risks, and prioritisation across the network.

Key Responsibilities:

PMO Establishment & Design

• Design and implement the PMO operating model, including governance structures, reporting cadences, escalation pathways, and communication flows
• Define scope criteria for project inclusion within the PMO portfolio, ensuring a right-sized view that balances coverage with manageability
• Select and implement tools and systems (e.g., Smartsheet, Power BI, or equivalent) to enable portfolio tracking, reporting, and analysis
• Develop standard templates, KPIs, and reporting frameworks that provide consistent, actionable insights to stakeholders
• Embed the PMO process into BAU governance, integrating with existing forums and leadership review cycles (e.g., AOLT monthly review)

Portfolio Visibility & Reporting

• Maintain a single source of truth for all in-scope projects, consolidating status, milestones, risks, issues, and dependencies into a programmatic overview
• Deliver regular portfolio reporting to senior leadership, translating complex project data into clear, decision-ready insights
• Monitor portfolio health using standard Program Management KPIs, proactively identifying trends, bottlenecks, and areas of concern
• Champion the use of AI tools for status reporting, portfolio health analysis, actionable insights generation, and capacity threshold monitoring

Risk Management & Escalation

• Identify, track, and facilitate mitigation of key risks at the portfolio level
• Operate a structured escalation mechanism to ensure off-track projects receive timely leadership attention, with clear ownership of actions and deadlines
• Drive resolution of cross-functional roadblocks that impede project delivery

Prioritisation & Demand Planning

• Facilitate ongoing portfolio prioritisation reviews (Stop / Start / Continue) based on resource constraints, strategic alignment, and business needs
• Implement a demand planning process that provides horizon scanning of potential future projects, interfacing with the strategy team to ensure forward-looking portfolio management
• Support objective prioritisation based on clearly defined value drivers

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• Build trusted relationships with Project Managers across the network, ensuring the PMO process adds value without creating unnecessary burden
• Interface routinely with AOLT members and key stakeholders, providing decision support and portfolio-level insights
• Leverage existing pockets of program management within the organisation, adopting best practices and right-sizing for Operations' needs
• Collaborate with AstraZeneca network PMO counterparts (e.g., Bio Ops, Americas Supply Operations) to share learnings and maintain alignment with enterprise approaches

Continuous Improvement & Scaling

• Iterate and refine PMO processes based on stakeholder feedback and lessons learned
• Plan for scalability, ensuring the process can flex according to portfolio volume
• Develop the roadmap toward advanced PMO capabilities, including standardised project methodology, benefits realisation assessments, and deeper AI integration

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Project Management, Engineering, Business, Operations, Life Sciences, or a related discipline.
• Significant experience in programme, portfolio, or project management within a complex, cross-functional organisation, ideally in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, manufacturing, or another regulated environment.
• Demonstrated experience establishing, implementing, or developing a PMO function, including governance structures, reporting processes, standard templates, KPIs, and escalation pathways.
• Strong portfolio management experience, with the ability to oversee multiple strategic and business-critical projects across different functions and locations.