Head; Project Management Office

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We invite qualified candidates to apply for the position of Head of the Project Management Office (PMO) at University of Nottingham Malaysia (UNM).

Job Responsibilities: 

• Strategic Leadership
  • Operationalise the university's central PMO function, its mission, services and operating model.
  • Ensure robustness of project governance framework, including gated approval processes, reporting standards and risk management protocols.
  • Act as a trusted advisor to the Planning and Resource Committee (PaRC) on project portfolio management, prioritisation and strategic alignment.

• Portfolio Management & Governance:
  • Maintain the university's strategic portfolio, providing a holistic view of all strategic initiatives
  • Ensure consistent application of project management methodologies (e.g., PMBOK, Agile, Hybrid) and tools across the university.
  • Lead PMO maturity uplift initiatives, including frameworks, templates and continuous improvement practices.

• Project Assurance & Reporting:
  • Provide independent assurance and health checks on high-value or high-risk projects.
  • Prepare consolidated portfolio reports for PaRC providing clear insights into performance, risks and benefits realisation.
  • Prepare high-quality executive communication materials, dashboards and governance papers.
  • Monitor project budgets, timelines and resource utilisation, flagging deviations and recommending corrective actions.

• Capability Building & Stakeholder Management:
  • Manage a community of practice for project management, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and professional excellence.
  • Identify training needs and develop/deliver training programmes to uplift project management capability across professional services staff/academics.
  • Build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with key stakeholders at all levels to drive engagement and secure buy-in for the PMO's mission.

• Tooling & Continuous Improvement:
  • Evaluate, select and implement appropriate project portfolio management (PPM) software to support the PMO's functions.
  • Continuously review and improve PMO processes, templates and tools to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Job Requirements:

• Essential Qualifications & Experience:
  • A formal project management qualification (e.g., PMP, PgMP).
  • Minimum of 15 years of progressive experience in project and programme management as a Head or Senior role with proven leadership in PMO functions.
  • Proven experience in developing and implementing project governance frameworks, methodologies and tools in a complex organisation.
  • Demonstrable experience in portfolio management, including prioritisation, resource allocation and benefits realisation management.
  • Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage senior executives.
  • Experience designing and delivering project management training, workshops and capability programmes.

• Desirable:
  • A postgraduate degree or equivalent professional qualification.
  • Experience with working across higher education and/or complex organisations.
  • Experience with organisational change management methodologies.
  • Familiarity with a variety of project management methodologies (Waterfall, Agile, Scrum).

• Knowledge, Skills & Attributes:
  • Strategic Thinker: Able to align project outcomes with broad organisational strategy.
  • Leader & Influencer: A natural leader who can build credibility, inspire others, and drive change without direct authority.
  • Excellent Communicator: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, capable of conveying complex information clearly to diverse audiences.
  • Problem Solver: Analytically minded with a proactive approach to identifying and mitigating risks.
  • Resilient & Adaptable: Able to navigate ambiguity and thrive in a dynamic, multi-stakeholder environment.
  • Collaborative: A team player who builds strong, cooperative relationships across academic and administrative functions.

Interested applicants may submit a Cover Letter and an updated Curriculum Vitae to Recruitment by 15 December 2025. 

Ref No:PMO-251233-1