The Vacancy
PMO Lead
Hybrid - Manchester / Wigan (2 days per week onsite)
£80,000-£90,000 + Annual Performance Bonus
About the Role
We’re looking for a highly experienced PMO Lead to play a critical role in enabling Calisen’s strategic transformation. You will own and evolve the portfolio governance framework, ensure programmes and projects are aligned to organisational priorities, and provide the visibility, insight, and challenge needed for informed executive decision‑making.
Working closely with the Strategy & Transformation Director and senior stakeholders across the business, you will drive prioritisation, embed best practice across change delivery, and help ensure the organisation delivers measurable value from its investments. This role suits someone who is influential, analytical, delivery‑focused, and skilled at operating at senior levels.
Key Responsibilities
1. Own and continuously improve the portfolio governance framework, ensuring transparency and alignment to strategy.
2. Lead portfolio prioritisation, assessing value, risk, capacity, and benefits to support investment choices.
3. Produce and own portfolio‑level dashboards, insights, and recommendations that support executive decision‑making.
4. Define and embed portfolio KPIs, reporting standards, and controls, including benefits realisation and financial tracking.
5. Deliver accurate, timely reporting on project status, risks, dependencies, and overall portfolio health.
6. Manage and influence senior stakeholders across SLT and ExCo through confident and strategic communication.
7. Champion and maintain the Change Delivery Framework, driving consistency and continuous improvement.
8. Lead resource and capacity planning, ensuring priority initiatives are appropriately resourced.
About You
You’ll be a confident leader within PMO, portfolio, or programme management, able to operate strategically while ensuring high standards of delivery. You’ll bring expertise in governance, reporting, and senior‑level stakeholder management, alongside the ability to analyse complex portfolios and drive clarity.
Essential Qualifications & Experience
9. Degree in a relevant discipline.
10. Extensive leadership experience in PMO, portfolio, programme, or project management.
11. Strong working knowledge of methodologies such as PRINCE2 or Agile.
12. Proven experience establishing or leading a Portfolio Office or enterprise‑level PMO.
13. Advanced reporting and analytical skills (Power BI, dashboards, KPI frameworks).
14. Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with confidence operating at senior levels.
15. Ability to interpret complex data, identify patterns, and provide insight‑led recommendations.
Desirable
16. Project/programme management accreditation.
17. Experience within the utilities or energy sector.
18. Strong financial management skills (budgeting, forecasting, cost control).
19. Experience coaching or developing project managers.
Key Competencies
20. Strong leadership and the ability to influence senior stakeholders.
21. Clear, concise, and adaptable communication.
22. Commercially astute with the confidence to challenge constructively.
23. Resilient, adaptable, and skilled at navigating complex environments.
24. Collaborative working style with strong relationship‑building ability.
25. Passion for continuous improvement and embedding best practice.
Benefits
Financial & Reward
26. Non‑contractual annual bonus, based on company and personal performance.
27. Life assurance at 4x basic salary.
28. Pension scheme - Calisen will double your contribution up to 7%.
29. Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme.
Health & Wellbeing
30. Private Medical Insurance.
31. Company sick pay.
32. 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme.
Time Off & Work–Life Balance
33. 25 days annual leave, increasing annually up to 30 days, plus: 8 bank holidays Your birthday off
34. Enhanced maternity and paternity pay.
Lifestyle & Perks
35. Access to the My Rewards Platform, offering discounts at hundreds of retailers.
Please note: All successful candidates must pass a criminal record check, provide us with 5 years’ work references, and prove their eligibility to work in the UK.