Head of Enterprise Project Management Officer (EPMO)

Provide leadership and governance in establishing and running the Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO) within The Salvation Army (TSA) as part of the strategic transformation of the operations of TSA.

The primary purpose will be to enable TSA to track progress in implementing the new strategy and associated projects that are deliverables of the Mobilize 2.0 program. This role is responsible for developing an approach to effective prioritization of projects, improved use of resources, reporting and governance around stakeholder engagement and accountability. The EPMO must provide demonstrable value to TSA executive leadership in enabling the realization of benefits from the strategic program of work.

Given this role’s responsibility for project management of new strategic initiatives, it is expected that the EPMO will run alongside the Mobilize 2.0 program team for a duration and significantly contribute to the transition plan with the Mobilize program team.

Strategic Leadership

• Define, prioritize, and deliver programs and projects aligned to TSA’s strategy aligned across the enterprise
• Adopt an Enterprise Architecture approach as a key component to project approval/prioritization framework
• Define best practice for the Enterprise Project Management Office in TSA and implement this as ‘fit for purpose’ with the support of executive leadership
• Strategic focus on stakeholder engagement and all aspects of project governance to enable effective, efficient, cost effective delivery of programs and projects, enabling optimal benefits realization

Project Management Leadership

• Ensure sound project management disciplines are in place, and where not, are established, addressing:
  • Project governance
  • Scope management
  • Schedule management
  • Communications management
  • Change management
  • Risk and issues management
  • Dependency management
  • Project and portfolio reporting
  • Quality management
  • Lessons learned
• Develop the capacity and the capability of project resources required to deliver the project portfolio across project managers, business analysis and change management
• Ensure projects maintain the currency of resource forecasts, adjusting for project schedule & baseline changes
• Ensure resource availability is maintained and monitored to achieve effective utilization

Stakeholder Engagement

• Engagement with stakeholders at every level to ensure understanding of the strategic support the EPMO provides and the benefits of the EPMO to TSA
• Build and maintain a strong network of peers and stakeholders to ensure support for the EPMOs frameworks
• Build and maintain external connections to ensure that TSA is leveraging best practice in EPMOs

People Leadership

• Leadership and oversight of EPMO staff across the organization, ensuring sound employment practices and continuing professional development
• Manage relationships between leadership and staff to ensure overall satisfaction through motivation, collaboration, recognition, and team building
• Conduct and comply with all people management processes including performance reviews and development plans
• Respond to employee grievances and undertake action in conjunction with HR as required
• Ensure compliance with all HR policies and WHS requirements

Financial and Analytical Leadership

• Provide support in the development of business cases, assisting with estimation/sizing, and ensuring all business cases put forward for approval and prioritization meet a consistent standard
• Develop and implement a prioritization framework for approved projects
• Work with the Finance function to ensure all project costs are budgeted and captured and adequate reporting of costs is available
• Define and implement measurement and reporting of appropriate project and program metrics

Education/Certifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant discipline
• Postgraduate qualifications in Project Management and PMP Certification

Experience:

• At least 7 years leadership experience at General Manager level in a multi-faceted national services organization that is recognized for best practice project management disciplines
• Demonstrated skills and experience in pragmatically managing programs and projects through the full project lifecycle
• Demonstrated ability to quickly build strong trust-based relationships with senior executives, project sponsors and stakeholders
• Experience in and/or of the Not-for-Profit sector highly desired

Strategic Focus

• Drives strategy and big picture focus within own area of responsibility
• Monitors and reviews progress against TSA strategy and plans
• Adjusts plans considering review outcomes

Change Management

• Strong understanding of the changing and developing operating environment within TSA with strong awareness of leading-edge practice to ensure EPMO stays relevant to the needs of TSA.
• Understands organizational change management
• Designs and drives responsive organizational change management strategies
• Effectively manages and addresses barriers to change

People Capabilities

• Prioritizes and leads people development to support a learning and development culture
• Attracts, retains, and grows the best EPMO staff for TSA
• Ensure SMEs seconded to projects understand and accept their role and responsibilities
• Models the way by inspiring a shared vision and enabling others to act
• Collaborative communication and management style
• Emotional intelligence allowing appreciation for various stakeholder potentially conflicting priorities and needs

Continuous Improvement

• Provides leadership in innovation and best practice that establishes the EPMO as a valuable partner to executive management and senior leadership
• Provides high level consultation and advice to influence strategy
• Envisions and evaluates new and innovative possibilities, and actions those with significant benefits
• Undertakes regular reporting and review of processes, incorporating stakeholder feedback

Risk Management

• Implements a risk management approach appropriate for the EPMO and establishes plans and processes
• Accepts responsibility for positive and negative outcomes