Operational excellence (PMO) department manager responsibilities

The operational excellence (PMO) department manager is responsible for driving efficient project delivery and continuous improvement across the organization. This role oversees project management standards, ensures alignment with strategic objectives, and supports teams in achieving consistent, high-quality outcomes. It also involves monitoring performance, optimizing processes, and fostering a culture of operational excellence while ensuring compliance with company policies and best practices.

Key duties include:

• Review and update policies, processes, and procedures, quality assurance, continuous improvement, risk management, training, and project monitoring and reporting.
• Develop and ratify department operating structure and department operating processes and procedures based on the PMM processes and procedures.
• Assess the capability of the existing PMO department staff and recommend appropriate roles and responsibilities.
• Prepare the department knowledge transfer program, which includes comprehensive on-the-job learning.
• Motivate employees to improve performance by fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
• Ensure the stage-gate process is applied consistently to projects.
• Establish and maintain a quality management system for the PMO that is aligned with the PMM.
• Ensure that quality assurance management is implemented for each project.
• Analyze data to identify operational trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Coordinate with other departments within the organization to ensure successful implementation of initiatives.
• Review bidders’ quality submittals.
• Implement a risk management procedure and system that aligns with the PMM template, including establishing a typical risk register to facilitate the identification of risks, likelihood of occurrence, mitigation measures, and assignment of responsibilities.
• Enforce the establishment of risk registers for each project by the construction management contractor.
• Review the risk registers of all projects on a monthly basis.
• Analyze project performance data to identify risks and issues.
• Prepare reports on operational performance, including benchmarks against industry standards or best practices.
• Review, validate, and consolidate project monthly dashboards and reports highlighting any concerns.
• Develop a consolidated NWC dashboard in accordance with the available PMIS requirements.
• Develop and issue periodical project dashboards, presentations, and reports to concerned internal and external stakeholders.
• Provide support in completing all requested tasks in PMIS.
• Develop a set of KPIs to measure the performance of the projects and clusters.
• Ensure the timely and accurate input of project data to the PMIS (i.e., Primavera P6, Oracle Project Module, Oracle Unifier, etc.).
• Coordinate performance evaluations of contractors and consultants by cluster management and classify them based on capability and performance.
• Stay informed of relevant quality, environmental, safety, and occupational health policies, as well as manuals and procedures in place within the company, and ensure continued compliance with these requirements while employed.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the line manager or supervisor.

Qualifications and experience

• Bachelor's degree in engineering from an accredited university.
• Minimum 20 years’ experience in a project management environment on large projects, including overall responsibility for setting up and running a PMO.
• Thorough knowledge and demonstrated experience in professional project management processes and procedures.
• Working knowledge of engineering, procurement, contracts, construction, and start-up/set-up work processes.
• Involvement in continuous improvement and capacity building/talent development.
• Demonstrated skill in management, supervisory, and personnel administrative functions.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

Company overview

The company has more than 4,300 professionals in over 100 offices worldwide and provides program management, project management, construction management, project management oversight, advisory, facilities management, and other consulting services to clients in a variety of market sectors. It is recognized as one of the largest program management firms globally. The company is exclusively a program, project, and construction management provider, focusing on protecting client interests. Free of any potential conflicts, the entire business is geared towards helping clients achieve their desired outcomes. The company is dedicated to exceeding expectations throughout the entire construction project lifecycle and adapts to the needs of each assignment to develop tailored approaches and solutions to meet those needs.

The company is part of a consulting group within a global infrastructure solutions family of companies.

Equal opportunity statement

The company is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to veteran and disabled inclusion.

Note: This job description is intended to provide an indication of the nature and levels of work, knowledge, skills, abilities, and other essential functions to be carried out as part of fulfilling the role mentioned. Various other duties may be required.