Description

Main Purpose:
The IT PMO Head will create and lead the IT Project Management Office (PMO) for a global commodity trading company with operations across multiple geographies. This leadership role focuses on building and managing a robust PMO function that ensures the successful execution of strategic IT initiatives, from project inception to delivery and value realisation.
The IT PMO Head will be responsible for developing project governance frameworks, optimising resource allocation, and driving continuous improvement in project execution. This role is key in enabling the organisation’s digital transformation agenda and ensuring alignment between IT and business goals across trading, logistics, finance, and operations functions.
Knowledge Skills and Abilities, Key Responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities
PMO Leadership & Strategy
Work with IT Leadership team to help define and implement an IT PMO strategy, ensuring alignmen with corporate goals and global business priorities.
Work in an advisory role with IT Management team to develop and maintain standardised project management methodologies and best practices to enhance delivery consistency and quality.
Help to foster a project management culture focused on planning, accountability, transparency, and value-driven execution
Ensure all IT projects adhere to internal policies, industry regulations, and financial standards, maintaining full compliance throughout the project lifecycle, notably taking into account prioritisation of internal control requests.

Governance & Portfolio Management
Oversight of the global IT projects, ensuring effective prioritisation, resource allocation, and risk management is performed
Assist with project initiation, establishing governance structures, including steering committees and portfolio review processes, to ensure executive visibility and alignment.
Support the creation and maintenance of the Trading IT project portfolio management reporting – internal and external
Define and track key project and portfolio performance metrics (e.g., ROI, time to value, budget adherence)

KPI Analytics: Create and deliver detailed performance reports to senior management and stakeholders, offering clear insights into key metrics.

Leverage data-driven analysis to uncover opportunities for process optimisation and efficiency improvements across portfolio, program, and project management, as well as financial operations.

Oversight of Trading IT communications, ensuring visibility and transparency across the organization regarding IT strategic programmes, ongoing projects, achievements, and challenges, communicating new initiatives and developments, ensuring users and leadership are informed about upcoming changes, enhancements, and innovations. Delivering clear and engaging IT news, fostering awareness of technology-driven improvements and their business impact. Establishing channels for feedback and engagement, enabling a two-way dialogue between IT and business users.

Project Delivery Excellence
Ensure transparent and accurate reporting of project progress, timelines, scope, and budgets, enabling project managers to take timely and informed corrective actions when necessary.

Advocate for the adoption of risk and issue management frameworks and support teams in identifying and addressing risks and issues proactively.

Facilitate regular project reviews and contribute to post-implementation assessments to capture lessons learned and drive continuous improvement.

Resource Management & Talent Development
Facilitate resource capacity planning and allocation across Trading IT globally to help balance competing project demands.

Establish strong partnerships with internal IT teams, external vendors, and contractors to ensure seamless resource allocation to projects for utilisation.

Financial Management
Work closely with the Trading CIO to prepare and manage the overall IT project budget, working with product and portolfio managers to ensure accurate cost control, forecasting, and financial reporting

Collaborate closely with finance teams to ensure precise tracking, reporting, and analysis of program and project expenses, variances, and overall financial performance.

Key Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology, Business Administration, or a related field.
Master’s degree or MBA is preferred.
Project management certifications such as PMP, PgMP, PRINCE2, or SAFe is a plus

Experience:
10+ years of experience in IT project and portfolio management, including at least 5 years in a PMO leadership role.
Demonstrated experience in managing large, complex IT portfolios in a global or multinational environment.
Experience in commodity trading, financial services, logistics, or similar industries is a strong advantage.
Proven track record in delivering technology-driven business transformation initiatives.

Skills & Competencies:
Strategic Leadership: Ability to develop a long-term PMO strategy while driving tactical execution.
Portfolio Management: Expertise in managing complex, cross-functional project portfolios and optimizing resource utilisation.
Communication & Influence: Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence senior executives and build consensus.
Risk Management: Proven capability in identifying, assessing, and mitigating project risks to ensure successful delivery.
Financial Acumen: Experience in managing multi-million-dollar IT project budgets, including cost control and financial reporting.
Technological Awareness: Familiarity with enterprise IT systems, digital platforms, cloud technologies, and modern project management tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Confluence, Jira).