PMO Manager

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Tēnei tūranga – About the role

The Digital Data and Insights group leads, connects and strengthens MBIE's core data and insights, digital and technology capabilities.

The Partnership and Programmes branch was established to translate business strategy into action and is responsible for:

  • Creating a central view of MBIE’s data and technology needs (by partnering with all business groups) enabling resources to be directed towards collective priorities.
  • Development and execution of all MBIE business groups digital and technology strategies.
  • Leading the delivery of MBIE’s digital programmes and projects.
  • Digital product management for group specific digital products ensuring the product is up to date, well maintained and system changes for the business areas delivered.
  • Serving as point of escalation for digital delivery and operational risks and issues for each business group.
  • Leading the MBIE wide digital and non-digital Portfolio Management Office - supporting project managers, ensuring appropriate project controls are in place, and appropriate project level assurance is undertaken for all projects and coordinating / allocating resources for digital projects.
  • Strategic partnering with MBIE’s Senior Leadership Team to maximise MBIE’s digital and technology enablement.
  • Strategic advisor to the MBIE decision-making group that determines technology programme and project pipeline funding and priorities as well as reviewing portfolio performance.

The PMO Manager reports into the Head of Portfolio Management. This team supports MBIE to effectively lead projects, establish standards, lift capability and provide a community of best practice with the focus being on:

  • Oversight of approved projects including allocation of resourcing and oversight of stakeholder engagement frameworks, project performance, project and portfolio reporting, pipeline planning, risk and issue management.
  • Improvement focus including project management standards and practices, development of project management capability, risk, issue, benefits tracking and dependency management and undertaking post project reviews with a view to continuous improvement.

The PMO Manager manages the day-to-day activities in the PMO, provide guidance on PMO policies and processes and collaborate with the wider Portfolio Management team to ensure project and programme delivery success. To be successful as the PMO Manager, you should demonstrate strong leadership and communication skills, be well organized and able to work under pressure.

Key responsibilities and activities include:

  • Supporting the Head of Portfolio Management in assuring the overall integrity and coherence of the change portfolio.
  • Providing ongoing health check of the portfolio by assessing whether the projects and programmes continue to adhere to standards and contribute to the stated strategic objectives and benefits plans.
  • Ensuring the use of standard project and programme management practices across MBIE.
  • Coaching and guiding project managers through the project management life cycle.
  • Continuously evaluating projects to ensure they are meeting MBIE standards, adhering to budgets, and meeting deadlines.
  • Design, challenge and ensure the production of management dashboards.
  • Advise on tailoring the delivery framework to achieve an appropriate project or programme structure.
  • Building strong relationship with key stakeholders.
  • Mentoring and coaching team members.

Ngā herenga – Requirements of the role

Personal specifications

  • 8+ years’ experience in project management/PMO roles in structured project delivery environments in both the public and private sectors.
  • A minimum of two years’ experience in a supervisory position.
  • Expert knowledge and wide experience across project management disciplines with a good understanding of contemporary best practice principles.
  • Experience of delivering project management services within both waterfall and agile project approaches.
  • Experience of both business change and technology projects, of diverse complexity and scale.
  • Excellent stakeholder management skills, able to engage successfully and credibly at multiple organisational levels.
  • Professional Qualification in Project and Programme management or other related field essential.
  • Proven ability to remain up-to-date on key technical changes and opportunities in their specialist area and proactively use this to continuously improve MBIE services. 
  • A team player, willing to contribute as necessary to deliver project outcomes of a high standard and to drive the increasing maturity of MBIE’s delivery functions.
  • Tertiary qualification in a relevant field or extensive comparable experience. 
  • Must have the legal right to live and work in New Zealand.
  • Required to drive (no).
  • Police vetting (yes).

Takohanga tuhinga o mua – Key accountabilities and deliverables

Critical Areas of Success

  • Ensure a best practice approach to project and programme management is taken by driving the development, implementation and continuous improvement of appropriate methodologies.
  • Support the PMO and Capability Managers to embed the use of the project and programme delivery framework with their respective Project Managers.
  • Support programme and project managers to deliver business change through effective management of programmes and projects.
  • Contribute to effective governance of change through the evaluation and coaching of project and programme managers.
  • Work to proactively increase the capability and maturity of business change driven project management.
  • Facilitate workshops with project teams as required e.g. risk identification, benefits identification, lessons learned, etc.
  • Advise on the application of appropriate quality management techniques setting quality standards, reviewing project performance against those standards and revising standards as required.
  • Ensure the application, integration and use of Te ao Māori and Te ao Māori practices in the work of the Branch and as such MBIE; tikanga, te reo and an appreciation of the Treaty of Waitangi, Te Tiriti and the Treaty Principles.
  • Foster a customer-focused culture across the Branch.

Thought Leadership

  • Create a centre of expertise and promote the role of project management in business and technology change.
  • Use professional expertise and experience to assist and advise on suitable practices and approaches for team members to utilise in their assignments.
  • Ensure advice given reflects the broader strategies and objectives of DDI and MBIE.

Quality

  • Work with the broader Portfolio Management team to develop and implement integrated and fit for purpose project management practices and standards, and ensure the team adheres to these.
  • Identify areas for ongoing improvement and contribute to the planning and delivery of the necessary changes.
  • Ensure that project management artefacts are of the highest quality, clear, succinct and meaningful to a business management audience.

Relationship Management - Work collaboratively with others to support the achievement of MBIE outcomes 

  • Develop strong trust based relationships with key stakeholders, both personally and throughout the project management practice.
  • Proactively communicate with stakeholders, both formally and informally, keeping them fully informed, managing expectations and addressing concerns.
  • Actively look for opportunities and synergies with internal and external stakeholders that focus on and meet customer needs. 
  • Use a one organisation perspective when contributing to internal forums and governance bodies.
  • Represent whole-of-Ministry views and protect its reputation in external interactions. 

Self Management

  • Role model collaborative and collegial behaviours.
  • Seek opportunities for skills development, formal and informal.
  • Actively participate in the broader Portfolio Management team, accepting ownership of initiatives and activities that benefit the group as a whole.

Wellbeing, Health & Safety

  • Displays commitment through actively supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives.
  • Ensures own and others safety at all times.
  • Complies with relevant safety and wellbeing policies, procedures, safe systems of work and event reporting.
  • Reports all incidents/accidents, including near misses in a timely fashion.
  • Is involved in health and safety through participation and consultation.

Tō tūranga i roto i te Manatū – Your place in the Ministry

The PMO Manager position reports into the Head of Portfolio Management within the Partnership & Programme branch. The branch sits within the Digital Data & Insights group.

More information about MBIE's structure

Matatautanga – Competencies (Leadership Success Profile)

The Leadership Success Profile (LSP) is a leadership capability framework, developed by the New Zealand public sector for the New Zealand public sector. It creates a common language for leadership and establishes what great leadership looks like. You can look at the twelve underpinning capabilities and four leadership characters here: Leadership Success Profile | Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission(external link)

To mātou aronga – What we do for Aotearoa New Zealand

Hīkina Whakatutuki is the te reo Māori name for the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. Hīkina means to uplift. Whakatutuki means to move forward, to make successful. Our name speaks to our purpose, Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All.

To Grow Aotearoa New Zealand for All, we put people at the heart of our mahi. Based on the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi / The Treaty of Waitangi, we are committed to upholding authentic partnerships with Māori.

As agile public service leaders, we use our breadth and experience to navigate the ever-changing world. We are service providers, policy makers, investors and regulators. We engage with diverse communities, businesses and regions. Our work touches on the daily lives of New Zealanders. We grow opportunities (Puāwai), guard and protect (Kaihāpai) and innovate and navigate towards a better future (Auaha).

Te Tiriti o Waitangi

As an agency of the public service, MBIE has a responsibility to contribute to the Crown meeting its obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Te Tiriti). Meeting our commitment to Te Tiriti will contribute towards us realising the overall aims of Te Ara Amiorangi – Our Path, Our Direction, and achieve the outcome of Growing New Zealand for All. The principles of Te Tiriti - including partnership, good faith, and active protection – are at the core of our work. MBIE is committed to delivering on our obligations as a Treaty partner with authenticity and integrity and to enable Māori interests. We are committed to ensuring that MBIE is well placed to meet our obligations under the Public Service Act 2020 (Te Ao Tūmatanui) to support the Crown in strengthening the Māori/Crown Relationship under the Treaty and to build MBIE’s capability, capacity and cultural intelligence to deliver this.

Mahi i roto i te Ratonga Tūmatanui – Working in the public service

Ka mahitahi mātou o te ratonga tūmatanui kia hei painga mō ngā tāngata o Aotearoa i āianei, ā, hei ngā rā ki tua hoki. He kawenga tino whaitake tā mātou hei tautoko i te Karauna i runga i āna hononga ki a ngāi Māori i raro i te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ka tautoko mātou i te kāwanatanga manapori. Ka whakakotahingia mātou e te wairua whakarato ki ō mātou hapori, ā, e arahina ana mātou e ngā mātāpono me ngā tikanga matua o te ratonga tūmatanui i roto i ā mātou mahi.

In the public service we work collectively to make a meaningful difference for New Zealanders now and in the future. We have an important role in supporting the Crown in its relationships with Māori under the Treaty of Waitangi. We support democratic government. We are unified by a spirit of service to our communities and guided by the core principles and values of the public service in our work.

What does it mean to work in Aotearoa New Zealand’s Public Service?(external link) — Te Kawa Mataaho The Public Service Commission

MBIE value: Māia - Bold & brave, Pae Kahurangi - Build our future, Mahi Tahi - Better together, Pono Me Te Tika - Own it