Project Management Officer (UAEN)

Project Management Office (PMO) ManagerLocation: Abu Dhabi, UAE (Onsite)About the OpportunityOur client, a leading industrial organization in the UAE, is seeking an experienced Project Management Office (PMO) Manager to establish and drive enterprise-wide project governance, portfolio management, and execution excellence. Reporting directly to the Vice President within the Group COO Office, this role will play a critical part in ensuring strategic initiatives are delivered consistently, efficiently, and in alignment with organizational priorities.The successful candidate will oversee the organization's project portfolio, implement governance frameworks, standardize project management methodologies, and provide executive visibility across key business initiatives. This role is ideal for a strategic PMO professional who thrives in complex, transformation-driven environments.Key Responsibilities:Portfolio Management• Manage the organization's portfolio of strategic initiatives and enterprise-wide projects.• Establish portfolio prioritization frameworks aligned with business strategy and organizational objectives.• Monitor portfolio performance, dependencies, risks, resource allocation, and overall delivery health.• Ensure projects are aligned with corporate priorities and deliver measurable business value.Project Governance• Develop and implement enterprise-wide PMO governance frameworks, methodologies, policies, and standards.• Establish project stage-gate processes, governance forums, and executive reporting mechanisms.• Ensure consistency in project planning, execution, monitoring, and closure across all business functions.• Drive compliance with project governance standards and organizational policies.Project Delivery Oversight• Monitor project performance across cost, schedule, scope, quality, and risk.• Identify delivery risks, escalate issues proactively, and recommend mitigation strategies.• Support project managers and functional teams in resolving delivery challenges.• Ensure accurate reporting of project status to executive leadership.Strategic Planning & Performance• Develop executive dashboards and portfolio reports for the Group COO Office and senior leadership.• Provide insights into project performance, delivery trends, capacity planning, and investment priorities.• Track strategic KPIs and ensure benefits realization across the project portfolio.• Drive continuous improvement of project management capability across the organization.Stakeholder Management• Partner with Executive Leadership, Business Unit Heads, and functional leaders to ensure successful project delivery.• Facilitate governance meetings, steering committees, and executive project reviews.• Build strong cross-functional relationships to drive collaboration and accountability.Leadership• Lead and develop a lean, high-performing PMO team.• Coach project managers and business stakeholders on governance standards and project management best practices.• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and delivery excellence.Qualifications & ExperienceEducation• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Project Management, or a related discipline.• Master's degree is preferred.• PMP, PgMP, PRINCE2, PMI-PMOCP, or equivalent project management certification is highly desirable.Experience• Minimum 10 years of project management and PMO experience, including at least 5 years leading enterprise PMO or portfolio management functions.• Proven experience establishing and managing enterprise-wide PMO frameworks within large, complex organizations.• Experience overseeing multiple strategic projects and cross-functional transformation initiatives.• Strong knowledge of portfolio management, governance, risk management, and executive reporting.• Experience within manufacturing, industrial, engineering, infrastructure, or other large operational organizations is highly preferred.Key Competencies• Enterprise Portfolio Management• PMO Governance & Framework Development• Strategic Planning & Execution• Project & Program Management• Risk & Issue Management• Executive Reporting & Dashboarding• Change Management• Stakeholder & Executive Management• Analytical and Data-Driven Decision Making• Leadership, Coaching, and Team DevelopmentKey Performance Indicators• Portfolio delivery against strategic objectives.• On-time and on-budget delivery of strategic initiatives.• Project governance compliance across the organization.• Executive stakeholder satisfaction.• Project risk identification and mitigation effectiveness.• Benefits realization and value delivery.• Portfolio reporting accuracy and timeliness.• Continuous improvement of PMO maturity and governance standards.Working ArrangementThis is a fully onsite leadership role based in Abu Dhabi, reporting to the Vice President within the Group COO Office.