Group Head of Project Management Office (PMO) – Insurance & Investments

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About The Position

The Group Head of PMO leads and oversees the Group's project management function across subsidiaries, business units, and geographical markets within the Insurance & Investments sector. The role establishes group-wide project governance, portfolio management standards, delivery frameworks, and performance-monitoring systems to ensure strategic projects and transformation initiatives are executed effectively. It provides centralized oversight of project priorities, budgets, resources, risks, dependencies, and expected business outcomes. Working closely with the Group CEO, executive leadership, subsidiary CEOs, and business heads, the role ensures major projects support strategic growth, operational efficiency, digital transformation, and long-term business objectives. The Group Head of PMO also leads the Group PMO team, develops project management capability, and drives continuous improvement in project management maturity across the organization. Performance is evaluated against project delivery on time and within budget, portfolio alignment with strategic objectives, governance and reporting compliance, risk management, resource efficiency, benefits realization, stakeholder satisfaction, and improvements in project management maturity.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Finance, Project Management, Engineering, Information Technology, or a related field.
12–15+ years of progressive experience in project management, program management, portfolio management, or enterprise transformation.
At least 5 years in a senior PMO leadership position overseeing multiple business units, subsidiaries, or large project portfolios.
Experience in insurance, reinsurance, banking, investment management, asset management, wealth management, or diversified financial services.
Proven track record of establishing or leading enterprise-level or group-level PMO functions.
Strong knowledge of project portfolio governance, financial management, resource planning, risk management, and strategic execution.
Experience managing complex, multi-country or multi-entity projects and transformation programs.
Knowledge of PMI, PRINCE2, Agile, Waterfall, and hybrid project management methodologies.
Strong leadership, executive communication, stakeholder management, negotiation, and analytical capabilities.

Nice To Haves

MBA or Master's degree in Project Management, Business Strategy, Finance, or a relevant discipline.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
Program Management Professional (PgMP) certification.
Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP) certification.
PRINCE2 Practitioner certification.
Agile or Scrum certifications.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement the Group's overall PMO strategy, structure, and operating framework.
Establish standardized project management methodologies, governance policies, procedures, reporting requirements, approval processes, stage-gate reviews, escalation procedures, and accountability frameworks across subsidiaries.
Align project portfolios with Group strategic objectives and business priorities, maintaining consistent standards and controls across markets and business units.
Oversee the consolidated project portfolio across insurance, investment, corporate, and operational business units; evaluate, prioritize, and monitor projects based on business value, financial impact, risk, and resource requirements.
Monitor project progress, milestones, dependencies, budgets, timelines, and deliverables; identify underperforming projects and recommend corrective actions or resource reallocations.
Provide executive leadership with a consolidated view of project portfolio performance.
Oversee insurance projects involving product development, underwriting, claims management, policy administration, and distribution expansion.
Monitor investment-related initiatives involving portfolio reporting, investment operations, wealth management platforms, and client servicing, where applicable.
Coordinate initiatives involving regulatory compliance, process modernization, operational efficiency, financial products, new business models, and market expansion; ensure projects meet applicable sector and corporate governance requirements.
Govern group-wide technology modernization and digital transformation initiatives, including enterprise systems, CRM platforms, automation solutions, AI applications, and digital financial services.
Work with CIO, CTO, CDO, and business leadership on technology delivery; monitor system integration, implementation risks, technology budgets, and business adoption; ensure digital initiatives deliver measurable improvements.
Oversee consolidated project budgets, financial forecasts, and expenditure tracking; monitor cost performance and identify cost-optimization opportunities.
Coordinate resource allocation across subsidiaries, departments, and strategic initiatives; evaluate business cases, cost-benefit analyses, ROI, and expected benefits; ensure effective use of internal teams and external partners.
Establish group-level project risk management and escalation frameworks; monitor operational, financial, regulatory, technology, and implementation risks; coordinate with risk, compliance, legal, and internal audit functions.
Ensure projects comply with internal policies, governance standards, and applicable regulatory requirements; establish contingency and mitigation plans for critical projects and programs.
Develop project dashboards, performance reports, and executive presentations; monitor delivery against approved scope, budgets, timelines, milestones, and quality standards.
Track financial benefits, operational improvements, and ROI; prepare regular portfolio reports for the Group CEO, Board, and executive committees; recommend strategic interventions to improve delivery performance.
Work with subsidiary CEOs, managing directors, business unit heads, project sponsors, and program directors; facilitate steering committees and portfolio reviews; coordinate planning and delivery across subsidiaries and corporate functions.
Manage relationships with external consultants, technology vendors, contractors, and implementation partners; ensure consistent communication, accountability, and reporting across Group entities.
Lead and develop the Group PMO team, including PMO directors, project managers, project analysts, and project controls specialists.
Establish PMO structures, responsibilities, and reporting relationships across subsidiaries; develop project management training, mentoring, and capability-building initiatives.
Promote accountability, transparency, collaboration, and delivery excellence, and drive continuous improvement in project management maturity.