Head of Strategic Project Management Office

Ontario Securities Commission•Toronto, ON

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Ontario Securities Commission (OSC) is seeking a Head of the Strategic Project Management Office (PMO) to lead the build of a new enterprise PMO and team. This role involves developing, implementing, and managing project management practices and enterprise portfolio projects, focusing on aligning accountability, enabling strategic execution, managing portfolio governance, and overseeing high-impact projects. It's a build and transformation mandate aimed at establishing and scaling a fit-for-purpose PMO, embedding portfolio discipline, transparency, and enterprise-wide alignment. The Head will act as a strategic partner, influencing stakeholders across project teams, executive leadership, the Board, and external partners to drive productive change and buy-in. The Strategic PMO will enable clear prioritization, strong execution rigor, and informed decision-making across the organization.

Requirements

10+ years of proven experience leading and delivering project portfolios.
Demonstrated ability to build, structure, and operationalize a Project Management Office (PMO) from the ground up, including day-to-day execution.
Experience applying AI-enabled approaches to develop, optimize, and standardize project management frameworks and delivery processes.
Proven experience in resource management, project financials, outcomes, and risk management.
Experience providing direct performance feedback and mentorship to build high-functioning teams.
Nuanced understanding of financial markets.
Expert knowledge in project management methodologies, principles, frameworks, and best practices.
Undergraduate or higher degree in project management, business administration, IT or related discipline or equivalent.
PMP or equivalent certification.

Nice To Haves

Experience operating in a policy-driven, regulatory, or public sector environment is considered an asset.
Experience scaling PMO or project delivery capabilities in evolving or complex environments.

Responsibilities

Design, build, and evolve the enterprise PMO, including recruitment and team build-out.
Define the vision, priorities, and roadmap for the PMO, ensuring alignment with the OSC’s strategic plan, and incorporating input from key stakeholders.
Develop and implement enterprise project management frameworks, standards, and methodologies in collaboration with IT, Finance, HR, Policy, and Risk teams.
Lead change management and drive adoption of PMO tools, and best practices across the organization.
Foster a culture of continuous improvement in project delivery.
Strengthen planning discipline across the organization, improving the quality, consistency, and completeness of project plans.
Establish and oversee project delivery governance, ensuring clear objectives, accountabilities, budgets, KPIs, and risk management practices.
Lead portfolio planning and prioritization to align resources with strategic priorities.
Implement and manage project reporting for leadership and the Board, including regular updates and insights.
Develop frameworks for resource management, financial oversight, risk/issue management, and decision-making.
Oversee end-to-end portfolio delivery, identifying dependencies, constraints, and mitigation strategies.
Design and implement consistent processes for project intake, business case development, and approvals.
Ensure adherence to scope, budget, schedule, and quality standards across all initiatives.
Provide oversight and guidance on project plans, documentation, and execution.
Lead post-implementation reviews and embed lessons learned to support continuous improvement.
Establish and maintain a centralized, reliable view of the project portfolio, including projects, resources, dependencies, and financials, to support transparency and decision-making.
Partner closely with executive leadership and stakeholders to build trust, embed the PMO function within the broader business, and ensure alignment on priorities, delivery, and decision-making.
Collaborate with Finance, IT, and HR to implement integrated, fit-for-purpose project management practices.
Facilitate effective communication between project teams and senior stakeholders to enable informed, timely decision-making.
Engage with external stakeholders (e.g., CSA Secretariat, other jurisdictions) on portfolio delivery and governance.
Lead, coach, and develop PMO staff, fostering a high-performing and collaborative team environment.
Establish and implement a project risk framework aligned with enterprise risk management.
Monitor, manage, and report on project risks, ensuring timely and effective mitigation.
Define quality standards and oversee project audits and post-implementation reviews.
Monitor PMO performance and drive continuous improvement in effectiveness and efficiency.
Develop and oversee the PMO budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources.
Partner with Finance to establish processes for tracking project financials and supporting business cases.
Design and implement resource planning approaches to support portfolio delivery.
Lead the PMO, including hiring, resource planning, and team development.
Oversee day-to-day PMO operations, including budget, vendors, contracts, and reporting.
Set and manage annual and long-term PMO priorities.
Allocate and manage resources across projects, adjusting to evolving business needs.
Lead performance management, coaching, and development of team members.