Head of PMO

We have partnered with a large, diversified UAE-based conglomerate to appoint a Head of PMO, a critical Group-level leadership role responsible for building and leading the Enterprise Programme Management Office from the ground up. This is a high-visibility mandate, reporting directly to the CEO, with full accountability for programme governance, portfolio delivery and the Group's strategic transformation agenda.

This role is suited to a leader who has been there before, someone who has designed, implemented and scaled an EPMO within a complex, multi-business environment and knows how to translate strategy into structured, measurable execution. You will be the connective tissue between the Group's ambition and its ability to deliver.

About the role:

• Design and implement the Group-wide EPMO from the ground up, including governance frameworks, operating models, delivery standards and portfolio reporting
• Own the end-to-end transformation portfolio, ensuring alignment with Group strategy and clear value realisation
• Lead, develop and scale a high-performing team of programme, project and change management professionals
• Establish portfolio planning, prioritisation, budgeting and benefits tracking across all Group initiatives
• Define and enforce programme governance, risk management, controls and reporting frameworks
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the C-Suite and Board, providing clear visibility on progress, risks, dependencies and outcomes
• Drive structured change management disciplines to ensure sustainable adoption across the organisation
• Partner with business unit leaders, functional heads and external partners to deliver complex, cross-functional programmes at pace

About you:

• 15+ years of experience in PMO leadership, programme management or transformation roles within large, complex, multi-business-unit organisations - OR a minimum of 3 years as a Principal or Senior Engagement Manager at a Tier 1 management consultancy with direct delivery accountability on enterprise-scale transformation programmes
• Demonstrated experience designing and implementing an Enterprise PMO from scratch - this is a non-negotiable requirement
• Deep familiarity with the dynamics of diversified groups or conglomerates, including matrix structures, multiple P&Ls and varying business unit maturity
• Strong command of programme governance, controls, risk management and portfolio delivery frameworks
• Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing transformation functions
• Confident stakeholder manager, comfortable operating at C-Suite and Board level without direct line authority
• Fluency across methodologies, Agile, PRINCE2, MSP, SAFe and hybrid, applied pragmatically