Interim Head of PMO

About the Role

Head of PMO
Inchinnan, Glasgow – Hybrid, 3 days per week in office
Full-time, 6 Month Fixed-term  

Please note that this role requires security checks.

The Role:

This is a high-impact global role focused on embedding PMO best practice across JFD’s Project Operations to drive consistent, transparent and customer-focused delivery. Working cross-functionally, you will ensure projects are well-supported, governed and aligned to key business processes, while acting as an escalation point for project challenges. Joining at a pivotal stage of growth, you will strengthen delivery capability, influence stakeholders across regions and functions, and deliver meaningful, scalable improvements.

You will be tenacious, pragmatic and commercially aware, bringing credibility, calm authority and a structured approach, with the confidence to challenge constructively. Resilient under pressure, you will take ownership and drive the delivery and embedding of change to elevate project management standards across a complex global organisation.

This is a hybrid role with frequent travel between Glasgow and Aberdeen and some national and international travel to support global operations and stakeholder engagement.

What you’ll be doing:

• Lead the global PMO, embedding best practice in governance, processes and ways of working.
• Identify and deliver high-impact improvement opportunities aligned to business objectives.
• Implement clear, engaging and effective project reporting that reflects true performance.
• Champion safety and strengthen safety leadership within project management.
• Build digital capability across the project management community in line with strategy.
• Drive the shift from reactive delivery to stable, controlled and repeatable practices.
• Aligning with IMS and ERP transformation, ensuring governance evolves alongside system change.
• Develop improvement capability across operations while managing and forecasting project resources.

   

   

  What we’re looking for:

• Demonstrated expertise in PMO best practice, ideally within manufacturing, defence or similar environments.
• Proven ability to deliver measurable improvements in complex operational settings.
• Experience leading large, complex projects.
• Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at senior levels and present confidently to diverse audiences.
• High level of data and performance literacy, using metrics to drive insight and track impact.
• Experience implementing and embedding changes within delivery-focused organisations.
• Background in defence, engineering, marine, aerospace or other regulated sectors is desirable.

Why join us?

• Early finish on Fridays
• Competitive salary and benefits package aligned with experience (Private Medical Insurance, Life Assurance, Cycle to work scheme, Company Pension, etc.)
• Clear pathways for career development and organisational visibility
• Inclusive and supportive culture that values individual contributions
• Meaningful work with impact across safety, innovation, and global operations

About Us:

James Fisher is a global engineering services company operating across Energy, Defence, and Maritime Transport. With a strong heritage in maritime operations, we now deliver innovative solutions in challenging environments. Our One James Fisher strategy is focused on building a unified, sustainable business within the Blue Economy, driving progress through technology, expertise, and collaboration.

Visit our website at: Home | James Fisher and Sons plc

For more information about our values and behaviours, follow the link: About us | James Fisher and Sons plc

James Fisher Defence (JFD), part of the James Fisher Group, is a global leader in underwater capability, delivering cutting-edge diving, submarine rescue, and hyperbaric solutions to both commercial and defence markets. Operating worldwide, JFD is the foremost provider of submarine rescue services and a trusted name in submarine escape training. We’re also at the forefront of hyperbaric rescue innovation and a leading supplier of advanced diving equipment and saturation systems across the industry. Explore more about JFD

If this sounds like the ideal next step in your career, then click ‘apply’ now!  

Due to the volume of applications, we receive for our vacancies, on occasion applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early to avoid disappointment.  

At James Fisher and Sons, we are committed to taking positive action on diversity and strongly encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and recognise that our success is driven by the talent and diversity of our workforce.

To support an accessible and inclusive recruitment experience in the UK, we partner with Vercida. You can learn more about our approach by visiting our company page: James Fisher and Sons diversity, inclusion, culture - VERCIDA