About this role
Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity to join our Trust as Head of Central PMO. We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader to establish and lead our newly created Central Programme Management Office, a key function within the Strategy & Transformation Directorate.
This is a pivotal role that will shape how the Trust oversees, assures and supports delivery of its strategic priorities and transformation programmes. The successful postholder will lead the development of a mature portfolio management approach, providing executive-level oversight of programme performance, benefits realisation, governance and reporting across the organisation.
Working closely with executive directors and senior leaders across the Trust, the postholder will provide strategic insight, challenge and assurance to support effective decision-making, helping to ensure programmes remain aligned to organisational priorities and deliver sustainable outcomes.
The successful candidate will bring significant experience of establishing and embedding PMO functions within complex organisations, together with expertise in portfolio management, programme governance, risk management, benefits realisation and performance reporting. They will be a confident and credible leader, capable of influencing at executive level and driving continuous improvement across a diverse portfolio of change initiatives.
Interviews will take place in person at the London Ambulance Service Headquarters on Monday 2nd November 2026.
Main duties of the job
As Head of PMO, you will establish a new function and shape how portfolio management is delivered across the Trust. You will work closely with executive directors, senior leaders and programme teams to help solve complex organisational challenges, inform strategic decision-making and ensure the Trust's transformation priorities remain on track.
A significant part of the role will involve engaging with a wide range of stakeholders, building strong relationships and influencing at senior levels. You will lead discussions at key governance forums, provide insight into programme performance and identify opportunities to strengthen delivery across the organisation.
You will also play a central role in developing innovative approaches to reporting, assurance and benefits realisation, using data and technology to provide clearer insight into progress and organisational performance. As the function grows, you will help develop capability, promote best practice and create a culture of continuous improvement across the Trust's change portfolio.
About us
The successful candidate will join the Strategy & Transformation Directorate, a collaborative and forward-thinking team responsible for shaping and delivering the Trust's five-year strategy . The team works across a diverse portfolio of programmes and initiatives, supporting organisational improvement, service transformation and long-term strategic planning.
The team offers a positive and inclusive working environment, flexible and hybrid working arrangements and the chance to work on high-profile programmes that make a real difference to patients, staff and partners across London.
Job description Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
The postholder is responsible for providing Trustwide strategic portfolio oversight, assurance and benefits realisation across the delivery of LASs strategic priorities, ensuring Executives and NonExecutive Directors have clear, evidencebased confidence in performance and delivery.
Operating at an organisational level, the role provides strategic leadership, executive challenge and independent assurance across the Trusts portfolio of programmes, directly influencing decisionmaking at Executive Leadership Team and Trust Board. The postholder is accountable for maintaining a single, integrated view of the strategic portfolio, ensuring alignment with the annual business plan, statutory requirements and longterm objectives.
Reporting to the Deputy Director of Strategy and Transformation, the role leads the development and operation of a highperforming Central Programme Management Office (CPMO), embedding consistent portfolio management standards and enabling robust assurance, insight and measurable benefits realisation. The postholder does not deliver programmes directly but provides independent challenge, assurance and recommendations to support effective organisational decisionmaking.
The postholder has Trust-wide responsibility for setting the portfolio management, governance, assurance and benefits-realisation approach and for advising the Executive Leadership Team and Trust Board on prioritisation and investment decisions across the strategic portfolio.
Key Result Areas & Performance Indicators
Accountable for the establishment, performance and ongoing development of the Central PMO, ensuring it operates as a highquality, sustainable function supporting delivery of the Trusts strategic priorities.Lead the development, implementation and ongoing review of Trust-wide portfolio management, programme governance, assurance and benefits realisation policies, standards and frameworks.Provide strategic leadership for portfolio oversight and assurance, translating corporate priorities into a coherent, deliverable and measurable portfolio of programmes.Maintain a single, integrated view of the Trusts strategic portfolio, ensuring clear visibility of delivery performance, risks, interdependencies and constraints.Provide independent oversight and assurance of portfolio performance, identifying risks early and leading escalation and recovery action where delivery is offtrack.Lead the preparation and coordination of Transformation Board, ensuring outputfocused, evidencebased discussion and effective executive challenge.Provide clear, accurate and timely portfolio reporting, assurance and performance insights to the Executive Leadership Team, Trust Board and its Committees, supporting effective decision-making and delivery of strategic priorities.Challenge and support Senior Responsible Officers (SROs), Programmme Leads and Executive Directors to improve the pace, quality and sustainability of programme and project delivery, ensuring robust governance, risk management, benefits realisation and accountability across the portfolio.Lead on the development and implementation of benefits realisation frameworks, overseeing the identification, tracking and measurement of strategic benefits to ensure programmes deliver sustainable outcomes aligned to organisational priorities.Manage and develop the central project management function, including line and matrix management responsibilities where required.Ensure strategic programmes, projects and transformation initiatives are aligned with operational priorities and delivered without avoidable impact on safety, quality or patient experience.Promote continuous improvement and best practice in portfolio, programme and project delivery, providing expert advice to executive leaders as required.Act as a senior corporate leader for portfolio management and assurance, shaping Trustwide expectations, standards and behaviours in relation to programme delivery, governance and benefits realisation.Drive digital enablement and the adoption of automation and AIsupported tools across the portfolio, improving efficiency, reducing manual effort and enhancing the quality and timeliness of management information.Analyse and resolve highly complex and often conflicting information relating to programme delivery, organisational risk, financial investment, workforce capacity, benefits realisation and external policy requirements, where there is no obvious solution and decisions may have significant organisational impact.
Person Specification
Qualifications, Accreditations, Education Essential
Master's level qualification in a relevant subject, or equivalent level of specialist knowledge acquired through significant relevant experience and professional development. Advanced knowledge and practical application of portfolio/programme governance and assurance methodologies, with relevant professional programme/project/portfolio management qualification or equivalent specialist expertise. Highly developed knowledge of the NHS operating environment, including strategic planning, governance, performance, financial and transformation requirements and working across organisational/system boundaries Relevant advanced professional qualification in programme, project or portfolio management (for example MSP, MoP, PRINCE2 Practitioner or equivalent), or demonstrable equivalent specialist expertise.
Experience Essential
Significant senior leadership experience within large, complex organisations, preferably within the NHS or public sector Experience in leading complex programmes delivering strategic objectives to achieve organisational goals Significant experience of leading portfolio-level planning, prioritisation, governance and assurance across multiple complex and interdependent programmes at organisational level Significant experience of developing organisational governance, assurance, reporting and benefits-realisation frameworks and embedding these across a large, complex organisation. Strong track record of financial management, benefits realisation and performance reporting Experience of setting up a Central PMO function or equivalent for an NHS organisation Experience of providing authoritative advice and challenge on strategic investment, affordability, delivery confidence and organisational risk to Executive and Board-level forums. Experience influencing and challenging senior leaders and executive teams Proven ability to lead and develop high-performing teams
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Expert knowledge of portfolio, programme and project management methodologies, governance frameworks and assurance practices, with the ability to apply these at organisational level to support delivery of strategic objectives. Strong understanding of NHS strategic planning, transformation, performance management and organisational change, including the complexities of working across system partners and multiple stakeholder groups. Highly developed leadership, communication, negotiation and influencing skills, with the ability to build credibility at Board level and secure commitment to complex programmes of change. Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret complex information, identify strategic risks and opportunities, and provide clear recommendations to support executive decision-making. Advanced knowledge of strategic portfolio planning and prioritisation, including the management of complex interdependencies, resource constraints, delivery risk and competing organisational priorities. Advanced knowledge of financial and business planning sufficient to scrutinise and challenge programme investment, affordability, benefits and value for money and to advise senior decision-makers. Detailed knowledge of the NHS operating environment, including strategic planning, governance, performance and transformation requirements and working across organisational and system boundaries.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
Employer details Employer name London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Address Trust HQ
220 Waterloo Road
LONDON
Greater London
SE1 8SD
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)