At Sanoma Learning, we all share a deep-rooted passion for education and are committed to support teachers to help all students to reach their potential, so they can be at their best in class.

We are proud of the impact we make together across Europe, local as well as international. As our teams and the scope of our impact grows, so do the opportunities for us to learn from each other – across country borders and areas of expertise. With over 3.000 colleagues, we work on seamlessly integrated print, digital and blended learning solutions to help teachers and schools develop the talents of every child. Our people are passionate and committed and always willing to go the extra mile for students, teachers, schools, our shareholders and each other.

Head of PMO in Operations

The Head of PMO is responsible for establishing, leading, and managing the Program Management Office (PMO) within the Operations organization. This role ensures a holistic view on all ongoing initiatives in Sanoma Learning Operations, including the portfolio impacting Operating Companies. Making sure priorities are aligned. Securing that the portfolio of projects is executed efficiently, on time, within scope, and within budget. The Head of PMO provides strategic direction, governance, and support to project and work stream teams, aligning project management practices with business objectives and driving continuous improvement across all projects.

Key Responsibilities

This role will be responsible for the following:

Strategic Leadership

• Build a holistic portfolio for Operations
• Develop and implement the overall strategy for the PMO, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and objectives.
• Act as a key advisor to senior leadership on all project management-related matters, including progress, risk management, resource allocation, and prioritization.
• Lead the creation and maintenance of a project management framework, methodologies, and best practices to ensure consistency and quality across all projects.

Governance And Compliance

• Establish governance standards for project management, including project initiation, execution, monitoring, and closure processes.
• Implement and manage a project portfolio management system to track project performance, resource utilization, and financial metrics.

Portfolio Management

• Oversee the organization’s project portfolio, ensuring that projects are aligned with strategic priorities and delivering value to the business.
• Monitor project performance and portfolio health, identifying potential risks, issues, and opportunities for improvement.
• Facilitate decision-making processes related to project prioritization, resource allocation, and investment.

Team Leadership And Stakeholder Management

• Lead and mentor the PMO team, providing guidance, training, and support to project managers and other staff.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, and accountability within the PMO.
• Act as the primary point of contact for project-related matters with senior leadership, business units, and external stakeholders.
• Ensure effective communication and reporting on project status, risks, and issues to all relevant stakeholders.
• Build strong relationships with key stakeholders to ensure buy-in and support for the PMO’s initiatives.

Financial Management

• Develop and manage the PMO’s budget, ensuring that resources are allocated effectively to support the organization’s project portfolio.
• Monitor project costs and financial performance, and conduct financial analysis to assess the value and impact of projects, ensuring alignment with business objectives.

Education

A successful candidate will have the following:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Project Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• A Master’s degree (e.g. MBA) is desirable.
• Relevant certifications such as PMP (Project Management Professional) or equivalent

Experience

• 10+ years of experience in project management, with at 5 years in a leadership role overseeing a PMO or large project portfolio.
• Proven experience in managing complex, cross-functional projects and programs within a large organization.
• Experience in strategic planning, financial management, and governance in a project management context.

Skills

• Strong leadership and people management skills with the ability to motivate and inspire teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence and build relationships at all levels of the organization.
• Advanced knowledge of project management methodologies (e.g. Agile) and tools (e.g. MS Project, Jira).
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions.
• Financial acumen, with experience in budgeting, forecasting, and financial analysis.

Personal Attributes

• Strategic thinker with the ability to see the big picture and align projects with business goals.
• Results-oriented, with a strong focus on achieving measurable outcomes and driving performance.
• Adaptable and resilient, with the ability to navigate change and uncertainty in a dynamic environment.
• Proactive and decisive, with the ability to take initiative and make tough decisions when necessary.

About Sanoma Learning

How do you prepare students for the world, engage their curiosity and inspire them to grow? That is the main question of teachers all around the world. At Sanoma Learning, it has always been our mission to help to find and develop best-in-class answers to this question. If you join us, it means that you embark on an exciting journey to help shape the future of learning for primary, secondary and vocational education. We believe that your journey is our success as a company.

Sanoma Learning is a leading K12 European learning company, operating in 12 countries. Our learning products and services enable and support teachers and schools to develop the talents of every child to reach their potential. By offering printed and digital learning content, as well as digital learning and teaching platforms for primary, secondary and vocational education, we want to grow our positive impact on learning across Europe. With over 3000 employees, we help shape the future of education for 25+ million of students.

So, are you ready to start your journey to help shape the future of learning and help teachers to support all students to reach their potential?

Sanoma Learning is an equal opportunity employer; we are committed to inclusion and diversity, ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other characteristics.