Job Description

Lead PMO excellence delivering secure pensions for Scotland’s key services The Scottish Public Pensions Agency is an Agency of the Scottish Government. Our principal role is to administer the pensions for employees in the National Health Service, Teachers’, Police and Fire-fighters’ pension schemes in Scotland. The Senior PMO Manager is responsible for ensuring the PMO delivers the critical services needed to guide SPPA portfolios, programmes and projects from inception to closure – by setting standards, co-ordinating and supporting delivery and providing assurance to SPPA SROs. In doing so, the postholder will lead the PMO and be a role model for portfolio, programme and project success across the SPPA. Responsibilities

• Ensure appropriate governance arrangements are in place and are operating smoothly, with SROs and relevant groups receiving meaningful and timely reports which support effective decision making and delivery of measurable benefits and improvements.
• Act as a role model for portfolio, programme and project hygiene, providing support to project teams on planning, resource forecasting, change control, milestone management and risk, and issue and dependency identification and management. Ensure standardised documentation is accurate, high quality, relevant and timely.
• Develop a suitable library of tools and processes in areas such as RAID, quality and benefits management and work closely with project teams to embed high standards of portfolio, programme and project management across the SPPA. Provide constructive challenge to ensure delivery of milestones and achievement of outcomes.
• Lead and coordinate portfolio, programme and project assurance activities (e.g. Gateway and audit) and contribute to the management of related frameworks and standards.
• Support the Head of Operational Transformation (jobshare) in preparing timely and meaningful advice to the Chief Transformation Officer and Chief Operating Officer, ensuring emerging issues and risks are escalated as required.
• Build cohesion and resilience within the PMO, supporting the personal development of Band B team members and ensuring they contribute fully.
  

Qualifications

Senior PMO Managers should have or be closely working towards a professional level qualification, such as APM’s PMQ or Axelos’ P3O qualifications.

Success profile

Success profiles are specific to each job and they include the mix of skills, experience and behaviours candidates will be assessed on. Experience: You should have experience of managing or leading in a PMO for complex projects and defining and maintaining standards for any element of delivery.
Technical / Professional Skills: Governance - ExpertBenefits Management - ExpertRisk & Issue Management - Expert
You can find out more about the technical elements required, here: Project Delivery Framework
Behaviours: Changing and Improving - Level 4Managing a Quality Service - Level 4Leadership - Level 4 Find out more about Success Profiles

How To Apply

Apply online, providing a CV and Supporting Statement (of no more than 1,000 words) which provides evidence of how you meet the skills, experience and behaviours listed in the Success Profile above.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools can be used to support your application, but all statements and examples provided must be truthful, factually accurate and taken directly from your own experience. Where plagiarism has been identified (presenting the ideas and experiences of others, or generated by artificial intelligence, and presented as your own) applications will be withdrawn and internal candidates may be subject to disciplinary action.

Please see our candidate guidance for more information on acceptable and unacceptable uses of AI in recruitment.

If invited for further assessment, this will consist of an interview and presentation.

Sifting will commence from w/c 1st June 2026.

Assessments are scheduled for w/c 22nd June 2026, however this may be subject to change.

Recruitment Principles

As a government organisation, we adhere to the Civil Service Commission Recruitment Principles and we investigate any complaints received in relation to recruitment cases.

About Us

The Scottish Public Pensions Agency is an Agency of the Scottish Government. Our principal role is to administer the pensions for employees in the National Health Service, Teachers’, Police and Fire-fighters’ pension schemes in Scotland for over 640,000 key workers. The Agency administers these public service pension schemes on behalf of Scottish Ministers with an annual pension spend to over 200,000 pensioners to the value of more than £3.7 billion.

Our staff are part of the UK Civil Service observing the Civil Service Codeand working for Ministers and senior stakeholders to deliver vital public services which improve the lives of the people of Scotland.

We offer a supportive and inclusive working environment along with a wide range of employee benefits. Find out more about what we offer

As part of the UK Civil Service, we uphold the Civil Service Nationality Rules

You can also find out more about careers at the SPPA here - SPPA Careers | SPPA (pensions.gov.scot)

Working Pattern

Our standard hours are 35 hours per week. We offer a range of flexible and hybrid working options, with two days minimum working on site at SPPA. If you have specific questions about the role you are applying for, please contact us.

Security Checks

Successful candidates must complete the Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), before they can be appointed. BPSS is comprised of four main pre-employment checks – Identity, Right to work, Employment History and a Criminal Record check (unspent convictions).

You can find out more about BPSS on the UK Government website, or read about the different levels of security checks in our Candidate Guide

Equality Statement

We are committed to equality and inclusion and we aim to recruit a diverse workforce that reflects the population of our nation.

Find out more about our commitment to diversity and how we offer and support recruitment adjustments for anyone who needs them.

Further Information

Find out more about our organisation, what we offer staff members and how to apply on our Careers Website

Read our Candidate Guide for further information on our recruitment and application processes.

We will hold a reserve list for this post for 12 months.

Apply Before: 25th May 2026 (23:59) - This role is open to internal candidates, OGD and Common Citizenship organisations only.