PMO Director

It is inspiring to work in an organization where individuals are deeply committed to the mission and values that drive our success.

We are dedicated to delivering expert pension service to Illinois public educators as they earn their promised retirement security.

Job Summary

The PMO Director (Project Management Office Director) is a senior leader responsible for overseeing the organization’s enterprise project delivery. Reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer, this position serves as the bridge between strategic priorities and execution by ensuring initiatives are prioritized effectively, delivered consistently, and adopted successfully across the organization.

This role provides strategic direction, governance, and operational leadership for the Project Management Office (PMO) The Director establishes standards, processes, and tools that support disciplined execution while promoting change readiness, stakeholder alignment, and sustainable outcomes in support of organizational goals.

Essential Functions

• Provide strategic oversight of the enterprise project portfolio to ensure alignment with organizational goals, capacity, and priorities
• Lead and mature the Project Management Office, including governance models, delivery methodologies, and performance standards
• Establish and maintain standardized project management practices, tools, and reporting frameworks
• Ensure consistent visibility into project status, milestones, risks, dependencies, and outcomes for executive leadership
• Partner with executive sponsors and senior leaders to ensure accountability and effective decision-making throughout the project lifecycle
• Establish standards for incorporating OCM practices into project management
• Ensure any potential risks are assessed and addressed for all significant initiatives
• Design and govern the enterprise initiative intake, prioritization and portfolio management process
• Facilitate portfolio-level decision-making based on strategic alignment, value, risk, capacity, and change impact
• Oversee resource and capacity planning in partnership with functional leaders and HR
• Provide enterprise-level insight into initiative load, sequencing, and organizational risk appetite
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the COO and executive leadership team
• Translate strategic objectives into executable initiatives, governance structures, and delivery roadmaps
• Proactively escalate risks, trade-offs, and delivery implications with clear options and recommendations
• Support leadership decision-making with data-driven insights on delivery performance and organizational impact
• Lead, mentor, and develop PMO staff and consultants, including project managers, business analysts, and change practitioners
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, and disciplined execution
• Drive continuous improvement through performance metrics, lessons learned, and outcome evaluation
• Promote collaboration and a “One Organization” mindset across departments
  
  

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of enterprise portfolio management and project governance practices to align initiatives with organizational strategy, capacity, and risk.
• Knowledge of change management methodologies and their use in project management to assess impacts, address resistance, and support sustainable adoption of enterprise initiatives.
• Skill in partnering with executive leaders to advise on priorities, risks, trade-offs, and delivery decisions using clear, data-driven insights.
• Skill in designing and leading standardized intake, prioritization, and reporting processes that provide enterprise visibility and support informed decision-making.
• Ability to lead, develop, and mature PMO team while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the organization.
  
  

Minimum Requirements

• Information Technology, bachelor’s degree in business administration, Project Management, or a related field
• 7 years of experience in project management, or enterprise delivery leadership
• PMP certification (Project Management Professional)
• Demonstrated experience building, leading, or maturing PMO functions
• Experience managing complex, cross-functional initiatives with significant organizational impact
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence without direct authority
  
  

Preferred Requirements

• Experience in financial services, pension systems, public sector, or highly regulated environments
• Knowledge of Agile and traditional project delivery methodologies
  
  

If you thrive in a dynamic environment and enjoy collaborating with driven, enthusiastic professionals, you will find a rewarding career with us.

For Illinois Job Seekers

Pay Range

$124,445.25 - $194,135.00

Compensation will be determined based on the qualifications and experience of each candidate.

Benefits

TRS is an agency of the State of Illinois. As such, full and part-time employees are eligible for the State of Illinois comprehensive benefits program which includes medical, dental and vision coverage. All employees participate in the TRS retirement pension plan and have the option to contribute to additional State of Illinois deferred compensation plans. The TRS pension plan is a reciprocal system to other state and local pension plans (SERS, SURS, IMRF, etc.)