Program Management Office (PMO) Lead

• Employment Type: Full-time (35 hours per week) 

• Duration: Fixed-term contract (ending Dec 2029) 

• Remuneration: Competitive package

• Location: UNSW Kensington Campus 

About UNSW: 

UNSW isn’t like other places you’ve worked. Yes, we’re a large organisation with a diverse and talented community, a community doing extraordinary things. Together, we are driven to be thoughtful, practical, and purposeful in all we do. Taking this combined approach is what makes our work matter. If you want a career where you can thrive, be challenged and do meaningful work, you’re in the right place. 

Why Your Role Matters: 

UNSW is rolling out a new Learning Management System (LMS), approved in June 2026, as a major university-wide transformation by 2030. Delivered faculty by faculty and aligned with the 2028 Flex-Semester transition for early adopting faculties, it will reshape teaching and learning.  

The LMS Program goes beyond technology, combining change, training, and engagement through a human-centred design approach. Joining now means contributing to a high-impact initiative with strong leadership and a multidisciplinary team.  

As PMO Lead, you will play a key leadership role within the LMS Program, establish and continuously improve the LMS Program Management Office (PMO) for this complex multi-year transformation, drive governance, assurance, planning, reporting, resource management and delivery oversight across the Program. The role ensures delivery aligns with Program priorities, governance requirements, and strategic outcomes.  

The PMO Lead will report into the Program Director, LMS and has a small team of direct reports.   

Responsibilities Summary: 

• Establish, lead and continuously improve the LMS PMO, providing governance, assurance, reporting and program support across the LMS transformation. 

• Develop and maintain governance frameworks, reporting structures and assurance processes aligned with UNSW's Enterprise Portfolio Management Office (EPMO) and IT governance requirements. 

• Lead integrated program planning activities, including oversight of schedules, milestones, dependencies, delivery roadmaps and reporting across multiple workstreams. 

• Manage program-level risks, issues, dependencies and change requests, ensuring appropriate controls, escalation pathways and mitigation strategies are in place. 

• Oversee program financials, resource planning and benefits realisation activities to ensure delivery remains aligned with approved budgets, priorities and business outcomes. 

• Develop high-quality executive reporting, dashboards, governance papers and steering committee materials that support informed decision-making and delivery confidence. 

• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders, project teams, business owners, vendors and delivery partners to support successful program outcomes. 

• Lead and develop the PMO and program support team, fostering a culture of collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement. 

• Ensure consistent application of project and program management methodologies, standards, tools and controls across all LMS workstreams. 

• Support the Program Director and LMS Leadership Team through strategic advice, analysis and recommendations on program performance, governance, resource requirements and delivery risks. 

For more information regarding the responsibilities for this role, please refer to the Position Description at JOBS@UNSW. 

Skills and Experience Summary: 

This role will suit an experienced senior PMO leader or senior program professional who is confident establishing and leading governance, assurance and delivery management functions within large-scale transformation programs. 

You will bring significant experience leading PMO teams, developing governance frameworks, managing program performance and supporting executive decision-making in complex organisational environments. You will be highly organised, commercially aware and capable of balancing strategic oversight with operational delivery, while working collaboratively with a broad range of stakeholders across the University. 

• Relevant tertiary qualifications and/or significant experience in a similar PMO leadership, program management or transformation role, with substantial demonstrated experience leading complex programs and establishing or managing Program Management Offices (PMOs). 

• Proven experience leading PMO functions within large-scale transformation programs, including delivery governance, assurance, planning, reporting, resource management, financial oversight and benefits realisation. 

• Demonstrated knowledge of project and program governance frameworks, with experience implementing governance structures, stage-gate reviews, assurance activities, reporting standards and delivery controls across multiple projects and workstreams. 

• Extensive experience developing and maintaining integrated program plans, master schedules, delivery roadmaps and reporting frameworks that provide visibility of performance, dependencies, risks, milestones and outcomes. 

• Strong program financial management capability, including budget planning, forecasting, financial tracking, resource management and benefits realisation monitoring within complex delivery environments. 

• Demonstrated experience identifying, analysing and managing program-level risks, issues, dependencies and change requests, with the ability to implement mitigation strategies and support effective decision making. 

• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with substantial experience preparing executive dashboards, governance papers, business cases, briefing papers and reports for senior leaders, steering committees and governance forums. 

• Highly developed stakeholder engagement, influencing and relationship management skills, with proven success building collaborative partnerships and working effectively with executives, vendors, project teams, business owners and subject matter experts. 

• Demonstrated leadership experience, including the ability to lead, coach and develop PMO or program support teams, while fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement and delivery excellence. 

• Strong analytical, problem-solving and organisational skills, with demonstrated ability to work across multiple priorities, manage competing demands and exercise sound judgement in a complex and fast-paced environment. 

• Experience using portfolio, program and project management tools such as Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, Jira, Confluence, Power BI or similar reporting and planning platforms. 
• Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, UNSW's values, objectives and principles of inclusion, collaboration, service excellence and continuous improvement. 

Highly Desirable 

• PMO, program or project management certifications such as P3O, MSP, PMP, PRINCE2, Agile, SAFe or equivalent. 

• Experience supporting or leading large-scale technology transformation programs, such as enterprise systems, digital platforms, Learning Management Systems (LMS), ERP implementations or similar organisation-wide initiatives. 

• Experience working within higher education, government or another large and complex organisation operating within a mature governance environment. 

Benefits and Culture: People are at the core of everything we do. We recognise it is the contributions of our staff who make UNSW one of the best universities in Australia and the world.  Our benefits include:  

• Career development opportunities  

• 17% Superannuation contributions and additional leave loading payments  

• Additional 3 days of leave over Christmas period  

• Discounts and entitlements (retail, education, fitness) 

Mandatory Application Questions 

To be completed while completing and submitting the application form.

How to Apply: Submit your CV along with a cover letter addressing your suitability for the role via the application portal before 11:30pm on the 18th of August 2026 
 

Job queries contact: Ayla Kamal, Talent Acquisition Partner, UNSW: **********@unsw.edu.au   

*Applications sent via email will not be accepted, please apply via the application portal. 

A copy of the Position Description can be found on JOBS@UNSW. 

 
Pre-Employment Checks

As part of our recruitment process candidates may be required to undergo pre-employment screening, which may include reference checks, qualification verification, right-to-work verification, and criminal history screening where relevant to the role.

UNSW is committed to evolving a culture that embraces equity and supports a diverse and inclusive community where everyone can participate fairly, in a safe and respectful environment. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds and encourage applications from people of diverse gender, sexual orientation, cultural and linguistic backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background, people with disability and those with caring and family responsibilities. UNSW provides workplace adjustments for people with disability, and access to flexible work options for eligible staff. 

The University reserves the right not to proceed with any appointment.