Senior PMO

The Senior PMO will be responsible for establishing and maintaining a robust project governance framework and continuous improvement, ensuring transparency, alignment, and effective delivery across all projects including operational, engineering, digital, and transformation initiatives.

SUMMARY OF RESPONSIBILITIES

• Define, implement, and oversee an efficient governance model for the full projects portfolio.
• Support the team in piloting and executing projects in line with strategic direction.
• Ensure visibility, prioritization, and alignment across projects (OPS, TECH, IT, HSSE, Commercial).
• Define, formalize and take over project management methodologies, processes, workflows, and documentation standards (project charters, RAID logs, KPIs, status reports) in coordination with Business team, Expansion team and HIG.
• Act as the internal reference for project management best practices.
• Ensure rigorous project planning, tracking, and reporting, including milestones, resources, interdependencies, and risks.

RISK & PERFORMANCE TRACKING

• Monitor project performance KPIs, risk exposure, critical path, and overall delivery progress.
• Prepare and distribute dashboards and management reports to support arbitration and escalation.

OPERATIONAL COORDINATION & STAKEHOLDER MANAGEMENT

• Coordinate projects execution with internal departments and external partners.
• Ensure alignment between resources, timelines, and strategic objectives.
• Support project owners, ensuring accountability, follow-up, and operational readiness.
• Maintain effective communication across all stakeholders.
• Identify improvement opportunities in project execution, structure, and reporting.
• Drive consistency, transparency, and efficiency in processes and methodologies.
• Promote a culture of structured planning and disciplined execution.

KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES

• Consistency and efficiency of the Projects Portfolio governance.
• Timely delivery of key milestones across strategic projects.
• Quality and reliability of reporting, dashboards, and KPIs.
• Effective risk and issue management.
• Accuracy of planning, resource coordination, and financial tracking.
• Stakeholder satisfaction and cross-functional alignment.

THE CANDIDATE

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 7–10 years in PMO, program management, or management of large interdisciplinary projects, preferably in an asset-heavy, industrial, production, infrastructure, or logistics environment.
• Experience working in complex matrix organizations (international is a strong asset).
• Experience in transformation, digitalization, or engineering/infrastructure projects is preferred.
• Experience and knowledge of Ports and/or Logistics.

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED

• Strong competence in project management methodologies.
• Prior PMO experience strongly preferred; project management experience required.
• Excellent knowledge of planning, milestones, RAID management, and governance frameworks.
• Proficiency in project tools (MS Project, Power BI, Excel, SharePoint, Confluence, Jira, BPM tools).
• Familiarity with port-terminal operations (Gate/Yard/Rail/Vessel), engineering, infrastructure, or TOS systems is an advantage.

BEHAVIORAL COMPETENCES REQUIRED

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills.
• Strong analytical mindset with ability to synthesize complex topics.
• High level of rigor, structure, and organizational discipline.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• Diplomacy, interpersonal sensitivity, and ability to influence without authority.
• Resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
• Proactive, solution-oriented, accountable.
• Able to take over projects with hands-on attitude when required.

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

• Fluent spoken and written Italian – preferable.
• Fluent spoken and written English – mandatory.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Valid EU work permit.
• Availability to relocate to Trieste at short notice (if not already resident).
• Willingness to occasionally travel within Italy and to HHLA International locations.