Center of Excellence, PMO Project Manager

Center of Excellence, PMO Project Manager

Top Consulting is seeking an experienced and strategic Project Manager with a strong background in implementing Centers of Excellence (CoE) and Project Management Offices (PMO). The ideal candidate will bring a solid foundation to our clients in project governance, process optimization, and cross-functional leadership, with a preference for candidates who have worked in manufacturing or industrial environments.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the design, implementation, and optimization of a Center of Excellence and/or PMO, aligning with business strategy and operational goals.
• Develop and roll out project management frameworks, methodologies, tools, and best practices across the organization.
• Drive project portfolio management, resource planning, and performance tracking to improve project delivery efficiency.
• Collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders (Operations, Engineering, Finance, IT, etc.) to ensure alignment and successful adoption of project standards.
• Establish governance structures and reporting mechanisms to monitor progress, risks, and ROI of key initiatives.
• Provide training and mentorship to project managers and teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
• Identify and mitigate project risks while ensuring quality, timeline, and budget targets are met.
• Support change management activities and communication strategies for PMO/CoE rollouts.
• Leverage manufacturing industry knowledge to tailor PMO/CoE practices to operational realities and constraints.

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of project management experience, with at least 2+ years leading CoE or PMO implementation initiatives.
• Proven experience in manufacturing, industrial, or engineering environments strongly preferred.
• Deep knowledge of project management methodologies (e.g., Agile, Waterfall, Hybrid) and tools (e.g., MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, Asana).
• Preferred experience with Infrastructure Projects.
• Preferred ServiceNow experience.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to drive strategic initiatives while managing multiple priorities and stakeholders.
• Bachelor s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, or related field (Master s or PMP preferred).
• PMP, PgMP, or PRINCE2 Certification
• Prior experience standing up a PMO or CoE from ground zero
• Change management experience (e.g., PROSCI certification)