Job Purpose
The Senior EPMO Manager provides strategic leadership of the Enterprise Portfolio and Programme Management Office (EPMO) within AirNav Ireland. The role is accountable for governance, assurance, and delivery oversight of capital investment programmes and improvement initiatives, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, regulatory obligations, and safety imperatives.
Operating at the interface of strategy execution and operational delivery, the Senior EPMO Manager establishes and maintains the governance framework, standards, and reporting needed for the Executive Team and Directors to make informed portfolio investment decisions. The role ensures project and programme activity meets Single European Sky (SES) performance scheme requirements and aligns with the Integrated Management System (IMS) covering Safety, Security, and Quality.
This role requires the holder to act as a trusted adviser to the Head of Transformation, the CEO, and the Executive Team, balancing delivery of the multi-hundred-million-euro capital investment programme with the safety-critical operating context of an air navigation service provider.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Strategic Portfolio Governance
- Lead the development and ongoing improvement of the enterprise PPM (Portfolio, Programme, and Project Management) framework, fit for a safety-critical, regulated ANSP environment.
- Ensure all projects and programmes align with the organisation's strategy, RP4 Performance Plan commitments, targets and agreed prioritisation criteria.
- Own and operate the portfolio governance architecture, including stage-gate processes, investment decision frameworks, benefits realisation tracking, and portfolio-level risk management.
- Prepare and present portfolio reports (including agreed metrics) to the Executive Team and Board, covering delivery performance, financial status, risk, and strategic alignment.
- Facilitate the portfolio prioritisation and resource allocation process, working with programme directors and business unit heads to balance demand against capacity and strategic priority.
- Oversee the development of a centralised asset management strategy in consultation with key asset owners across the Company.
- Assist and advise with strategic resource planning for project delivery to ensure that project delivery teams are sufficiently resourced and interdependencies mapped.
- Provide independent assurance by managing RAID (risks, assumptions, issues, dependencies) and ensuring corrective actions are implemented.
- Provide guidance, assurance, and challenge to programme and project managers on adherence to established standards, frameworks, and methodologies.
- Oversee governance across the project and programme portfolio, including annual investment programmes.
- Drive quality assurance and lessons-learned discipline across the portfolio, embedding continuous improvement into delivery practice.
- Lead continuous improvement of delivery governance, reporting, and portfolio management practices.
- Own and maintain EPMO tools, templates, and standards to support consistent, scalable delivery.
- Coordinate integrated planning across programmes, managing cross-programme dependencies and sequencing to optimise delivery outcomes.
- Work with the CMC to ensure all project and programme governance processes align with the organisation's Safety Management System (SMS), including safety case development, management of change, and safety assurance requirements.
- Ensure the EPMO's processes support compliance with EASA common requirements for ANSPs (EU 2017/373), particularly in relation to change management, functional system changes, and operational safety assessments.
- Support the preparation of SES RP4 performance submissions and monitoring reports, particularly in relation to CAPEX forecasting, cost-efficiency KPIs, and investment justification. Where required, prepare evidence or detailed analysis to support AirNav Ireland positions for regulatory interactions.
- Consult with enterprise risk, safety, and regulatory affairs functions to ensure project delivery complements and supports the achievement of corporate objectives, including safety performance targets.
- Lead and develop the central EPMO team, ensuring effective line management, professional development, and succession planning.
- Build and maintain a high-performing team culture in line with AirNav Ireland’s values that emphasises rigour, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Coach, mentor, and develop direct reports and wider project management community to raise PPM maturity across the organisation.
- Champion the proportionate adoption of PPM methodologies, tooling, and systems to enable data-driven portfolio insight and reporting.
- Support the Head of Transformation and the Executive in annual business planning, budgeting, priority setting, and strategic initiatives.
- Build trusted relationships with the Executive Team, programme leaders, business unit heads, and functional leaders.
- Partner with Technical Services, engineering domains ICT, Operations, Property, Procurement, Finance, Safety, and HR to enable accurate portfolio data and timely decision-making.
- Function as liaison between the EPMO and internal project delivery functions (Technology, Operations, Property, Security, and other functions) and external supplier management.
- Support where required engagement with key external stakeholders including the State representatives, the European representatives and partners, airports, airlines, and trade union representatives as required to support delivery of business objectives.
- Represent the organisation externally in PMO and portfolio management forums, at national or international level and with peer ANSP benchmarking activities.
- Perform additional duties as required to support effective portfolio governance and organisational excellence.
Direct Reports: Programme Manager(s), Governance & Standards Lead, Vendor/Contract Management staff and Project Managers and project support staff.
Relationships:
Internal: The post holder is required to have close liaison with all personnel and Directorates in the Company.
External: The postholder is required to liaise with all appropriate external bodies, providers, suppliers and companies including:
- European/International body representatives
- State representative
- IAA
- Other Service Providers
- Customers
- Suppliers
Education, Knowledge, Experience & Skills
Essential:
- A third level degree qualification in a scientific, technical, business-oriented discipline or equivalent professional experience operating at a senior management level.
- Minimum 8-10 years’ experience in programme/project management, portfolio management, or PMO leadership roles, with at least 5 years at a senior level.
- Experience establishing or maturing PMO/EPMO functions, including governance, assurance, and portfolio reporting.
- Experience coordinating complex, multi stakeholder programmes with significant regulatory oversight, operational risk, or safety critical implications.
- Experience producing Board level or executive reports (or similar) and dashboards that provide clear visibility of portfolio performance and can support strategic decisions.
- Expertise in conflict resolution and change management; able to navigate sensitive stakeholder dynamics and support teams through organisational transition.
- Deep understanding of PPM governance, processes, and methodologies.
- Experience operating within a complex business transformation environment, with demonstrable success in developing and implementing governance solutions at operational, tactical, and strategic level.
- Strong financial acumen, with experience of capital programme budgeting, cost forecasting, and benefits tracking.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage credibly with Board, Executive, and external stakeholders and to translate complex programme information into clear, actionable messages.
- Demonstrable leadership of teams of 5+ professionals, including coaching, mentoring, and talent development.
- Demonstrable awareness of industry best practice, regulatory updates, and emerging technologies relevant to aviation infrastructure and innovation.
- Leadership presence with the credibility to influence senior executives, technical leaders and regulatory stakeholders.
Desirable:
- Experience of working in programme oversight or governance in heavily regulated industries, or a strong knowledge of the ANSP sector or wider aviation industry.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving ability, with a forward-looking perspective on risk and organisational readiness.
- Ability to manage competing priorities, work effectively in dynamic environments, and maintain composure under pressure.
- Collaborative mindset—focused on alignment, shared success, and enterprise outcomes rather than siloed programme outputs.
- High degree of resilience, adaptability, and comfort operating in areas of ambiguity.
- Relevant postgraduate qualifications and/or professional qualifications (e.g. PMP, PRINCE2 Practitioner, IMPA, P3O).
- Experience with PPM tooling platforms (e.g. Microsoft Project Online).
- Pragmatic and flexible approach ensuring stakeholder buy-in and cooperation.
How to apply:
Applications (Cover letter & CV), giving full details of experience and suitability for the position, should be emailed to the Human Resources Directorate at [email protected] no later than 16:00hrs on Friday 5th June 2026
Late applications will not be accepted. Shortlisting for interviews may apply.
Applicants must have the right to work and live in the EU.
AirNav Ireland is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Applications (Cover letter & CV), giving full details of experience and suitability for the position, should be emailed to the Human Resources Directorate at [email protected] no later than 16:00hrs on Friday 5th June 2026
Late applications will not be accepted. Shortlisting for interviews may apply.
Applicants must have the right to work and live in the EU.
AirNav Ireland is an Equal Opportunity Employer