Job Description:
Here at Rakuten Kobo Inc. we offer a casual working start-up environment and a group of friendly and talented individuals. Our employees rank us highly in terms of commitment to feel valued and supported. We believe in rewarding all our employees with competitive salaries, performance based annual bonuses, stock options and training opportunities.
If you’re looking for a company that inspires passion, personal, and professional growth – join Kobo and come help us make reading lives better.
The Role:
The Project Management Office (PMO) is searching for a seasoned senior leader who will establish and implement the vision for strategic and transformative change to elevate our project management capabilities. The Director, PMO will lead the development of project management strategies focused on quality, consistency, and governance of projects across the organization that will enable our ability to achieve business objectives and value.
The Director, PMO is responsible for effective project management across the global portfolio of high impact projects using appropriate project management methodologies, standards, and tools. This critical role will oversee and lead the team to consistently apply best practices for managing programs, projects, change, and risk to ensure high quality deliverables, effective coordination of people and resources, and transparent progress reporting.
The Director, PMO will work in close partnership with a broad range of stakeholders at all levels in a fast-paced, geo-diverse environment across multiple business divisions. Therefore, it’s essential for the PMO leader to be a strong communicator, collaborator, and relationship builder who works well with cross-functional teams and can build trust easily.
Key Responsibilities:
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Portfolio Management and Performance:
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Planning, leading, organizing, and mobilizing project teams to deliver initiatives that provide exceptional business value to Kobo, ensuring alignment with the organization’s strategic goals
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Implement a structured approach to project execution for all managed projects, with predictable schedules; ensure that the management of projects is harmonized and efficient across the whole organization
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Lead processes that enable tracking, measurement, and reporting of portfolio KPIs; present accurate representations of project progress, health, risks, and challenges
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Support the planning, directing and coordination of day-to-day activities of running a portfolio of programs
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Elevate PMO Capabilities: Establish, develop, and lead the implementation of project management methodologies, standards, processes, and best practices that will enable effective execution of portfolio initiatives, increase company-wide agility, and support the smooth running of projects undertaken by the organization
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Stakeholder Management: Build and foster strategic and collaborative relationships with stakeholders; work closely with them to manage expectations through regular communication on progress, issues, and risks within the project portfolio
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Risk, Issue, and Scope Management: Anticipate, identify, and assess risks which impact program delivery, ensuring challenges and/or problems are surfaced in a timely manner; develop effective mitigation strategies and plans
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Change Management: Integrate appropriate change management methodologies and techniques for areas of the business impacted by projects and processes to facilitate shared understanding and adoption
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Visibility and Communication: Ensure transparency of portfolio performance and establish PMO as the central resource for all stakeholders to gain clear understanding of progress, challenges, risks, and decisions on a timely basis
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Project Governance: Establish robust framework for structured oversight, decision making, progress reporting, and value delivery monitoring to ensure projects achieve business objectives
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Process Improvement and Optimization: Identify opportunities and implement tools and solutions to improve portfolio health, accelerate value delivery, streamline workflows, and increase productivity
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Team Leadership: Provide guidance, knowledge, support, and coaching to project managers to develop talent, grow skillsets, and cultivate a motivating, high performance team culture
The Skillset:
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10+ years project management experience, including minimum of 3 years of experience in a PMO leadership role, successfully managing complex cross-functional programs and stakeholder groups in a high-tech environment; experience in digital content or eCommerce a plus
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Expert-level knowledge of project, portfolio, and change management with pragmatic approach – demonstrated by a track record of:
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implementing associated methodologies, techniques, and processes;
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leading, transforming, and elevating project management capabilities;
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introducing process changes and considering the human element of change
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Highly effective stakeholder management and negotiation skills – able to quickly build collaborative working relationships, influence without direct reporting authority, and establish / maintain high levels of trust and confidence
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Proven success in building and leading high performing teams, achieving results through others, and developing talent including coaching and mentoring
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Outstanding planning and organizational skills with an ability to manage competing demands while staying results-focused
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Excellent communicator, able to adapt and convey key messages clearly to various audiences
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Strong analytical skills, complemented with empathy and the ability to work effectively with different people across the organization
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Solid business and financial acumen, excellent strategic critical thinking and problem-solving abilities, with exceptional attention to detail
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Conflict management and resolution skills – able to navigate tough situations, build consensus, anticipate concerns and drive resolution to problems and issues
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Flexible and highly resilient – able to remain balanced and calm in high pressure situations
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PMI-ACP certification or equivalent, MBA preferred
The Perks:
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Flexible hours
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Full benefits starting from your first day
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Paid Volunteer days, and 3% GRSP matching
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Monthly commuting allowance and monthly internet allowance
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Flexible health spending account
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Talent and development training budget
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Free Kobo device + free weekly e-book or audiobook
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Weekly Kobo Tech University sessions
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Maternity/paternity leave top up
About Rakuten Kobo Inc.
Owned by Tokyo-based Rakuten and headquartered in Toronto, Rakuten Kobo Inc. is one of the most advanced global ecommerce companies, with the world’s most innovative eReading services offering more than 6 million eBooks and audiobooks to 30 million + customers in 190 countries. Kobo delivers the best digital reading experience through creative innovation, award-winning eReaders, and top-ranking mobile apps. Kobo is a part of the Rakuten group of companies.
Rakuten Kobo Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. Accessibility accommodations for candidates with disabilities participating in the selection process are available on request. Any information received related to accommodation needs of applicants will be addressed confidentially.
Rakuten Kobo would like to thank all applicants for their interest in this role however only qualified candidates will be shortlisted.
