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Project Management Officer role expectations

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Robert Brink France
Hello, I know that Project Management Offices can have vastly different organizations and missions. However, I would like to know whether by definition, the Project Manager Officer is expected to know details about specific projects in the portfolio especially when the number of projects is very large. I would think the officer would be reponsible for presenting KPIs but not necessarily know details on project status. Is this generally expected? What if the Project Management Officer is a part time role?
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Rami Kaibni
Community Champion
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten Associates New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
I never heard of the position or Roel Project Management Officer so it would be interesting to see what others have to say.
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Robert Brink France
Also known as Program or Portfolio Management Office. The role of officer is defined to manage the office overall.
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Anish Abraham Privacy Program Manager| University of Washington Auburn, Wa, United States
I concur with Rami on this.
It looks like to me that across the project management domain, numerous titles have been created by different organizations, so it would not surprise me if some organization is using the title Project Management Officer.
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Robert Brink France
To rephrase the question, I would like to know whether by definition, the person in charge of the Project Manager Office is expected to know details about specific projects in the portfolio or program?
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1 reply by Rami Kaibni
May 24, 2018 11:48 AM
Rami Kaibni
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He or She should know enough details to be able to support the projects when and as needed. What determines this is the level of support required and type, complexity and priority of the projects.
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Rami Kaibni
Community Champion
Senior Projects Manager | Field & Marten Associates New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada
May 24, 2018 11:38 AM
Replying to Robert Brink
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To rephrase the question, I would like to know whether by definition, the person in charge of the Project Manager Office is expected to know details about specific projects in the portfolio or program?
He or She should know enough details to be able to support the projects when and as needed. What determines this is the level of support required and type, complexity and priority of the projects.
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Kiron Bondale Retired | Mentor| Retired Welland, Ontario, Canada
Robert -

Depends on the mandate for the PMO and the size of the portfolio, but in general, I'd expect the PMO head to be aware of the health or current status of the most critical or most strategic initiatives in the portfolio as well as having some awareness of the top few issues across the portfolio to have educated conversations with executive-level stakeholders.

If there is a hierarchical structure within the PMO (e.g. Portfolio Directors/Managers - PMs), the PDs & PMs should be aware of the gory details.

However, I would expect for a mature organization to have a trusted PM "book of record" so anyone can get some basic KPIs on projects without having to pick up a phone...

Kiron
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1 reply by Robert Brink
May 25, 2018 3:13 AM
Robert Brink
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Thank you Kiron, I think in this case, management is looking for more than just KPIs. I think management is looking for one go-to person to provide them with all information about any particular project.
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Robert Brink France
May 24, 2018 2:10 PM
Replying to Kiron Bondale
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Robert -

Depends on the mandate for the PMO and the size of the portfolio, but in general, I'd expect the PMO head to be aware of the health or current status of the most critical or most strategic initiatives in the portfolio as well as having some awareness of the top few issues across the portfolio to have educated conversations with executive-level stakeholders.

If there is a hierarchical structure within the PMO (e.g. Portfolio Directors/Managers - PMs), the PDs & PMs should be aware of the gory details.

However, I would expect for a mature organization to have a trusted PM "book of record" so anyone can get some basic KPIs on projects without having to pick up a phone...

Kiron
Thank you Kiron, I think in this case, management is looking for more than just KPIs. I think management is looking for one go-to person to provide them with all information about any particular project.

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