Head of PMO & Delivery Operations

Head of PMO & Delivery Operations

On Site | Abu Dhabi

AppliedAI builds and deploys Opus, an enterprise AI workflow automation and agentic process orchestration platform. We work with some of the region's most complex organisations — across government, financial services, and healthcare — to move AI from proof of concept into production at scale.

Our Solutions Delivery team owns everything from sales handover to BAU: the consulting, the build, the integration, the governance, and the outcomes. We operate across the UAE, United States, and Malaysia, and we are growing fast.

The Role

We are hiring a Head of PMO & Delivery Operations to build the operating system that scales our delivery.

Right now, delivery at AppliedAI works. Projects close on time, clients renew, and the team has real craft. What we need now is the infrastructure to run ten times the volume across three geographies without losing what makes us good.

This role reports to the VP of AI Solutions Delivery and holds two functions: Project Management (the PM career track and portfolio governance) and Delivery Operations (standards, SOW creation, utilisation, PSA tooling, quality reviews, and the governance pack). You will own the delivery lifecycle end to end — from bid sign-off to project closure — and you will be the senior escalation point when things go sideways on any account.

This is a scaling role. You are inheriting a strong delivery foundation and taking it global — across geographies, time zones, and a growing partner network. If you are looking for a role where someone else sets the standard, this is not it.

What You Will Own

Delivery Governance:

Define and enforce the delivery lifecycle: stage gates, rebaselining rules, change control, RAID, and escalation paths. Own the RACI across PMO, practice leads, and regional delivery leads. Ensure every project runs to the same standard regardless of where it is being delivered.

Portfolio and Performance:

Run the portfolio cadence: weekly RAG review, monthly portfolio review with the VP, and quarterly business reviews for key accounts. Maintain one source of truth for project status, financials, and resourcing in Precursive. Track margin, utilisation, schedule variance, and budget burn. Surface risk early — not at month end.

SOW and Commercial Governance:

Own the bid and SOW review gate: bid/no-bid decisions, estimation standards, rate card compliance, and sign-off before any SOW leaves the building. You are the last line of defence before we commit to scope.

Resourcing and Capacity:

Forecast demand versus capacity across UAE, US, and Malaysia. Apply allocation and capacity caps to protect utilisation. Partner with practice leads on resourcing for new deals and handover from pre-sales.

People Leadership:

Build PM and Project Specialist career paths across the function. Set hiring rubrics, onboarding standards, and certification plans for the PMO. Coach PMs on client management, commercial awareness, and AI project delivery — not just process adherence.

Client Outcomes:

Own CSAT follow-up and recovery plans for at-risk accounts. Act as senior escalation point for delivery issues across the portfolio. When a client relationship is at risk, you are in the room.

Continuous Improvement:

Evolve playbooks, templates, and dashboards as the business scales. Run a regular PMO improvement forum. Introduce automation and AI tooling into delivery operations. Prepare the delivery model for partner-led delivery across new markets.

What We Are Looking For

Essential:

• 12+ years in project or programme delivery, including at least 5 years leading a PMO or delivery function in professional services, SaaS, or technology consulting

• A track record running a multi-project portfolio with real P&L, margin, and utilisation accountability — not just reporting on it, but owning it

• Demonstrated ability to evolve and scale governance frameworks and reporting cadences — inheriting a strong foundation and taking it to the next level as the business grows

• Hands-on with a Professional Services Automation (PSA) platform — Precursive, a Salesforce-based PSA, or equivalent

• Experience leading distributed teams across time zones

• Strong executive and client-facing communication — comfortable in a steering committee, comfortable in a difficult escalation, comfortable being direct

• PMP, PgMP, or equivalent certification

Strongly Preferred:

• Delivery of AI, automation, or data platform implementations

• Agile and hybrid delivery certifications (SAFe, PMI-ACP, or similar)

• GCC market experience, or experience in regulated sectors: government, healthcare, or financial services

• Experience scaling delivery through partner channels

What Good Looks Like in This Role

In six months, the portfolio runs on a single source of truth. Every PM knows the governance standard and applies it without being asked. Utilisation is tracked weekly and acted on, not reviewed at quarter end. The SOW review gate is real — nothing leaves without sign-off.

In twelve months, the PMO can absorb a new geography or a doubling of project volume without a proportional increase in overhead. Partner-led delivery has a defined model. The PM career track is documented and being used.

Why AppliedAI

We are at the point in the company's growth where the decisions made in the next 12 months define how the business operates at scale. The person in this role will build those systems — not in one market, but across all of them.

The work is real, the platform is production-grade, and the clients are serious organisations solving real problems with AI. If that is the environment you do your best work in, we should talk.

What you'll Get:

• Opportunity to work with a leading AI technology company.

• Collaborative and innovative work environment.

• Growing, entrepreneurial and forward-thinking culture.

• Career growth and professional development opportunities.

• Exposure to a thriving ecosystem working from our Abu Dhabi HQ.

• 21 days of paid annual leave.

• Comprehensive private health insurance.

• Visa sponsorship for international candidates.