PMO Lead (R&D) New Zealand

Company Description

TOMRA Food is a multinational organization and a leading provider of sensor-based sorting, peeling and integrated post-harvest solution for the food industries. Transforming global food production to maximize food safety and minimize food loss by making sure Every Resource Counts™, has been our strength for over 50 years.

At TOMRA, we want people to innovate, show passion in their work and be responsible. We encourage the freedom to innovate and take risks that result in breakthroughs that challenge the status quo. We value passion that focuses and commits to meeting success. We believe in a responsible and safe mindset that takes care of our customers, products, and fellow employees. 

Join the resource revolution! 

Job Description

As PMO Lead, you'll play a key role in turning innovation into successful customer solutions, leading complex projects from early development through to delivery while shaping the future of project management at TOMRA Food in New Zealand.

You'll provide leadership for the NZ Project Management team and work closely with our Research & Development (R&D), engineering, product, operations and commercial teams to bring new products and technologies to market. You'll help connect technical innovation with business and customer needs, creating the structure, alignment and momentum needed to move complex initiatives forward.

As the connection between New Zealand and our global Project Management Office, you'll also maintain visibility across the NZ project portfolio, support effective resource planning, and help ensure a consistent approach to project delivery. As the senior PMO leader in New Zealand, you'll be trusted to make decisions locally, provide guidance to stakeholders, and represent the NZ project portfolio within our global PMO community.

This is an opportunity for someone who enjoys working at the intersection of technology, product development and project delivery. You'll be comfortable partnering with technical teams, navigating the uncertainty that comes with innovation, and bringing together diverse stakeholders to turn ideas and emerging technologies into scalable solutions for customers around the world.

Key responsibilities

• Provide leadership and coordination for the NZ Project Management team, translating global PMO priorities into local objectives.
• Coach, develop and support a Junior Project Manager while fostering a strong project management culture.
• Partner closely with R&D, engineering, product, operations and commercial teams to plan and deliver new products, technologies and technical solutions.
• Lead complex, cross functional projects through development, validation, industrialisation and delivery, helping teams navigate technical dependencies, evolving requirements, risks and priorities.
• Create alignment between technical teams and business stakeholders, ensuring project objectives, milestones and decisions remain connected to customer and commercial outcomes.
• Allocate or recommend project assignments based on capability, development goals and capacity.
• Lead workforce planning activities, including succession, recruitment, capability development and retention.
• Maintain an integrated view of the NZ project portfolio, including risks, milestones, interdependencies and resource requirements.
• Lead portfolio and resource reviews, escalating risks and recommending priorities where required.
• Drive the successful delivery of strategic, cross functional and international projects.
• Take accountability for project scope, schedule, quality, risk and stakeholder alignment.
• Champion adoption of the TOMRA Food Project Model while continuously strengthening project governance in a way that supports both innovation and effective delivery.
• Build strong relationships across the global PMO and wider technical organisation, promoting collaboration, consistency and knowledge sharing.
• Communicate effectively across all levels of the organisation, translating between technical project teams, business stakeholders, governance forums and senior leadership.

Health, safety and care for the environment come first. You are empowered to stop work if something feels unsafe, and we expect everyone to speak up so we can prevent harm and reduce our environmental impact.

 

Qualifications

Must have:

• 8+ years' experience leading complex, cross functional projects in an international environment, ideally within technology, engineering, manufacturing, automation or product development.
• Experience working closely with R&D, engineering or technical product teams, with the ability to understand technical complexity and translate it into clear project priorities and outcomes.
• Previous people leadership experience, including coaching, developing and managing project professionals.
• Strong understanding of project governance, portfolio management and resource planning.
• Proven ability to bring together technical and non technical stakeholders, build trust and align cross functional teams toward shared outcomes.
• Experience operating in environments where requirements, technical solutions or priorities can evolve as a product or technology develops.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to engage technical specialists, governance groups and senior leaders.
• Demonstrated ability to operate independently, exercise sound judgement and make decisions in a complex environment.
• Degree in a relevant discipline, such as engineering, science, technology, business or project management, or equivalent professional experience.
• Willingness to travel up to 30 days per year and work across time zones.

Learnable in role:

• Recognised PM certification, such as PMP or PRINCE2.
• Deeper experience with TOMRA Food's technologies, product portfolio and project delivery model.

If you don't meet every single requirement, we encourage you to apply. At TOMRA, we recognise that diverse perspectives drive innovation and success. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Additional Information

Why work for us: 

• Birthday leave - have a day off on us!
• Superannuation employer contribution paid on top of base salary
• TOMRA provides eight weeks of fully paid parental leave to all eligible employees
• Onsite car parking
• Employee referral bonus
• Jubilee program
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Global career opportunities with a strong record for promoting internally
• Professional training and development: We are passionate about people and seeing them succeed. 
• We love innovation, so we offer a collaborative environment where idea sharing and thinking outside the box is encouraged
• We care for the planet and want to make a difference for the future

How to Apply:

If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you! All applications will be managed in the strictest confidence.  

TOMRA is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer where diversity is valued, and all employment is decided based on qualifications, merit, and business need. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status, or any other protected status under applicable laws. #EveryPerspectiveCounts