Portfolio Practice Manager

Cochlear’s mission is to help people hear and be heard. As the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, Cochlear is dedicated to helping people with moderate to profound hearing loss experience a world full of sound. We aim to transform the way people understand and treat hearing loss and innovate to connect people with future technologies. Our employees tell us that the number one reason they enjoy working for Cochlear is the opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives. Learn and grow with us as we tackle the most complex challenges in helping more people to experience a lifetime of hearing.

Cochlear is currently hiring for a fixed-term contract role through to 31 December 2026 for a Portfolio Practice Manager (Senior PMO Consultant), based at our Macquarie, Sydney office.
This pivotal role will lead the uplift of project and program delivery maturity across a dynamic portfolio. You’ll be instrumental in establishing and enhancing governance frameworks, reporting standards, and delivery assurance practices that enable strategic execution and operational excellence.

Responsibilities include:
Governance & Delivery Assurance- Design and implement scalable governance frameworks across programs and projects.- Monitor compliance with delivery standards, stage gates, and risk management protocols.- Facilitate assurance reviews and support remediation planning.

Reporting & Analytics- Develop and maintain dashboards, reports, and insights for executive and delivery teams.- Ensure timely and accurate reporting of project status, risks, issues, and benefits realization.- Drive automation and standardization of reporting processes.

Maturity Uplift & Continuous Improvement- Assess current PMO maturity and identify opportunities for uplift.- Lead initiatives to embed best practices in planning, execution, and closure.- Support capability development through coaching and knowledge sharing.

Stakeholder Engagement- Collaborate with delivery teams, business units, and senior leadership to align PMO practices.- Act as a trusted advisor on project governance and delivery health.- Facilitate workshops and forums to promote transparency and alignment.- Must excel in a collaborative team environment.

What makes this opportunity unique?

This is a fantastic opportunity to drive the uplift of project and program delivery maturity across a dynamic and evolving portfolio. This role is instrumental in establishing and enhancing governance frameworks, reporting standards, and delivery assurance practices that support strategic execution and operational excellence.

About You

To add value to Cochlear in this role, you will be able to demonstrate the following skills and experience:
Essential Skills:
Systems & Tools Proficiency- Microsoft Office Suite - Exceptional proficiency (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).- Microsoft Project - Excellent command of scheduling and resource planning.- Jira - Excellent understanding of agile boards, workflows, and reporting.- Familiarity with Confluence, SharePoint, Power BI, and other PMO-relevant platforms.

Professional Experience- Minimum 5 years in PMO, project governance, or delivery assurance roles.- Experience in large-scale transformation or enterprise programs.- Experience of SAP implementations would be highly desirable.- Strong understanding of both agile and waterfall methodologies.

Core Competencies- Analytical mindset with attention to detail.- Effective communication and stakeholder management skills.- Ability to work independently and collaboratively in fast-paced environments.- Proven ability to drive change and uplift delivery practices.

Desired Skills:
- Certification in project management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, AgilePM).- Experience in regulated or complex industries (e.g., healthcare, finance, technology).- Exposure to portfolio management tools and techniques.

CochlearCareers

How we recognise your contribution

At Cochlear we value and welcome the unique contributions, perspectives, experiences, and backgrounds of our employees and aim to build a culture that celebrates and leverages these differences, creating a sense of belonging and enabling our people to realise their full potential. Through our internal programs and employee benefits, we aim to create an environment where our people will feel value and supported. Whether your focus is on continuous learning, professional development or simply finding an environment which enables you to thrive whilst balancing family or personal life commitments, then we have several programs in place to support you.