Head of Lifecycle PMO

About the Company

At Downer, we manage some of Australia's most important public infrastructure through long-term Public Private Partnerships. Across 17 hospitals, event centres, student accommodation and education facilities, lifecycle projects play a critical role in maintaining infrastructure, meeting customer commitments and supporting essential community services. The opportunity ahead of us is significant, and we're establishing a new leadership capability to improve how lifecycle projects valued at almost $2 billion are planned, prioritised and delivered across Downer’s Health & Education business.

About the Role

As our lifecycle investment program continues to grow, we're looking for an experienced leader who can bring visibility to complex delivery challenges, design solutions, strengthen project execution, improve portfolio performance and help ensure lifecycle commitments translate into lifecycle outcomes. We’re flexible on base location with a slight preference for Melbourne, but ability to frequently travel within Australia will be essential.

What You’ll Do

This is not a traditional PMO leadership role focused solely on governance and reporting.

This is a rare opportunity to build a capability from the ground up, influence outcomes at scale and leave a lasting mark on a nationally significant infrastructure portfolio. Reporting to the Program Director - PPPs, you will continue to establish and lead the Lifecycle PMO, partnering closely with Contract Managers, Asset Managers, Project Managers and operational leaders to improve delivery confidence, commercial discipline and lifecycle value across the portfolio. Some key responsibilities will including:

• Continue leading the establishment of a new Lifecycle PMO capability focused on improving project delivery performance across the portfolio.
• Guide Project Managers and partner with Contract Managers and Asset Managers to identify priorities, solve delivery challenges and improve outcomes.
• Provide visibility, support and constructive challenge across critical lifecycle projects and programs.
• Translate complex project, operational and commercial information into clear priorities, decisions and actions.
• Build the relationships, disciplines and ways of working that will shape the future of lifecycle delivery across the Health & Education portfolio.

What You’ll Bring

We're interested in leaders who have a track record of improving delivery outcomes in complex environments. You may come from infrastructure, asset management, capital works, facilities management, construction, engineering, utilities or other operational environments where delivery performance, stakeholder management and commercial discipline are critical to success. Significant PPP experience will be valuable, due to the framework’s unique mechanism of transferring long-term asset lifecycle cost risk and opportunity to the FM Contractor.

You'll bring:

• Experience leading portfolio, programme, project delivery, PMO, infrastructure or related functions in complex environments.
• A track record of designing project management tools and processes, improving delivery performance and translating plans into successful outcomes.
• Strong commercial and operational judgement, with the ability to balance delivery, risk, customer commitments, cost and value.
• The credibility to influence senior stakeholders, build trusted relationships and drive accountability across multiple teams and functions.
• A practical leadership style, combining strategic thinking with a willingness to roll up your sleeves and help solve problems.

More than anything, you’ll bring a strong work ethic, a positive attitude, and a commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes for our clients and value to our shareholders.

Why Downer?

At Downer, we plan, create, and sustain essential public services across Australia and New Zealand. From hospitals to data centres and defence partnerships, we manage critical infrastructure that keeps communities thriving.

What It Means to Belong at Downer

We’re proud of our high-performance culture and commitment to diversity, offering:

• Training and development to support and diversify your career.
• With 30% of vacancies filled internally you’ll find real opportunities to advance your career.
• Perks@Downer: healthcare discounts, great savings on retail purchases, car purchases and much more.
• Employee Assistance Program: professional support for you and your family when you need it most.

You want your work to matter and so do we.  With over 26,000 people across Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, our team is made up of individuals with unique perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas.

We know that diversity makes us stronger and we actively celebrate it through our commitment to inclusion and belonging.

We’re committed to building a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve and we welcome people of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, cultures, abilities, and lived experiences. We especially encourage applications from those whose voices have traditionally been underrepresented in our industry, including women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Māori and Pasifika Peoples, veterans, people with disability, and neurodivergent individuals.  Even if your experience doesn’t align perfectly with this role, we’d still like to hear from you. If it feels like the right fit, apply - potential counts, and so do you.

As a WORK180 Endorsed Employer, we support flexibility that works for your life, inclusive leadership that values your voice, and equitable access to opportunity so you can do your best work and bring your whole self to it.

If you need support or adjustments through the recruitment process, just let us know, we’re here to help you put your best foot forward.