Cambridge, UK | Full-time | Permanent
Salary: £100,000 - £120,000 DOE
We will also consider part-time applications for this role. Please indicate your preferred working schedule in your cover letter.
About us
Riverlane’s mission is to make quantum computing useful, sooner. From advances in material science, to complex chemistry simulation for drug design and discovery, quantum computers will help solve some of the world’s most important challenges. Riverlane is building the quantum error correction stack to make this happen. It’s a complex problem that requires a range of skills, talent and passion. We’re making remarkable progress and growing fast.
About the role
Riverlane is building Deltaflow, the Quantum Error Correction (QEC) stack. We have set out an ambitious roadmap to reach a MegaQuOp-scale (a million real-time quantum operations) QEC stack by 2026. This is the critical milestone when quantum computers reach sufficient scale to execute the first error corrected quantum applications, representing a huge step forwards in scalable quantum computing.
We have an excellent opportunity for a Head of PMO to help Riverlane achieve this significant and historic milestone. In this exciting role, you will be responsible for the company wide delivery of Riverlane’s Deltaflow products (our QEC stack), as well as all internal and external projects, ensuring they are delivered both on time, and efficiently.
The Head of PMO will be instrumental in driving forwards Riverlane’s PMO function. You will be critical in leading the Delivery team to identify and implement good project governance and perform a full review of the project management tools used internally. In addition, you will create and roll out a suite of appropriate and aligned reporting, tailored to various stakeholder needs (e.g. the Board, Exec Team, Senior Leadership Team (SLT), and wider company) to guide them in effective and robust planning and resourcing.
This is a fantastic opportunity to take ownership of Riverlane’s PMO function, supporting our teams of world-class technical experts to deliver our groundbreaking product. You will be excited to review, define and drive Riverlane’s PMO function forward, providing valuable and desired support at a truly exciting and critical time in our journey.
What you will do
As Head of PMO at Riverlane, you will define and drive forward our PMO function by:
- Ensuring all processes, tools and reporting are effective and appropriate (this will include reviewing existing approaches, implementing new ones and streamlining our project delivery, from start to finish)
- Providing tailored support to value streams and projects, depending on level and audience.
- Implementing a consistent reporting method to effectively capture the input across groups.
- Delivering clear, easy to understand and appropriately detailed communication of progress, for a variety of audiences, including:
- Designing, building and regularly updating a company-wide Gantt chart to track progress and inter-dependencies between different parts of the roadmap and customer delivery projects.
- Creating appropriate and consistent progress reports for different audiences, e.g. the Board, Exec Team, SLT and company-wide.
- Managing effective internal communication of progress on our roadmap and projects, ensuring there are clear priorities which are understood by our SLT and the wider company (this will include leveraging Riverlane’s quarterly 'Learning & Planning' days to effectively communicate the plan and progress to the company).
- Developing a culture of trust and respect around the PMO and the plans they set, with a bias for action and positivity.
- Defining and implementing good project governance, including:
- Identifying important milestones and collaborating effectively with key stakeholders to ensure projects run smoothly.
- Creating and maintaining a risk register.
- Designing and tracking key metrics to assess the effectiveness of planning, prioritisation and delivery.
- Line managing our small PMO team and supporting them to provide key stakeholders with effective and valuable planning, prioritisation and delivery assistance.
- Chairing Senior Leadership Team (SLT) meetings, ensuring critical issues and delays are discussed and addressed appropriately and effectively. This will include:
- Tracking the development of our roadmap, customer projects etc. to ensure time and resource is allocated appropriately.
- Tracking interdependencies and interfaces, flagging issues early and de-risking, where appropriate.
- Proactively following up on action points, making sure they are concluded appropriately.
- Flagging resourcing issues, delays etc. early and effectively, ensuring problems can be meaningfully and efficiently discussed at SLT meetings, resulting in agreement of suitable action(s) to achieve appropriate resolution(s).
Requirements
What we need
- A high degree of technical capability, with a solid background in Engineering or Quantum Computing (software/hardware).
- Significant experience/knowledge of project management in a highly technical setting.
- Ability to identify the gaps and independently work to implement solutions.
- Experience of a number of different project management/developer tools to identify and implement appropriate solutions at all levels within the company, such as Miro/Jira/GitHub/Excel.
- Proven experience of effectively managing stakeholders with competing priorities.
- Experience of building positive working relationships with cross-functional teams, including the ability to rapidly build respect and credibility with technical teams, such as Engineers and Scientists.
- Someone who enjoys being extremely hands on and likes to get involved on the ground.
- Excellent communication (verbal and written) and effective influencing skills.
- Ability to proactively lead teams out of a state of uncertainty/change to focussed/impactful outcomes.
- Ability to analyse problems and define and develop effective solutions.
- Strong time management, organisational and numerical skills.
Even better if…
- You have previously worked in deep tech.
- You have previously worked in a fast-moving, scale-up environment.
- You have been involved in projects that involved shipping product.
Benefits
What can you expect from us
- A comprehensive benefits package that includes private medical insurance, life insurance and a contributory pension scheme
- Equity so that our team can share in the long-term success of Riverlane
- 28 days annual leave plus bank holidays and enhanced family leave
- A diverse work environment that brings together experts in many fields (including software and hardware development, quantum information theory, physics and maths) and over 20 different nationalities
- A learning environment that encourages individual, team and company growth and learning, including an annual training and conference budget
How to apply
Please upload a CV and covering letter by clicking 'Apply Now'. Your covering letter should explain why you are applying for the job and what skills and experience you can bring to the role.
We review CVs as we receive them and interview as soon as we have applications that look like a good match (usually within one week). We do not use closing dates. So, please apply as soon as possible to avoid missing out on this role. We advertised this role on 26th October, 2024.
If you have any queries, please contact [email protected].
Everyone is welcome at Riverlane. We are an equal opportunities employer and encourage applications from eligible and suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, ethnicity, gender, gender reassignment, religion or belief, sexual orientation, marital or civil partnership status, or pregnancy and maternity/paternity.
Studies have shown that women tend to apply to jobs if they meet all or almost all of the requirements whereas men apply even if they meet only some of the requirements. If that sounds like you then please apply – we are happy to review your application and let you know if we think you might be a good fit.
If you need any adjustments made to the application or selection process so you can do your best, please let us know. We will be happy to help.
