Project Lead

Xero is a beautiful, easy-to-use platform that helps small businesses and their accounting and bookkeeping advisors grow and thrive. 

At Xero, our purpose is to make life better for people in small business, their advisors, and communities around the world. This purpose sits at the centre of everything we do. We support our people to do the best work of their lives so that they can help small businesses succeed through better tools, information and connections. Because when they succeed they make a difference, and when millions of small businesses are making a difference, the world is a more beautiful place.

How you’ll make an impact

The Program, Projects and Portfolio - P3 - team exists to make sure that the people, processes, and priorities are in place to accelerate the delivery of the key cross functional strategic objectives. We deploy the best Portfolio, Program and Project practices to effectively prioritise, plan and monitor the execution of our strategic objectives.

In this role, you will manage a team of Project Managers and Project Co-ordinators within our Projects team, driving a culture of professional development, performance, and open communication. You will be responsible for supporting your direct reports to be awesome Xeros, empowering them to deliver high-quality initiatives to our internal customers. Under your guidance, the team will hone their project management and co-ordination skills, and foster the growth of a world-class technology delivery team.You’ll also work alongside the other members of the Programs and Delivery group to improve operational processes, drive cross-functional projects and initiatives, and support the wider Xero to be successful in all they do.

What you’ll do

• Ensure strategic projects are reported appropriately to the Functional and Xero Leadership Teams and the Board. 
• Develop project management resources to support great project delivery across Xero. 
• Lead the planning, implementation, and delivery of projects on time, on budget and to the desired quality and scope.
• Facilitate the definition of scope, goals and deliverables.
• Develop fit for purpose project management plans and approaches (including agile, iterative and waterfall).
• Assemble project teams from internal and external resource pools as required.
• Champion and drive processes and practices that make it possible for project teams to do great work, while promoting a safe environment for people to grow, experiment and learn.
• Role-model exemplary leadership, supporting and growing the next generation of Project Managers and Project Co-ordinators at Xero.
• Attracting, recruiting and retaining capable individuals, building on and complementing the diversity of our team.
• Develop a career-path and learning framework for your projects team, and project professionals at Xero. 
• Help drive a culture where team members have the knowledge, skills and desire to achieve outstanding project outcomes and excellent flexible project management practices.
• Cultivate a fun, rewarding, agile and results-driven culture.

Success looks like

• Projects are consistently delivered well, meeting and exceeding stakeholder expectations. There is a high correlation between project success and the Project team’s involvement.
• Our project management practices are applied flexibly, enabling the best outcomes for the teams we work with. 
• Your team of Project Managers and Project Co-ordinators are working effectively and efficiently with a continuous improvement and growth mindset. 
• Your direct reports are effectively managed and supported. Their performance is reviewed regularly and feedback is continually provided in a timely manner.
• Your direct reports are empowered and challenged to do their best work. The right people are solving the right problems and their skills are continuously being developed through new learning and experimentation. 

What you’ll bring with you

• Experience of managing and leading larger project teams in a fast-paced, modern business. 
• Proven ability to deliver on commitments and balance priorities.
• Proven experience improving business processes across complex teams and organisations. 
• Proven experience managing complex projects, applying different approaches (agile, waterfall etc). 
• Proven ability to navigate areas of conflict in an open, positive and proactive way.
• Excellent understanding of financial and business operations processes.
• Proven ability to balance the needs of the individual with the needs of the business.
• Experience managing and growing teams. 
• Strong stakeholder management skills, ability to build rapport, trust and buy-in quickly.




Critical Competencies

• Leading/living the vision & values. Keeps the team’s vision and values at the forefront of decision-making and actions. Communicates and helps others understand the importance of the vision and values. Translates the vision and values into strategy and day-to-day activities and behaviours.
• Growth mindset. Understands that competency is not fixed but is enhanced through dedication and hard work. Demonstrates a love of learning and resilience to adversity that is essential for great accomplishment.
• High E.Q. Self-aware, self-regulated, motivated and empathetic, with great interpersonal skills.
• Leadership. Demonstrates honesty and integrity. Provides objectives and goals with loose guidelines/directions. Clearly communicates expectations. Has an open mind and the flexibility to change opinions. Develops and supports others.

Why Xero? 

Offering very generous paid leave to use however you’d like (plus statutory holidays!), dedicated paid leave to care for your physical and mental wellbeing as well as an Employee Assistance Program to access mental health care for you and your family, health insurance, life insurance, and income protection, wellbeing and sports programmes, employee resource groups, 26 weeks of paid parental leave for primary caregivers, an Employee Share Plan, beautiful offices, flexible working, career development, and many other benefits that reflect our human value, you’ll do the best work of your life at Xero.