---
ref_id: PMO-COMPETENCIES
ref_type: FocusArea
ref_name: "PMO Professional Competencies"
version: "1.0.0"
status: Active
pmbok8_source: "PMBOK8 Guide Appendix X2 · PMO Practice Guide §4"
file_path: "reference/pmo/pmo-competencies.md"
---

# PMO Professional Competencies

**Ref ID:** PMO-COMPETENCIES  
**Type:** FocusArea  
**PMBOK8 Source:** PMBOK 8 Appendix X2 · PMO Practice Guide §4  
**Version:** 1.0.0  
**Status:** Active  

---

## 1. Professional Competency Model

To successfully establish, operate, and continuously optimize a value delivery system, PMO professionals must develop a balanced set of **30 core competencies** distributed across three operational domains: **Design, Operation, and Improvement**.

```
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│             PMO PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES              │
├────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│  A. DESIGN DOMAIN       │ Designing governance systems,│
│                         │ templates & tailoring guides.│
├─────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│  B. OPERATION DOMAIN    │ Daily PMIS administration,   │
│                         │ EVM tracking & facilitation. │
├─────────────────────────┼──────────────────────────────┤
│  C. IMPROVEMENT DOMAIN  │ Methodology scaling, coaching│
│                         │ and OPA synthesis.           │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
```

---

## 2. Core Competency Inventory (30 Key Capabilities)

### Domain A: PMO Design & Setup Competencies (Governance Structuring)
1. **Value Stream Design:** Mapping organizational workflows to eliminate operational waste.
2. **Framework Selection:** Selecting appropriate hybrid, predictive, or adaptive delivery methods.
3. **Template Engineering:** Authoring high-utility, compliant process templates (A01–A41).
4. **Authority Level Modeling:** Setting up change control thresholds and steering routing paths.
5. **Organizational Change Strategy:** Designing strategies to facilitate corporate adoption of PM methods.
6. **Tool-chain Architecture:** Selecting and connecting PMIS platforms (e.g., Jira to MS Project).
7. **Role Definition:** Creating project delivery job profiles and training requirements.
8. **Stakeholder Persona Mapping:** Defining communication needs for internal steering groups.
9. **Financial Control Setup:** Setting up cost codes, capitalization logic, and billing cycles.
10. **Governance Charter Authoring:** Formulating the PMO’s operational mandate and charter.

### Domain B: Operational Excellence Competencies (Execution Support)
11. **EVM Analysis:** Calculating CV, SV, CPI, SPI, EAC, and ETC to isolate cost variances (PR35).
12. **Quantitative Risk Modeling:** Executing Monte Carlo cost and schedule simulation runs (PR24).
13. **Elicitation Moderation:** Facilitating complex requirements and stakeholder mapping workshops (PR05).
14. **Jira/PMIS Administration:** Configuring custom boards, workflows, fields, and permission sets.
15. **Resource Leveling Execution:** Running resource leveling algorithms to balance shared talent pools.
16. **Change Control Board (CCB) Moderation:** Managing proposed baseline updates and tracking logs (PR31).
17. **Phase Gate Reviewing:** Executing rigorous quality checklists at project transition gates.
18. **Status Dashboard Creation:** Packaging raw metrics into executive-level status dashboards.
19. **Conflict Resolution:** Resolving resource, schedule, or vendor disputes between project teams.
20. **Procurement SLA Auditing:** Auditing supplier deliverables and milestone compliance (PR41).

### Domain C: Improvement & Optimization Competencies (Continuous Evolution)
21. **Agile & Scrum Coaching:** Coaching PMs and scrum masters in iteration management.
22. **Lessons Learned Synthesis:** Analyzing post-project logs to refine corporate OPAs.
23. **Process Optimization (Lean):** Eliminating redundant administrative reporting overhead.
24. **Maturity Assessment:** Conducting formal PMO capability reviews.
25. **Technology Integration Scouting:** Evaluating emerging AI tools and generative assistant PM integrations.
26. **Professional Skill Tracking:** Administering professional development credentials and certificates.
27. **Vendor Strategy Optimization:** Refactoring source selection criteria based on vendor history (PR26).
28. **Opportunity Exploitation Coaching:** Guiding teams in capturing project opportunities.
29. **Business Case Verification:** Auditing post-implementation benefits realization against projections.
30. **Systems Thinking Application:** Analyzing project dynamics within the portfolio ecosystem.

---

*Authority: PMBOK8 Guide Appendix X2 · PMO Practice Guide §4*
