Director of PMO (Portfolio)

Director Portfolio Management Office - Hertfordshire based(An exciting and very fast paced environment)Salary - £145k up to £155k for a standout candidate!Bonus - up to equivalent of three months salaryCar allowance - £720 per monthBased in Stevenage - but some home working too***Experience in infrastructure, utilities, engineering, construction or another federated and operationally complex sector***Your role as Director Portfolio Management Office:The part you’ll play in transforming infrastructure services.Strong governance coordinated execution and clear ownership are essential to turning strategy into measurable outcomes.As Director of Portfolio Management Office, you'll lead the governance, coordination and delivery discipline that enables Group IT to execute its strategy. You'll provide an enterprise-wide view of technology change, direct priority strategic projects and coordinate the function's integrated delivery and execution plans. By connecting strategy, investment, capacity, dependencies, risks and benefits, you'll help leaders make timely decisions and ensure commitments translate into practical, controlled delivery.What we’ll need you to deliver:The tasks and responsibilities you’ll take on.You'll lead the Portfolio Management Office, establishing proportionate governance and a consistent operating rhythm across Group IT. You'll coordinate the function's delivery and execution plans, provide transparent reporting on progress and performance, and intervene where priorities, dependencies or risks threaten outcomes. Alongside portfolio leadership, you'll personally sponsor or direct critical cross-functional projects that require senior coordination and focused execution.As a Leader, you'll set clear direction, build a high-performing and inclusive team, and create an environment where people can thrive. You'll role model people manager expectations, develop future leadership capability and promote accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement across the PMO and the wider technology function.From time to time, we may ask you to take on other duties appropriate to the role and level. We expect all work to follow company policies, procedures and relevant standards.How you’ll support the IT Function:Further specific tasks and responsibilities you’ll take on as part of the IT FunctionStrategy Execution & Functional CoordinationYou will:Translate Group IT strategy and leadership priorities into an integrated functional delivery and execution planCoordinate plans across technology towers and enabling teams, creating clear ownership, milestones, outcomes and decision pointsEstablish the planning and review cadence for the function, connecting strategic objectives, operational commitments and change activitySupport the CTO and wider Technology leadership team with structured planning, executive briefings, performance insight and follow-through of agreed actionsMaintain a consolidated view of progress against functional commitments and drive corrective action where requiredEnable effective coordination across Group functions, divisions, suppliers and delivery partnersPortfolio Governance, Investment, Capacity & Financial Control:You will - Define, maintain and evolve governance frameworks, policies, standards and decision rights that support strategic technology objectivesLead portfolio prioritisation, investment planning and capacity planning, balancing value, affordability, resources, risk and delivery confidence – to create a single enterprise-wide view of technology demand, projects, programmes and product changeEmbed robust business case governance, cost tracking, change control, reforecasting and benefits realisation disciplinesAlign portfolio commitments with financial controls, workforce plans, architecture, cyber, commercial and operational requirementsMaintain oversight of portfolio spend, forecasts, variances, financial risks and benefitsProvide decision-quality insight on portfolio health, delivery performance, constraints and trade-offsOwn and manage the PMO functional budget, ensuring expenditure remains within approved funding and supports agreed priorities.Control functional expenditure, including purchase commitments, supplier spend, contract costs, accruals and efficiency opportunities.Ensure governance is proportionate, practical and focused on enabling delivery rather than adding unnecessary bureaucracyStrategic Projects & Enterprise Delivery:You will - Sponsor or direct priority strategic projects and cross-functional initiatives on behalf of the CTO and Technology leadership teamEstablish clear delivery structures, accountabilities, plans and controls for high-value, complex or business-critical assignmentsDrive successful mobilisation, execution and transition into business-as-usual, ensuring intended outcomes are sustainedRemove organisational blockers, accelerate decisions and bring together senior stakeholders to enable deliveryBalance long-term strategic intent with pragmatic actions that deliver near-term valueProvide hands-on leadership when critical initiatives require recovery, additional control or renewed alignmentDependencies, Risk, Assurance & Benefits:You will - Lead the identification, active management and resolution of cross-programme dependencies, constraints and systemic risks portfolio-wideEstablish and maintain a consistent assurance, framework that provides visibility and enables escalation and timely interventions across the technology portfolioStrengthen traceability from strategic objectives and investment decisions through to delivered outcomes and tangible, realised benefitsEnsure material delivery, financial, resource, supplier and operational risks are transparent and supported by credible actionsOversee post-implementation reviews and use lessons learned to improve future planning and executionProvide clear, concise reporting to executive and governance forums, highlighting decisions required and business impactPMO Leadership & Continuous Improvement:You will - Build and lead a capable Portfolio Management Office with clear services, standards and accountabilitiesDefine and evolve the PMO operating model and delivery framework, ensuring governance, portfolio management and delivery practices remain aligned to organisational needsDevelop portfolio, programme and project management capability across Group IT and its delivery partnersSimplify tools, data and processes to improve visibility, consistency and decision-makingDefine meaningful measures for delivery confidence, throughput, value, benefits realisation and governance effectivenessPromote a high-performance culture based on inclusion, innovation, constructive challenge and accountabilityWhat it’ll take to succeed:The skills, mindset and experience you’ll bring and grow using:Essential: Core skills, experience, qualifications and professional memberships you’ll need from day one:Strategic Portfolio & Governance Leadership:Proven experience as a director or senior leader in portfolio, programme, governance or strategic delivery within a complex organisationExperience establishing or transforming portfolio governance, planning and management office capabilitiesStrong understanding of investment prioritisation, portfolio controls, capacity planning, assurance and benefits managementStrategy Execution & Delivery Leadership:Experience translating strategy into integrated execution plans, measurable outcomes and coordinated delivery activity -Track record of leading complex, cross-functional programmes or recovering high-risk strategic initiativesAbility to combine strategic perspective with hands-on intervention and delivery disciplineExecutive Stakeholder LeadershipExcellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to make complex delivery and governance issues clear to senior leadersExperience working across business, technology, finance, commercial, risk and operational functionsCollaborative and pragmatic leadership style, able to create alignment while providing constructive challengePeople, Partners & Performance:Experience building and leading high-performing multidisciplinary teams:Experience managing internal teams, professional services, and delivery partners against clear outcomesAbility to establish meaningful performance measures and use insight to drive action and improvementMethods, Tools & Qualifications:Practical experience of portfolio and project management tooling and executive reportingWorking knowledge of Agile, product-aligned and traditional delivery methods, and when each is appropriateDegree-level education or equivalent relevant experienceProfessional qualification such as APM, MSP, PRINCE2, MoP or equivalentDesirable: Other skills, experience, qualifications, and professional memberships that will help you grow:Experience supporting technology operating model transformation or enterprise-wide changeKnowledge of financial planning, commercial governance and supplier management in a technology environmentExperience developing portfolio maturity models, communities of practice and professional career pathways