13038 - Portfolio Lead

Ministry of Justice; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A national government agency is seeking a Portfolio Lead to coordinate digital projects within their Strategy & Operations team. This role involves tracking and analyzing project outcomes, managing governance processes, and leading a dedicated team. Candidates should have experience in driving portfolios of change and effectively engaging with stakeholders. Strong leadership skills in both agile and traditional delivery styles are essential. This position offers the chance to contribute to impactful government initiatives in a collaborative environment.

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience of driving portfolios of change.
• Ability to influence and build consensus among stakeholders.
• Experience in fast-paced change management.
• Experience in leading and managing a team.

Responsibilities

• Track, analyse and help deliver outcomes in the portfolio.
• Drive portfolio maturity and continuous improvements.
• Develop and implement portfolio governance.
• Present portfolio updates to aid decision making.
• Lead a team in adopting new processes.

Skills

Driving portfolios of change

Stakeholder management

Agile delivery

Team leadership

Job description

The Role

We’re recruiting for a Portfolio Lead here at Justice Digital, to be part of our warm and collaborative Strategy & Operations team. This role aligns against Senior Digital Portfolio Manager from the Government Digital and Data Framework.

A Portfolio Lead is responsible for co‑ordinating and managing a portfolio of digital projects.

What you will do

• Track, analyse and help deliver outcomes in your portfolio.
• Give guidance and deal with issues to help teams to deliver faster.
• Manage governance and assurance processes, and ensure standards are met.
• Provide information to stakeholders on work performance and related risks.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure visibility and insight on portfolio performance to measure and monitor the value it brings to the organisation, aligning with strategic goals and set outcomes through targeted metrics.
• Drive portfolio maturity and continuous improvements, management and support across key areas including:
  • Risk, issues and dependency management
  • Workforce planning and resource management
  • Commercial and contract management
  • Finance and budget management
• Provide key stakeholders with a timely assessment of portfolio components including portfolio‑level issues and risks that are impacting performance to support senior‑level decision making.
• Develop and implement portfolio governance to enable effective and efficient decision making and supporting teams and stakeholders to apply good practice standards and methodology.
• Manage data and reporting requirements from all areas (internal and external) including commissions for data and information.
• Manage the production of the quarterly plans to mature the portfolio with key milestones and outcomes to monitor progress against own plans, including leading the portfolio Quarterly Assurance Reviews.
• Be the escalation point to resolve issues and remove blockers for portfolio, ensuring concerns and issues are appropriately escalated.
• Present portfolio level updates to established board meetings to aid decision making and strategic planning.
• Display confidence and credibility while fostering robust relationships with teams and stakeholders. Manage their expectations effectively and lead discussions on high‑risk and complex issues. Keep the focus on priorities that have the most significant impact and harmonise diverse perspectives.
• Lead a team and their direct reports in adopting new processes, products, systems and ways of working. This includes overseeing the implementation and management of strategies to organise and prioritise the team’s tasks, as well as fostering their continuous growth and development.

Person Specification

Essential

• Have demonstrable experience of driving portfolios of change, in both traditional and agile delivery styles.
• Engages and manages stakeholders effectively, with the ability to influence and build consensus.
• Experienced in managing and appropriately applying good practice frameworks and approaches that improve performance.
• Experience in managing change in a fast‑paced environment.
• Experience of leading, managing or building a team.

Willingness to be assessed against the requirements for BPSS clearance. We welcome the unique contribution diverse applicants bring and do not discriminate based on culture, ethnicity, race, nationality or national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, religion or belief, disability status, sexual orientation, educational or social background or any other factor. Our values are Purpose, Humanity Openness and Together. Find out more here about how we celebrate diversity and an inclusive culture in our workplace. The Civil Service is committed to attract, retain and invest in talent wherever it is found. To learn more please see the Civil Service People Plan and the Civil Service D&I Strategy.