Director, Global Performance & Portfolio Excellence

Global University Systems; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Contributory Pension Scheme

Private Medical Insurance

25 days annual leave

Season Ticket Loan

Eye Care Vouchers

Training & Development opportunities

Staff Discount Scheme

Employee Assistance Programme

Refer a Friend Scheme

Job summary

Global University Systems (GUS) is seeking a Director of Business Performance & Portfolio Management to establish and lead a group-wide capability that drives financial and operational improvement across a diverse international portfolio.

You will work closely with CEOs, CFOs and senior leaders to diagnose performance drivers, design recovery plans, and ensure delivery with clear ownership and measurable outcomes. This is a high-impact, strategic role with broad influence across the Group.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience in a complex, multi-entity or international organisation.
• Proven ability to diagnose and address business underperformance.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen; connects financial results to operational/strategic performance.

Responsibilities

• Establish and lead a Group-wide business performance and portfolio management capability, including operating model and governance.
• Develop a consistent performance framework with KPIs, scorecards and executive reviews.
• Lead structured performance reviews with institutional and functional leadership teams.
• Analyse drivers of financial and operational performance and provide independent challenge.
• Develop and oversee recovery plans with clear ownership, milestones and outcomes.
• Track commitments through delivery and escalate where progress is insufficient.
• Use portfolio analysis and cross-institution benchmarking to identify gaps, risks and opportunities.
• Translate complex financial/operational information into clear, commercially focused recommendations.
• Provide senior leadership with concise insights on portfolio performance, risks and opportunities.
• Build strong relationships with senior stakeholders while maintaining constructive challenge.
• Build and lead a high-performing performance management capability.

Skills

Senior leadership

Diagnose underperformance

Financial acumen

KPI development

Data analytics

Stakeholder influence

Recovery planning

Portfolio capability

Private equity experience

Job description

Global University Systems (GUS) is seeking a Director of Business Performance & Portfolio Management to establish and lead a group-wide capability that drives financial and operational improvement across a diverse international portfolio.

You will work closely with CEOs, CFOs and senior leaders to diagnose performance drivers, design recovery plans, and ensure delivery with clear ownership and measurable outcomes. This is a high-impact, strategic role with broad influence across the Group.