Director of Strategic Projects & Management Office

JobFlurry; Stevenage; On-site; GBP 125,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading infrastructure services provider in the UK is seeking a Director of Governance and Portfolio Management to drive IT strategy and governance initiatives. You will focus on establishing governance frameworks, leading portfolio management, and inspiring teams to innovate and embrace agile methodologies. The ideal candidate has proven experience in a complex organization, excellent communication skills, and a degree in a related field. The position offers competitive benefits including a contributory pension scheme, private healthcare, and flexible working arrangements.

Benefits

Matched or contributory pension scheme

Online GP service

Employee assistance programme

Retail discounts portal

Life assurance

Cycle to work scheme

Enhanced family leave

Private health care

Discretionary bonus scheme

25 days annual leave plus bank holidays

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a Head of or Director of Governance and Portfolio Management.
• Track record of establishing governance processes in low-complexity environments.
• Hands-on experience with portfolio management tools.

Responsibilities

• Define governance frameworks supporting IT objectives.
• Drive portfolio management ensuring investment alignment with business priorities.
• Lead resource allocation across programs to maximize impact.

Skills

Governance and portfolio management processes

Agile methodologies

Communication in business-friendly language

Stakeholder alignment

Education

Degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or Business Administration

Prince 2 or APM Project Management qualification

Tools

Portfolio Management tools

Job description

Right across infrastructure, there’s a requirement to not only maintain, but also renew and reimagine. Whatever stage you’re at in your career, with us you’ll have an opportunity to grow and develop. Delivering essential infrastructure services for life, while being safety first, and client and customer centric in a friendly, fun and respectful environment where you are encouraged to thrive.

Where will you be working?

As an organisation, there is little we don’t do and plenty to get involved in. Our Group Support roles are vital in making sure we can help over 11,000 people deliver essential infrastructure seamlessly across water, energy, transport and telecom. You’ll be at the heart of shaping our IT strategy and governance, driving portfolio management to enable future growth. This role focuses on building strong foundations for technology delivery, overseeing IT risk, aligning projects with cost and resource controls, and guiding key business decisions. You’ll also champion tools and processes that make change management intuitive and impactful, helping create a competitive edge and transform how we operate.

What will you be doing?

• Setting the foundations for success by defining governance frameworks and policies that support strategic IT objectives and informed decision-making.
• Driving portfolio management to ensure investments align with business priorities, balancing cost, risk, and benefits while enabling agile ways of working.
• Leading prioritization and resource allocation across programs and projects to maximize impact.
• Providing technology leadership, simplifying tools and processes, and championing best practices in governance and portfolio management.
• Inspiring and mentoring teams, fostering innovation, inclusion, and accountability as we embrace new ways of working.
• Collaborating with business leaders to translate growth objectives into actionable programs and projects.
• Supporting major transformation initiatives, balancing long‑term strategy with practical steps that deliver immediate value.
• Embedding standards and governance that enable discipline without stifling creativity or agility.

What you’ll bring

• Proven experience as a Head of or Director of Governance and Portfolio Management within a complex or rapidly scaling organisation.
• Track record of establishing governance and portfolio management processes in environments with low standards and maturity.
• Hands‑on experience with portfolio management tools.
• Excellent ability to communicate governance concepts and portfolio processes in business‑friendly language across all stakeholders.
• Influential, pragmatic, and delivery‑focused – able to balance strategic ambition and standards with the pragmatic pressure of delivery.
• Sector experience desirable but not essential.
• Visionary but pragmatic and able to set clear direction whilst delivering tangible outcomes.
• Collaborative and able to bring together diverse stakeholders and create alignment.
• Knowledge and experience working with Agile methodologies.

Qualifications

• Degree level education in Information Technology, Computer Science, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Prince 2 or APM Project Management or equivalent professional qualification.
• Working knowledge of Portfolio Management tools.

What’s in it for you?

• Matched or contributory pension scheme
• Online GP service, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
• Employee assistance programme
• My Rewards portal, access to 1000’s of retail discounts
• Life assurance
• Cycle to work, salary finance and give as you earn schemes
• Enhanced maternity, paternity leave and adoption leave
• Reward and recognition scheme
• Company car (or allowance) and fuel card with a range of EV and hybrid vehicles to choose from
• My Car Choice – our salary sacrifice EV/Hybrid car scheme
• Company van/vehicle and fuel card for business use
• Private health care and health care cash plan for you (and your family)
• Discretionary bonus scheme
• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Recommend a friend – get rewarded for introducing people to us!

About us

We want to be an employer of choice and a great place to work, attracting diverse and talented people, who join us and make a difference. We’re one of the Top 100 UK companies actively supporting and recruiting army veterans. Our ENABLE inclusion networks bring together people who have a shared passion, to help create an environment where everyone belongs.

Our values help to shape our culture and how we work with one another. We recruit with these values in mind, to ensure your aspirations, and ways of working, align with ours.

We’re

responsible and go further for our people, clients, communities and the planet

open and seek new and better ways of exceeding expectations

together and as one team; the whole is greater than the sum of the parts

ambitious and embrace opportunity, to lead essential infrastructure services for life

Whether you’re a trainee, apprentice or graduate, or progressing through your career, our people benefit from industry recognised programmes, training and development.

It’s an exceptional time to be a part of M Group.

Please note

Occasionally, job adverts might be closed before the stated closing date. Do apply as soon as possible to ensure your application is considered.

For certain roles, successful candidates will be subject to third‑party background checks as part of the hiring process. Some roles require drug and alcohol testing as part of induction and onboarding.