Head of Portfolio

The University of Sheffield; Sheffield; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Sheffield is seeking a Head of Portfolio to lead the IT Services team in coordinating and reporting on delivery performance across the ITS product portfolio. This role involves ensuring stakeholders have the necessary tools for decision-making, developing performance dashboards, and fostering collaboration across teams to support the university's strategic objectives. With a commitment to diversity and development, the university offers a dynamic workplace focused on excellence and innovation in education.

Benefits

41 days annual leave including bank holidays

Flexible working opportunities

Generous pension scheme

Wide range of discounts and rewards

Commitment to employee development

Family-friendly policies and support

Qualifications

• Proven experience in portfolio/programme management in an agile environment.
• Strong technical foundation in data analysis and performance reporting.
• Exceptional skills in communication and stakeholder management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate delivery performance tracking and reporting.
• Develop and maintain performance dashboards for key metrics.
• Oversee team operations ensuring adherence to agile methodologies.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Team leadership

Stakeholder influence

Data analysis

Agile project management

Communication skills

Problem-solving

Organizational skills

Performance metrics management

Education

Portfolio/program management qualifications (e.g. PfMP, PMP)

Agile certification (e.g. AgilePM, CSM)

Tools

Power BI

Tableau

Jira

Job description

The University of Sheffield is a remarkable place to work. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Their diverse backgrounds, abilities and beliefs make Sheffield a world-class university.

We offer a fantastic range of benefits including a highly competitive annual leave entitlement (with the ability to purchase more), a generous pensions scheme, flexible working opportunities, a commitment to your development and wellbeing, a wide range of retail discounts, and much more. Find out more about our benefits (opens in a new window) and join us to become part of something special.

Overview

The IT Services (ITS) Portfolio team provides a single view of ITS delivery commitments, as aligned to the University of Sheffield’s strategic objectives. As Head of Portfolio, you will lead a team to coordinate and report on delivery performance across the ITS product portfolio (tracking to metrics, including budget, resource, timeline and benefit realisation). You will be responsible for ensuring that internal teams and external stakeholders and partners have the information and tools they need to make the right decisions in real time. Your team will also oversee and maintain consistent, compliant and agile Ways of Working (WoW) across teams, coordinating planning events (including Big Room Planning), cadence and consistent agile ceremonies.

Reporting to the Assistant Director for Product Delivery, you will form the Product Delivery leadership team along with Heads of Product (each aligned to the University strategic pillars), to enable and ensure successful product delivery across all teams, as well as providing the required data and reporting for assurance. Whilst focused on the ITS Portfolio, this will often form part of the wider University portfolio, with alignment to the wider University of Sheffield change portfolio and close partnership working with Strategic Planning and Change teams will be critical to success.

Main Duties And Responsibilities

Portfolio Performance Management

• Lead and coordinate delivery performance tracking: Monitor and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) across the entire ITS product portfolio, including budget, resource allocation, timelines, and benefit realisation.
• Provide real-time insights: Ensure all relevant stakeholders (internal teams, external partners, leadership) have access to timely and accurate performance data to inform decision-making.
• Develop and maintain performance dashboards: Create and manage interactive dashboards that visualise key performance metrics, trends, and potential risks.

Strategic Leadership & Alignment

• Partner with Strategic Planning and Change teams: Foster strong partnerships with these teams to ensure effective communication and collaboration.
• Align with University-wide initiatives: Ensure the ITS portfolio aligns with the overall University strategy, change portfolio, and strategic planning initiatives.
• Provide assurance to leadership: Regularly report on ITS portfolio performance and identify potential risks and issues to ITS leadership and the University's senior management.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and mentor a team: Manage and develop a high-performing team responsible for portfolio performance tracking, reporting, and analysis.
• Foster a collaborative and supportive team environment: Encourage open communication, knowledge sharing, and continuous improvement within the team.

Operational Excellence & Methodology

• Oversee and maintain consistent Ways of Working (WoW): Ensure all teams within the ITS portfolio adhere to standardized agile methodologies and best practices.
• Coordinate and facilitate planning events: Lead and participate in key planning events, such as Big Room Planning sessions, to align teams and ensure coordinated delivery across the portfolio.
• Establish and maintain consistent agile ceremonies: Ensure adherence to agile ceremonies like sprint planning, daily stand-ups, and retrospectives across all teams.
• Build and maintain strong relationships: Collaborate closely with Heads of Product, ITS leadership, shared services teams, and other key stakeholders across the University.
• Carry out other duties, commensurate with the grade and remit of the post

Person Specification

Our diverse community of staff and students recognises the unique abilities, backgrounds, and beliefs of all. We foster a culture where everyone feels they belong and is respected. Even if your past experience doesn't match perfectly with this role's criteria, your contribution is valuable, and we encourage you to apply. Please ensure that you reference the application criteria in the application statement when you apply.

Criteria

Essential Or Desirable

Stage(s) assessed at

Proven experience in portfolio/programme management with demonstrated team leadership, and successful implementation of portfolio frameworks in an agile environment

Essential

Application & Interview

Strong technical foundation with advanced proficiency in portfolio management tools, data analysis (e.g. Power BI, Tableau), and agile project management platforms (e.g. Jira)

Essential

Application & Interview

Expert knowledge of Agile product delivery, with experience of leading agile transformation and building capability. Professional portfolio/program management (e.g. PfMP, PMP) and/or an Agile certification (e.g. AgilePM, SAFe, CSM) will be advantageous

Essential

Application & Interview

Exceptional strategic thinking and proven ability to influence senior stakeholders working across complex IT portfolios

Essential

Application & Interview

Advanced skills in budget, resource and progress reporting, including development and maintenance of performance dashboards and metrics

Essential

Application & Interview

Outstanding communication skills, including the ability to present portfolio and performance challenges and planned actions to a wide and varied audience.

Essential

Application & Interview

Proven track record of leading diverse and virtual teams, with success in developing and embedding consistent working practices, and establishing communities of practice.

Essential

Application & Interview

Resilience, adaptability, and a proactive approach to problem-solving with a continuous improvement mindset

Essential

Application & Interview

Excellent organizational and time management skills, with ability to handle changing priorities while maintaining strategic focus

Essential

Application & Interview

Understanding and awareness of IT systems development within a Higher Education and/or Public Sector environment

Desirable

Application

Further Information

Grade

9

Line manager

Assistant Director (Product Delivery)

Direct reports

PMO Manager, Performance Operations Manager

Our website

https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/it-services/about (opens in new window)

For informal enquiries about this job contact Sarah Boyd, Assistant Director, Product Delivery: on [e-mail]

Next steps in the recruitment process

We plan to let candidates know if they have progressed to the selection stage within two weeks for the closing date. If you need any support, equipment or adjustments to enable you to participate in any element of the recruitment process you can contact [e-mail]

Our vision and strategic plan

We are the University of Sheffield. This is our vision: sheffield.ac.uk/vision (opens in new window).

What We Offer

• A minimum of 41 days annual leave including bank holiday and closure days (pro rata) with the ability to purchase more.
• Flexible working opportunities, including hybrid working for some roles.
• Generous pension scheme.
• A wide range of discounts and rewards on shopping, eating out and travel.
• A variety of staff networks, providing opportunities for social interaction, peer support and personal development (for example, Race Equality, LGBT+, Women’s and Parent’s networks).
• Recognition Awards to reward staff who go above and beyond in their role.
• A commitment to your development access to learning and mentoring schemes.
• A range of generous family-friendly policies
• paid time off for parenting and caring emergencies
• support for those going through the menopause
• paid time off and support for fertility treatment
• and more

More details can be found on our benefits page: sheffield.ac.uk/jobs/benefits (opens in a new window).

We are a Disability Confident Employer. If you have a disability and meet the essential criteria for this job you will be invited to take part in the next stage of the selection process.

We are a research university with a global reputation for excellence. Our ideas and expertise change the world for the better, making a real difference to society. We know that when people come together with different views, approaches and insights it can lead to richer, more creative and innovative teaching and research and the highest levels of student experience. Our University Vision (www.sheffield.ac.uk/vision) outlines our commitment to building a diverse community of staff and students that recognises and values the abilities, backgrounds, beliefs and ways of living for everyone.