Lead: Porfolio Performance (Business Planning)

University of Cambridge; Cambridge; Híbrido; GBP 90.000 - 130.000; Jornada completa

Ventajas ofrecidas por este puesto de trabajo

41 days leave

Hybrid working

Generous pension

Relocation expenses

Descripción de la vacante

The University of Cambridge is seeking a senior portfolio planning professional to lead the Portfolio Performance (Business Planning) function within the UCSO. This role ensures coordinated, decision-ready visibility of programme plans, sequencing and portfolio impacts across the university.

You will chair the Sequencing Steering Group, shape sequencing policy, and collaborate with UIS and APSO to ensure coherent change portfolio data and reporting.

Formación

• Substantial experience defining and improving planning, sequencing, reporting or MI standards in a complex portfolio.
• Strong strategic planning and programme management expertise, with ability to challenge poor-quality information.
• Experienced people manager able to lead multidisciplinary work and deliver results across boundaries.
• Clear, persuasive communication with senior and operational stakeholders to translate complex data into decision-ready outputs.

Responsabilidades

• Lead and control standards, policies and processes for portfolio planning and reporting.
• Provide real-time visibility of delivery, interdependencies, risks and ROI.
• Chair Sequencing Steering Group and design decision-support for sequencing of activity.
• Set requirements for portfolio systems and data; drive improvements with UIS, APSO and partners.
• Manage and develop staff within the planning function and provide guidance to strengthen capability.

Conocimientos

Strategic planning

Programme management

People management

Stakeholder communication

Educación

Postgraduate qualification in a quantitative discipline

Descripción del empleo

The Role

The University of Cambridge is seeking a senior portfolio planning professional to lead the Portfolio Performance (Business Planning) function within the University Change Support Office (UCSO). The role is responsible for the arrangements through which the University obtains coordinated, decision-ready visibility of programme plans, sequencing and portfolio impacts.

UCSO provides expertise in change and communications, benefits realisation, portfolio planning, common standards, strategic reporting and business-case appraisal. It supports the Change and Programme Management Board in directing and overseeing the University's portfolio of major change programmes.

The post-holder will own the standards, planning logic, reporting methods and sequencing practices used to provide coherent visibility of delivery, risks, costs, benefits, return on investment and stakeholder impacts. The role will define the requirements for real-time portfolio information, determine how it should be structured and presented, and intervene where inputs, systems or processes are incomplete, inconsistent or not fit for governance use.

The role will chair UCSO's Sequencing Steering Group, lead the development of sequencing policy and decision-support approaches, and manage the planning function. It will work across programme teams and portfolio functions to strengthen data quality, reporting systems and the practical use of portfolio planning information.

It is important that the role-holder works collaboratively and actively with existing expert functions, especially University Information Services (UIS) and the Academic Planning and Strategy Office (APSO) to ensure coherence of approach to the change portfolio.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and control the standards, policies and processes for portfolio planning, sequencing, reporting and management information.
• Provide reliable, real-time visibility of programme delivery, interdependencies, risks, costs, benefits, return on investment and impacts on stakeholder groups.
• Chair the Sequencing Steering Group and design, implement and monitor the policy and decision-support arrangements governing the sequencing of programme activity.
• Set requirements for portfolio systems, data and presentational outputs; diagnose weaknesses and implement improvements with UIS, APSO and other partners.
• Manage and develop staff within the planning function, and provide briefings, workshops and practical guidance to strengthen planning and reporting capability across the University.

About you

• You will have substantial experience of defining and improving planning, sequencing, reporting or management-information standards in a complex portfolio or organisational setting.
• You will bring strong strategic planning and programme management expertise, with the ability to challenge poor-quality information and resolve weaknesses in systems, workflows and data.
• You will be an experienced people manager, able to lead multidisciplinary work and secure high-quality results across organisational boundaries.
• You will communicate clearly and persuasively with senior and operational stakeholders and be confident translating complex portfolio information into decision-ready outputs.
• You will have a postgraduate-level qualification in a quantitative discipline, together with strong capability in project management and the effective use of relevant software tools.

The Benefits

• 41 days annual leave, including bank holidays.
• Potential for flexible and hybrid working, subject to the operational needs of the role.
• A generous pension scheme, discount portal, cycle to work scheme, access to the University accommodation service, relocation expenses scheme, employee assistance programme and family-friendly policies.

Limited funding: The funds for this post are available for 3 years in the first instance.

Applications are welcome from internal candidates who would like to apply for the role on the basis of a secondment from their current role in the University.

We welcome applications from individuals who wish to be considered for part-time working or other flexible working arrangements.

Interviews will be held in mid-December 2026.

Additional information regarding the role can be found within the further information file. If you wish to discuss this role in more detail, or have questions about the application process, enquiries are welcome. Please contact the team via [e-mail].

The University actively supports equality, diversity and inclusion and encourages applications from all sections of society.

The University has a responsibility to ensure that all employees are eligible to live and work in the UK.