Organisational Change Portfolio Manager

UKRI; Swindon; On-site; GBP 57,000; Full time

Job summary

UKRI is seeking an Organisational Change Portfolio Manager to lead the delivery of change initiatives that support research and business objectives. The role involves oversight of projects, governance reporting, and resource allocation to ensure alignment with UKRI's strategic goals, within a dynamic and evolving environment.

Benefits

Defined benefit pension scheme

Excellent holiday entitlement

Employee shopping/travel discounts

Salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent experience required.
• Experience in management of portfolios and PRINCE2 / APM methodology mandatory.
• High-level communication skills across the organization expected.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a collection of programmes/projects for the Organisational Change Portfolio.
• Lead governance reporting aligned with best practices.
• Prioritize portfolio processes aligning with strategic objectives.

Skills

Risk and issue management

Business change and implementation

Governance

Portfolio, Programme and Project Frameworks and methodologies

Stakeholder engagement

Change control

Education

Degree level in a relevant discipline or equivalent experience

Management of Portfolios

PRINCE2 / APM certification

Job description

Salary: £56,745
Hours: Full Time / Part Time (Min 0.8 FTE)
Contract Type: Open Ended
Location: Polaris House, Swindon
Grade: F

Closing Date: Sunday 15 June 2025

Job Overview:

Project Delivery & Improvement provides programme, project, change management and Continuous Improvement together with business analysis support, leading the design, implementation and embedding of change across UKRI to deliver its vision and realise its strategic objectives. We are a team of around60 working on a range of assignments, some of our projects support research initiatives and activities, but the primary focus of our work is to lead and deliver business change, including the implementation of new corporate systems, operating environment and organisational structures and the development of strategies and processes.

The Organisational Change Portfolio has been put in place as the main delivery engine that will delivery change and efficiencies across UKRI

Reporting to the Head of Organisational Change Portfolio Office, the Organisational Change Portfolio Manager works across the Portfolio and is responsible for the oversight of a collection of programmes or projects that contribute to the delivery of the Portfolio and the organisation’s objectives. You will focus primarily on providing insight, information, recommendations, and support that strengthens portfolio governance and enables prioritisation decisions and effective allocation of resources across the portfolio, to support the optimal delivery of strategic objectives in line with government priorities.

In addition to this the Portfolio Manager will ensure the portfolio’s processes are efficient and effective, and in line with best practice and government standards, as well as leading and guiding the Senior Portfolio Analysts through coaching and mentoring.

Key Responsibilities:

• Deputise for the Head of Portfolio Office across all disciplines within the Portfolio Office
• Establish a clear governance reporting regime aligned to Management of Portfolios best practice
• Lead in coordinating reporting, and provide analysis and insight of performance at portfolio level for review by governance bodies, flagging issues or matters of concern as appropriate
• Maintain Benefits dictionary on Project Management system including capture of information and reporting
• Liaise with business partners to ensure effective and appropriate portfolio support on finance;evaluation; risk and assurance; and internal / external comms
• Ensuring that the prioritisation process for the Portfolio incorporates the strategic financial planning categorisations and that the outputs of the prioritisation is reflected in the business planning cycle
• Oversee and lead the portfolio delivery plan, dependencies schedule, benefits realisation reporting and tracking and portfolio dashboards in order to supply senior leaders’ information to influence decision making
• Identify and monitor portfolio level risks (threats and opportunities), planning and implementing responses to them and responding to other issues impacting the portfolio, including recommending actions to senior leaders, to influence decision making
• Lead in ensuring the portfolio’s processes are efficient and effective and in line with best practice and government standards including benefits management
• As a senior member of the team, provide advice, coaching and guidance to Programme and Project Managers on portfolio,programme and project management methodologies, benefits management and good practice
• Liaise with other Portfolio and Benefits Professionals to ensure sharing of knowledge and best practice
• Ensure that the outputs of the Portfolio are mapped to the strategic objectives and strategic roadmaps, giving a golden thread from delivery to strategy

Skills

• Risk and issue management
• Business change and implementation
• Governance
• Portfolio, Programme and Project Frameworks and methodologies
• Stakeholder engagement
• Change control

Person Specification:

(S) – Shortlisting Criteria (I) – Interview Criteria (S & I) - Shortlisting Criteria & Interview Criteria

Essential

• Educated to degree level in a relevant discipline, or equivalent experience (S)
• Management of Portfolios (S)
• PRINCE2 / APM (S)
• Previous experience working in a complex Portfolio Office (S)
• Previous experience ofdevelopingreporting across a portfolio of projects and programmesin order to give insights, make recommendations and escalate concerns to the governance boards (S)
• Previous experience of developing Portfolio processes in line with government standards and MoP (S)
• Demonstrable high level ability to communicate with all levels of Stakeholder within the organisation using a variety of methods (S)
• Experience of matrix management and deputising for Senior management making decisions where necessary (S)
• Able to work in an environment of uncertainty and continual change. Feel comfortable making decisions and setting direction without having the full picture and re-focus as details emerge. Apply knowledge and techniques to reduce ambiguity (S & I)
• Able to adapt to changing circumstances and adverse situations whilst remaining calm, reassuring others, and maintaining performance (S & I)
• Ability to prioritise & resolve conflicting priorities (S & I)
• A demonstrated understanding of managing a portfolio of programmes (S & I)
• Risk Management – Previous experience at managing and monitoring Portfolio level risks(S & I)

Desirable

• Knowledge management – Experience of developing knowledge and expertise within a professional environment (S)
• Managing Successful Programmes Practitioner (S)
• Project Leadership Programme (S)
• Experience of managing a complex portfolio (S & I)
• Project Leadership Programme (S & I)

Application Guidance:

How to evidence the criteria:

You are encouraged to use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) in the cover letter to evidence your ability to meet the ‘person specification’ criteria in the job description. Cover letters should be no more than two sides of A4 (minimum font size 11). For examples of the STAR method, please visit: The STAR method | National Careers Service ’.

About UK Research and Innovation (UKRI)

UKRI launched in April 2018, UKRI is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Our organisation brings together the seven disciplinary research councils, Research England, which is responsible for supporting research and knowledge exchange at higher education institutions in England, and the UK’s innovation agency, Innovate UK. Together we build an independent organisation with a strong voice and vision to ensure the UK maintains its world-leading position in research and innovation. More information can be found atwww.ukri.org.

Choosing to come to work at UKRI means that you will have access to a whole host of benefits from a defined benefit pension scheme, excellent holiday entitlement, access to employee shopping/travel discounts and salary sacrifice cycle to work scheme. For more details, visit Benefits of working for UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The role holder will be required to have the appropriate level of security screening/vetting required for the role. UKRI reserves the right to run or re-run security clearance as required during the course of employment.

How we support EDI in the workforce

At UKRI, we believe that everyone has a right to be treated with dignity and respect, and to be provided with equal opportunities to thrive and succeed in an environment that enables them to do so. We also value diversity of thought and experience within inclusive groups, organisations and the wider community. For further information, please visit ‘How we support EDI in the workforce’.

Disability Confident Employer

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies. We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

How to apply

Online applications only preferred for this role. Please submit a CV and covering letter which clearly outlines how you fulfil the criteria specified along with your motivation for UKRI and the role. Ensure that the job reference number is included in the filename description of each document uploaded. Note that failure to address the above criteria or submit an application without a covering letter may result in the application not being considered. Assessment will only be based upon the content of your submitted covering letter and CV and not the ‘experience’ section of the application.

UKRI seeks to ensure it creates and maintains a system of openness, fairness and inclusion – a collaborative, trusted environment, which is attractive to and accessible to everyone who is interested in developing their career with us.